Passivhaus lived experience. More than a spreadsheet

The ideology of Passivhaus is clear. It is a building standard associated with a really well insulated and airtight building that saves energy – in both hot and cold climates. There is evidence from that shows how important this approach to building is in achieving carbon reduction targets. Passivhaus is a credible way for large scale energy reduction in the built environment and has gained in popularity with policy makers tasked with meeting the internationally agreed climate change targets. The reality of living in a Passivhaus is not so clear. There is evidence of some Passivhaus projects using much more energy than the design models anticipate. There is also emerging evidence of the difficulties some people face in living in a Passivhaus. Issues of air quality, systems control problems, inadequate technical knowledge and skills. While the overall picture is positive there are clearly issues to be overcome in the delivery of a promising carbon reduction strategy for the built environment. This research explores the limitation of the PHPP software in addressing the lived experience of Passivhaus. The emerging issues with some PH projects suggest a better understanding of the interactions between people and the building is required.