Eco Factor: Energy-efficient systems makes homes use 70% less energy for heating than a LEED certified house.
We all know that making thick walls and spending a huge amount on insulation can pay for itself in the way of energy savings. But, how much can a house be actually insulated? If your house follows the Passivhaus standards, it can be made as airtight and as insulated to make it stand the Martian winter, using nothing more than a hair dryer worth of heat or even your body heat if you play a lot of soccer.
The Passivhaus system doesn’t make use of futuristic technologies, but of systems that are available on the shelves today. Currently there are over 20,000 Passivhaus homes in the world that make use of a unique blend of high-tech heat exchangers, ventilators for fresh air (Since the home is airtight) and triple-pained windows and low-tech thick and well-insulated walls.
The system works by making homes nearly airtight so that no heat is let out in the surroundings. The home built according to the specifications can be as airtight as a dwelling built by NASA for the Moon or Mars. Obviously this set up does cost you but considering the fact that the system makes your home 70% more energy-efficient than a LEED certified home, you can be sure that all that extra you spend would come back to you in terms of energy savings.
Via: EcoGeek
