GENERAL INFORMATION

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What is a passive house?
Passive houses are well-insulated buildings that are largely heated by the energy already present in the building — people and our household equipment generate a lot of energy. The heat inside the building is utilised and the sun is also used to heat both the building and tap water whenever possible.

A passive house has an energy requirement approximately 1/4 of a conventional house. Development of passive houses also focuses upon finding highquality solutions with a long service life and an optimal indoor environment. Investment costs are somewhat higher than for conventional housing, but this is compensated for by significant reductions in operation and maintenance costs.

The energy demands of passive houses are so low that it is possible to meet these demands using only local, renewable energy sources for both heating and power. Thus, we are now able to realize housing and residential areas with zero emissions of greenhouse gases. Passive houses are thus an important step along the road to a more sustainable society. Passive houses have become widespread in Germany and Austria, and we are now also experiencing an increase in the number of projects in the Nordic countries.