Passive House construction gains traction in the UK, aiming for a 10% share of new residential buildings by 2035
The Passivhaus standard, a German-originated energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly building standard, is gaining traction in the UK housing market. This shift, influenced by various trends in policies, local authority initiatives, and education sectors, is set to accelerate the adoption of more sustainable, comfortable, and energy-efficient housing stock.
The Passivhaus Trust, a leading advocate for this standard, believes that the growing momentum will create a 'multiplier effect,' accelerating adoption and reshaping the future of UK housing. To facilitate this, the Trust is expanding training initiatives across universities and colleges, and creating a new Passivhaus Learning Hub. The aim is to increase the number of certified designers, consultants, and contractors to meet the challenge of scaling up construction.
Currently, 1% of all new homes being built in the UK are adhering to the Passivhaus standard. However, the Trust's CEO, Jon Bootland, has set a ambitious target to achieve a tenfold increase in Passivhaus homes by 2035. This target is driven by an innovative funding model from the Scottish Futures Trust.
Schools, social housing projects, and swimming pool operators are increasingly adopting the Passivhaus approach. In Scotland, nearly 60% of new schools are targeting the Passivhaus standard. The Welsh Government is incorporating Passivhaus into their new 'Tai ar y Cyd' Pattern Book as an enhanced standard for social housing providers.
The UK's Future Homes Standard, set to be implemented in 2025, will establish new minimum building performance standards that push towards improved energy efficiency and sustainability, indirectly supporting Passivhaus principles by raising the baseline for airtightness, insulation, and ventilation in new homes.
Several local governments are integrating Passivhaus standards into planning and infrastructure projects. For example, Glasgow City Council mandates a Gold Standard for planning applications requiring net zero carbon developments. The NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde North East Hub project utilizes Passivhaus principles such as high airtightness, heat recovery ventilation, triple glazing, and renewable heating systems (air source heat pumps and PV panels).
Industry players, such as major housebuilders and developers, are committing to delivering certified Passivhaus projects. They emphasize the benefits of Passivhaus for occupant comfort, health, lower running costs, and sustainability.
The adoption of the term "Passive House" as an English-language equivalent of the German "Passivhaus" is also helping to increase recognition and market acceptance of the standard.
The Passivhaus Plus and Premium standards, which require buildings to generate as much energy as they consume annually and demand a surplus of renewable energy generation respectively, are becoming more widely recognized in the UK housing market. The Scottish government is crafting a policy for new homes that will likely include the Passivhaus standard as a "deemed to satisfy" option for current building codes.
The shift towards Passivhaus is due to changes in policy, rising energy bills concerns, and a broader shift towards sustainable construction. Passivhaus homes offer a tangible solution to the housing industry's need for high-performance, cost-effective homes. With the right support and commitment, the UK could see Passivhaus homes making up to 10% of all new homes by 2035.
- The Passivhaus Trust is expanding training initiatives across universities and colleges to increase the number of certified designers, consultants, and contractors.
- The aim of the new Passivhaus Learning Hub is to facilitate the adoption and shape the future of UK housing.
- Currently, only 1% of new homes being built in the UK are adhering to the Passivhaus standard, but the Trust's CEO, Jon Bootland, has set an ambitious target of achieving a tenfold increase by 2035.
- Schools, social housing projects, and swimming pool operators are adopting the Passivhaus approach, with nearly 60% of new schools in Scotland targeting the Passivhaus standard.
- The UK's Future Homes Standard, set to be implemented in 2025, is pushing towards improved energy efficiency and sustainability, indirectly supporting Passivhaus principles.
- Several local governments are integrating Passivhaus standards into planning and infrastructure projects, such as Glasgow City Council's mandate for net zero carbon developments.
- Industry players, like major housebuilders and developers, are committing to delivering certified Passivhaus projects, emphasizing their benefits for occupant comfort, health, lower running costs, and sustainability.
- The adoption of the term "Passive House" as an English-language equivalent of the German "Passivhaus" is helping to increase recognition and market acceptance of the standard.
- The Passivhaus Plus and Premium standards, which require buildings to generate as much energy as they consume annually and demand a surplus of renewable energy generation respectively, are becoming more widely recognized in the UK housing market.
- With the right support and commitment, the UK could see Passivhaus homes making up to 10% of all new homes by 2035, addressing concerns about rising energy bills and contributing to sustainable construction.
- The growing momentum towards Passivhaus is a result of changes in policy, rising energy bills concerns, and a broader shift towards renewable energy and environmental-science, influenced by climate-change.
- Education and self-development, career development, and skills-training are crucial in guiding the finance, business, and environmental-science industries towards adopting and implementing sustainable, energy-efficient, and environmentally-friendly practices like Passivhaus.
