The Passivhaus Trust is now aiming for 10% of all projects in new UK housing by 2035
The Passivhaus Trust has released data showing that 1% of all UK new housing projects are Passivhaus projects.
This is due to changes in policy and funding, and an increase in popularity of Passivhaus standards as energy needs change.
Passivhaus standards are becoming more appealing
The rise in popularity can be seen in a few areas:
The Scottish Government is developing a policy for a Passivhaus ‘equivalent standard’ in newbuild houses, which could mean that new homes built to Passivhaus standards will automatically satisfy other current building standards
Many councils have been working on local plans to help developers meet and exceed building regulations, which often draw on the Passivhaus standards
60% of Scottish schools are now aiming to meet Passivhaus standards due to the Scottish Futures Trust encouraging local authorities to adopt better building performance standards
Welsh social housing schemes are utilising a ‘fabric first’ alternative to EPC A which uses aspects of Passivhaus methodology
There are over 2250 certified Passivhaus project homes in the UK
8,000 homes are also currently being worked on to meet Passivhaus standards, making up 1% of all UK housing projects (assuming that 2,000 projects are delivered per year.)
Several Passivhaus projects are either in construction or have recently been completed in the UK, including:
Belfast’s first Passivhaus student accommodation, featuring 456 student bedrooms, cluster apartments, studio units, meeting rooms, communal spaces, group dining areas, a post room, and a laundry room along with dedicated staff and welfare areas and facilities. The building will be 16 storeys high, and contain heat pumps and mechanical ventilation systems among other sustainable features.
The largest Passivhaus building in the UK, the Dunfermline Learning Campus, opened last year. The campus accommodates Woodmill and St Columba’s RC High Schools , and features a campus of 26,666sq m, for 2,700 students and 246 staff. The building prioritises and maximises natural light, ventilation, and air-tight rooms for air quality.
Wednesfield Technology Primary School was also completed last year, achieving an air quality of 0.60 Air Changes per Hour, when they were targeting 0.48
Jon Bootland, chief executive of the Passivhaus Trust, said: “This new data shows that Passivhaus standard is now a mainstream option in the UK. 1% is the figure that has been achieved by Passivhaus in the UK, but we now expect exponential growth.
“We’re aiming to move up from 1% to 10% of all new housing by 2035. We also want at least 50% of the industry to understand the principles behind Passivhaus. It’s a massive challenge. We need to really accelerate delivery. The Passivhaus Trust, as an independent, non-profit organisation, aims to provide the leadership the industry needs to do just that.”
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