Status

finished

Abstract

The target of the project PASS-NET is to spread the knowledge about Passive House standard within Europe. This will rapidly increase the share of Passive House buildings within new buildings and the reconstruction of existing buildings. To reach that target, within the project a network of European expert organisations - PASS-NET - has been established. Participating project partners are coming from Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Great Britain, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Sweden.

Within the project a European wide Passive House database showing best practice buildings will be built up. To provide a good overview for stakeholders about the framework for Passive House projects, the legal situation, support programmes etc. will be described for each country. The International Passive House Days shall be extended to all participating countries by gaining the experiences in those countries, where Passive House standard has a longer tradition. To facilitate the awareness building and information about Passive House technology, a common basic training programme is being developed and translated into each national language.

The aim of the project is to spread the Passive House standard in Europe, especially in the new EU member states. To reach this target, PASS-NET, a network of expert organisations managed by ÖGUT, has been established. Participating project partners come from Austria Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Great Britain, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Sweden.

Poster "Establishment of a Co-operation Network of Passive House Promoters" (pdf-file, 11 MB)

The 10 PASSNET partner countries

Supported by

Why Passive House standard?

The energy demand for the building sector represents 40 % of the total energy demand of the European Union, whereas the demand for heating and cooling accounts for the highest shares.

Passive House standard helps to achieve 20-20-20 EU-goals

Passive House buildings need 80 % less energy for heating and cooling compared to conventional standards of new buildings and 90 % less energy than the existing building stock. For achieving the EU targets to increase the energy efficiency by 20 % and to reduce the Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 20 % until the year 2020, the Passive House technology will be an essential tool on this road.

Passive House as a basis for Net Zero Energy Buildings

In March 2009 the industry and energy committee of the European Parliament voted on the recast of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) and agreed that all new buildings should be at least Nearly Zero Energy Buildings by December 2018, at the latest. All public buildings (new and refurbished) shall be Net Zero Energy Buildings by 2015. (See also article on the website of EurActiv)

The Member of the European Parliament MEP defines Nearly Zero Energy Buildings as buildings "where, as a result of the very high level of energy efficiency of the building, the overall annual primary energy consumption is equal to or less than the energy production from renewable energy sources on site". (See also article on the website of the European Parliament)

As the surface on roof and facades usable for solar energy (thermal and PV) on site is limited by the building geometry, for the majority of the buildings a very high energy efficiency standard as the Passive House standard will be necessary to meet the requirements of the EPBD directive.

European Passive House data base

www.passivehousedatabase.eu - English
www.passivhausdatenbank.eu - Deutsch

Why a Passive House data base?

Find existing Passive House examples in your region

A good method to spread a new technology like Passive House standard is to demonstrate already existing Passive House buildings. The European Passive House data base has been developed within the PASS-NET project and will be continuously updated with new projects in all participating countries.

The database helps interested persons to get an overview of existing buildings (e.g. single family houses, social buildings, public buildings) in the region and to get in touch with the planners and architects

Overview of the development of the Passive House building sector

• “How many Passive House buildings exist in which European country?”
• “Which kind of buildings are those?”
• “How did the Passive House market develop during the last years?”
  
  

Since the database also includes statistic analysis, questions like those mentioned above can be answered by a “mouse click”. This information helps stakeholders such as politicians, building developers or producers of construction materials to integrate Passive House technology in their future planning.

Download: Report about the International Passive House data base (pdf-file, 63 pages, 5,9 MB)

Current situation of Passive House in Europe

Within the project PASS-NET the current situation for Passive House buildings in the participating countries has been analysed. There have been about 27,600 Passive House buildings existing in the 10 PASS-NET countries at the end of 2010. It is expected that the number will rapidly rise to 65,000 buildings till 2012. Within the 10 PASS-NET countries the amount of Passive House buildings is very different. In several regions the Passive House standard is already mandatory, in other regions the first pilot projects have been build recently.

Legal framework

Within PASS-NET a guideline for renovation has been worked out to support decision maker as building owner, politicians as well as building companies.

• Joint report on financial support schemes for Passive House buildings (pdf-file, 103 pages, 1,88 MB)
  
  
• Development of framework for energy efficiency in buildings during the PASS-NET project duration 2007 – 2010, report (pdf-file, 10 pages, 257 KB)

Renovation

Within PASS-NET a guideline for renovation has been worked out to support decision maker as building owner, politicians as well as building companies.

• Guidelines for Renovation:
  Downloads: German version (pdf-file, 1,61 MB)
  

International Passive House Days

What are International Passive House Days?

The International Passive House Days is an initiative to open as much as possible existing Passive House buildings on a certain day to the public. The residents invite interested persons to visit their homes and tell them about their experiences about living in a Passive House. At the 5th International Passive House Days on 7th-9th November 2008 about 6.000 persons could visit 158 “opened” Passive House buildings in Austria.

Within the PASS-NET project the experiences about organising International Passive House Days will be spread to all partner countries.

Why International Passive House Days?

To overcome information deficits, preconceptions as well as false myths and legends about Passive House buildings the most convincing way is to organise excursions to Passive House buildings and to talk to persons living there. Regarding Passive House buildings the slogan “A picture says more than 1.000 words” can by modified into the slogan “An on-site excursion says more than 1.000 pictures and studies”.

Documentation of PASS-NET activities within the International Passive House Days

Downloads:
Overview about the International Passive House Days activities 2008 within passnet project

Overview about the International Passive House Days activities 2009 within passnet project 

Projckt team:

Project coordinator

ÖGUT – Österreichische Gesellschaft für Umwelt und Technik
(Austrian Society for Environment and Technology)
Hollandstraße 10/46, A-1020 Wien
Tel.: +43-1-315 63 93
Fax: +43-1-315 63 93-22
Contact person: DI Gerhard Bayer
( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. )
www.oegut.at

Persons in charge

DI Gerhard Bayer (senior expert)
Dr. Herbert Greisberger (project coordinator)
Mag^a. Sylvia Tanzer (project manager)