The principle of a passive house is comparable to that of a thermos flask: it captures heat and holds on to it. By fitting as much triple glazing as possible, the sun can heat the house. The floor, walls and roof are especially well insulated and cracks are sealed airtight so the heat stays inside. Passive is a stricter standard than the Belgian BEN standard.
Passive
| Standard new build | Berger & Bildt passive | |
|---|---|---|
| Insulation |
floor min. 5 cm |
floor min. 25 cm |
| Ventilation |
System C |
System D |
| Windows |
Double glazing (1.1 W/m²K) |
Triple glazing (0.6 W/m²K) |
| Quality control |
No certification, so no guarantee of low energy use |
Certificate, inspection and guarantee through accredited certification |