It happened with wine and it is finally happening with homes too. The old world's ingenuity and style are finally making their way to the new world's shores. True to form, these innovations are sure to change the way we think about something very basic. In a not too distant time it was wine making that was touched and a multi-billion dollar New World Wine industry is the result today. This time it is buildings.
Putting the walls to work may not be at the top of conversation in offices around the United States but the German born concept is quickly gaining ground here in the U.S. Rather than using various technologies to regulate temperatures within the building the construction of the building is such that (due to materials used, walls facing at certain angles, etc.) the structure works to maintain its own temperature. This creates increased energy efficiency but demands exceptional insulation and low air leakage.
According to one care2.org article:
"[O]ccupants of a passive house may use up to 5 kWh per square foot for heating and cooling according to the building standard used in Germany, but they don’t have to.
And in fact, when the house is well-designed, they don’t need to. The temperature shouldn’t fluctuate considerably, and the minimized leakage of air keeps humidity levels stable as well. The end result is a home that can be slightly cooler in the winter or warmer in the summer than is conventional, but one that uses far less energy than its neighbors. There’s also much less waste: thermal imaging studies of passive houses versus conventional ones illustrate how great they are at conserving heat in the winter and keeping heat out in the summer"
Imagine coupling this with a small solar array. Since one of the commonly touted disadvantages of solar is the necessity for a large array area, having a reduced energy load/consumption rate would greatly affect the area required for an efficient PV system. All of a sudden BAM! An architectural prodigy unites with a solar genius and Beethoven's 9th get's married to Daft Punk. The result is pure bliss. Yet, as technologies continue to evolve so will the sweet sounds of efficient and responsible energy consumption.
