14. Low-Energy House (Conceptual of: Low-Energy House - Passive House - Smart House)

House with low energy consumption are called "passive house". In practice, the cost of building a passive house is 30% more than conventional buildings. But the operation of a passive house is much cheaper than usual.

Passive, or energy-efficient house - this building consumes (in a year) as the minimum amount of energy for their needs, and ideally able to provide itself with energy. A passive house is the room that consumes in a year not more than 42-50 kWh/m2 energy.

Construction of a passive house a little harder than usual, because the design stage requires greater influence to detail. For example, to reduce heat loss is not enough simply to take as thicker insulation and cover them outside of the building. Must also eliminate the so-called heat bridges. Heat bridges represent the places in which a breach of continuity of thermal insulation is increased heat dissipation. In other words, where there are joined with each other building materials with different thermal conductivity, where the non-insulated parts are isolated areas, etc. Bridge heat can lead to the formation of condensation, humidity, fungus growth, and finally - to the thermal losses of the premises.

Orientation of the building, the presence of windows on each side and their sizes, lighting facilities, air conditioning, heating and ventilation, the use of solar and geothermal energy - all this must be considered when designing. Includes high insulation, three layers of insulated glass windows and the top hole. Controlled ventilation system provides sufficient fresh air temperature in all rooms. "Consumption" hot air when removed from the premises shall not enter the atmosphere, but its temperature, the heat used to heat fresh air from outside who are just entering the system. In summer, the process occurs in the opposite direction, as cooler air over the heat output of the outside air that enters the room.

Important here, of course, is the experience of professionals who are involved in the preparation of the heat balance of the building. Correctly made the calculation - this is the key to reducing costs.

To provide passive house uses energy from sources of heat - the human temperature, the heat from cooking, as well as the energy of renewable energy sources - solar energy, heats the soil.

Heat pump - a source of energy for your heating and hot water, and can simultaneously serve as a source for air-conditioning system. The main difference between the heat pump from other generators of heat energy (electric, gas and diesel) is that the heat production to 80 percent of the energy is extracted from the environment. Heat pump is "pumping" of solar energy from the soil, rock or lake that has accumulated over the warm season.