Passivhaus Institut

Refurbishment with Passive House components

Very substantial energy savings are possible with refurbishments of existing buildings. The main focus is on the following aspects:

Improved thermal insulation (based on the principle “if it has to be done, then properly”)
Minimisation of thermal bridges
Improved airtightness
Use of excellent quality windows
Ventilation with efficient heat recovery
Efficient heat generation
Use of renewable energy sources

These are the same measures that have also proved successful in new constructions. A large number of examples of retrofits demonstrating the use of highly efficient technology in existing buildings have been carried out. Energy savings between 75% and 90% have been achieved; however, due to the thermal bridges that still remain after refurbishment of existing buildings, achieving the Passive House standard is not always a realistic goal. The Passive House Institute has therefore developed the "EnerPHit – certified refurbishment using Passive House components" certification procedure for such buildings. The Passive House Institute provides consultation services for refurbishment projects and carries out measurements in refurbished buildings.

The following publications will help you to benefit from the experiences gained with refurbishments of existing buildings:

Basic principles, and buildings in which exterior insulation is possible:
Refurbishment with Passive House components
(Protocol Volume 24 of the Research Group for Cost-effective Passive Houses - in German)

Buildings which cannot be insulated on the outside:
Factor 4 for sensitive retrofits: Passive House components + interior insulation
(Protocol Volume 32 of the Research Group for Cost-effective Passive Houses - in German)

Buildings in which individual building components are renewed so that an acceptable intermediate state results in terms of buildings physics, even without a complete refurbishment of the building:
Step-by-step refurbishment with Passive House components
(Protocol Volume 39 of the Research Group for Cost-effective Passive Houses - in German)

Making existing buildings fit for the future using Passive House components:
EnerPHit-Planners Handbook (in German)

Existing building refurbishment projects involving the PHI:

	Modernisation to the Passive House standard Frankfurt a. M.		Modernisation to the Passive House standard Hannover
	Existing building - 3-litre house Ludwigshafen		Modernisation to the Passive House standard Ludwigshafen
	Faktor-10 Refurbishment Jean-Paul-Platz Nuremberg		Interior insulation plus Passive House components Ludwigshafen