Scottish Government Launches Consultation on Passivhaus Standard

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14 August 2024

A Scottish equivalent to the Passivhaus standard is being explored via a government consultation.

The review will consider potential changes to The Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004, to accommodate an equivalent to the Passivhaus standard, with new minimum environmental design standards.

The first stage of the consultation will involve understanding the extent to which the components of the Passivhaus approach are desirable and deliverable at a national level within Scottish regulations.

The Passivhaus Trust, a not-for-profit company that provides UK leadership for the adoption of the Passivhaus standard, will be providing a detailed response to the consultation in mid-August. 

What is Passivhaus?

The Passivhaus approach focuses on optimising the building's fabric to achieve energy efficiency passively. This method emphasises features like extra thick insulation in walls and floors, along with triple-glazed windows and doors. Passivhaus buildings typically achieve a 75 per cent reduction in space heating requirements compared to standard practices for new builds in the UK.

 Achieving the Passivhaus Standard typically involves:

• Very high levels of insulation
• High-performance windows with insulated frames
• Airtight building fabric
• "Thermal bridge free" construction
• A mechanical ventilation system with highly efficient heat recovery

Picture: a photograph of a partly-constructed home with. a person wearing a hard hat and holding a large piece of paper walking towards it. Image Credit: Pixabay

Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 14 August 2024

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