What is the cost?
Passive House is designed to be affordable and achievable for everyone. Based on experience building the first 15,000 to 20,000 Passive Houses, it is estimated that using the Passive House standard will increase construction costs between 5 to 7% on average when compared to a similar code compliant house. This figure does not factor in any local subsidies or tax incentives for energy efficient features, nor does it account for substantially lower operating/maintenance costs over the lifetime of the building. Payback for increased insulation and better building components will vary depending on the project, but experience suggests an eight to twelve year period at which point Passive House begins saving money over traditional construction. It should be noted that Passive House can satisfy a wide range of construction budgets depending on a client’s individual expectations for interior finishes, style, location and size.
The cost-effectiveness of Passive House comes from using relatively inexpensive insulation and air-tightness strategies to reduce peak heating and cooling load. Controlling the indoor environment using a tight building envelope eliminates the need for a large, and oftentimes costly, mechanical system. A Passive House can be heated and cooled simply by using an efficient ventilation system. The result is that heating required for a Passive House is roughly equivalent to the energy supplied by a hair dryer. Savings associated with the smaller mechanical system offset the additional costs associated with increased insulation, energy efficient appliances, and high quality building components.
To date, Passive House is the most effective means to design and build comfortable, healthy, durable, sustainable and energy efficient buildings at an affordable cost. Whether your motivation is to be a steward of the environment, to save substantially on your energy bills, or to build a high quality home, choosing Passive House shows leadership, foresight and commitment to good design.
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