Vivo Homes, is proud to be an accredited Passive House builder.
We are passionate about health, the environment and a better life for future generations. With sustainability, comfort, health and affordability in mind we are excited about the possibilities passive home building bring to the property space in Australia.
Although a fairly new concept in Australia, Passive Homes are an ideal choice for home owners, developers and investors who want to contribute positively to the impact on the environment in a healthy and affordable way.
Here’s a short explanation about Passive House:
Airtight Building Envelope
A Passivehouse has an uninterrupted building envelope that is airtight. This innovation plays a crucial part in ensuring Passivehouse buildings need so little energy to heat or cool. The airtight layer prevents unwanted heat transfer, draughts and cold spots. The internal temperature is maintained by the high levels of insulation. Vapour control and the airtightness layer combine with appropriate insulation to prevent moisture damage to the building structure. This is key to Passivehouse durability.
Thermal Insulation
A Certified Passivehouse building has continuous insulation surrounding its perimeter. The amount and location varies depending on the design, materials and climate zone.
Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery
Clean fresh air is great and it’s guaranteed in a Passivehouse, thanks to a small continuous mechanical ventilation system. It delivers fresh air (filtered of dust, pollen and other pollutants) and extracts stale, moist air, all at a carefully calibrated level.
Passive House (High Performance) Windows
You’ll find high-quality, highly energy-efficient doors and windows in a Certified Passivehouse. Double-glazing is standard, with triple-glazing sometimes used due to specific climate or comfort requirements.
Thermal bridge free construction
Thermal bridges are pathways for temperature to travel in and out of a building. They contribute to significant indoor temperature fluctuations and can also lead to moisture and mould problems.
Passivehouse design minimises or eliminates thermal bridges. This is a key part of why the temperature in a Passivehouse stays within a perfectly comfortable range, no matter what the weather outside.
Energy Modelling At Design Stage
They work because of how all those parts interact with each other. Passivehouse designers use a software suite called the Passive House Planning Package (PHPP) to model the different components and the ways they interact, thus accurately predicting overall building performance.
PHPP energy modelling is the single most important distinguishing feature of a Passivehouse building. It is done during the design phase, modifying the values for relevant elements until desired performance levels are reached.
The building standards of passive homes are of a higher quality than most of the homes and building that have been constructed in the past, and although initially cost more, save you money in the long run.
6 benefits of Passive Houses
Healthy
Great indoor air quality.
Heat recovery ventilation systems ensures a supply of fresh, filtered, clean air all year round. A Passive House-certified ventilation-system delivers the air silently without drafts to every occupied space, and exhausts stale air where moisture or odours exist.
Easy to Operate
Passive House certified buildings are designed so the buildings fabric (walls, floor, roof, windows, shading,) works to keep the building comfortable. Passive Houses don’t need complicated, complex and expensive control systems. Its about careful design, simple and durable systems and quality construction.
Comfortable
Providing unprecedented thermal balance.
Through the application of appropriate insulation and mitigation of thermal bridges, there are no cold or hot spots. Temperatures are stable and consistent from floor to ceiling, irrespective of the weather outside.
Affordable to Run
Due to low heating and cooling energy costs, Passive House certified buildings are less expensive in the face of changes in energy pricing, technology and climate, providing a long-term assurance of affordability.
Resilient
Passive House certified buildings remain habitable during power outages in the dead of winter or during a summer heat wave.
Quiet
With acoustic separation from the street and neighbours, the insulation, careful sealing and high-performance windows cut out much of the exterior noise.