Passive Houses in Cold and in Mediterranian Climates

The first Passive House has been built in a cold-temperate Central European climate where the energy demand for heating has been predominant. Therefore, excellent thermal insulation, highly insulated windows and heat recovery from exhaust air have been the key technologies.

In the meantime, first Passive Houses have also been built in Northern and Eastern Europe. In particular improved thermal insulation, excellent airtightness and an efficient ventilation system have proved its worth there as well.

Passive Houses in Gothenburg, architect Hans Eek / a project within CEPHEUS

Cold climates demand still higher standards of Passive House elements. In order to keep the heating load low, insulation needs to be further improved. Demands on window technology are also rising.

On the other side Passive Houses are spreadimg across the Alps towards Southern Europe – numerous projects have already been successfully built in Southern Tyrol.

The more the climate is different from central European conditions, the more building services and elements of Passive Houses need to adapt to the changed circumstances. The Passive House is a functional and integral concept, where not fixed U-values of windows and building elements are required but thermal comfort in summer and in winter times with little energy consumption.

Naturally, in the Mediterranean region summer cooling is more in the foreground. “Passive-On”, a project of the European Union, is explicitly concerned with the application of Passive House principles in Southern Europe. It is also helping to carry out the 10th conference on Passive Houses. First results of the project “Passive-On” will be presented in two presentations at this conference in Hanover in May 2006.

This is subject of
working group no. VIII: Passive Houses in Cold and in Mediterranian Climates

Next to an exchange of gained experiences, in this working group new and specific questions may also be tackled, e.g.: The frequency of condensate occurance and the freezing of exterior surfaces may increase, just like the freezing of heat exchangers for indoor ventilation.
Special conditions of the mediterranean climate and concepts for energy saving construction under those conditions will be discussed in two presentations.

Working group No. VIII is part of the international sessions. Only papers in english are accepted for this working group.

You are working on an accepted paper? Find more Information here.

Time schedule of the 10^th International Conference on Passive Houses in Hannover

2006 February 1st:    Notification on acceptance of abstracts (done)
2006 March 1st:         Registration period for reduced fee ends
2006 March 15th:       Deadline for the written contributions of the preceedings

2006 May 19th and 20th   10. Conference on Passive Houses HCC Hannover with Exhibition on Passive House Components and manufacturers session

May 21st field trip to the most interesting Passive House projects and construction sites incl. refurbishment in the region near Hannover.

(updated:2006-01-31   © Passivhouse Institute PHI; this page might be reprinted if unchanged)

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Passive House Institute, Dr. Wolfgang Feist. mail@passiv.de.