ABSTRACT
Passive house methods set performance standards for the building, rather than prescriptive standards for the individual parts. Passive house standards resonate with environmentally motivated designers and builders because they connect directly to the decisions and actions that members of the project team are asked to make, and able to realize. Forward-looking, environmentally conscious buildings must be designed for dramatic reductions in energy use, global warming potential, and carbon footprint. The value of the building must be measured over the full span of its useful life, from initial acquisition costs to ongoing maintenance and final disposition. "The goal is a simple but finegrained performance-based design methodology that guides the designer to identify the most cost-effective path to with the greatest overall benefits to building owners and society". A passive building is designed and built in strict response to different building science principles: continuous insulation through the entire envelope, without any thermal bridging; and high-performance windows, typically triple-paned, with high-performance doors.
