ABSTRACT
Passivhaus is a standard that primarily focuses on reducing the energy demand of a building’s key services: HVAC, lighting, appliances, and auxiliary energy demands. However, in designing a Passivhaus, there are often opportunities to incorporate one or more renewable power technologies (RPTs). And they are often integral to projects with wider sustainability targets, such as BREEAM, LEED, or Living Building Challenge. Under the right conditions, it is even possible to design a zero carbon or energy plus building by incorporating RPTs.[1]
This chapter explores suitable RPTs that can be incorporated into the design of Passivhaus buildings, both domestic and non-domestic.[2] As the technologies are numerous and new developments are announced frequently, it is not possible to provide a complete picture of the entire renewable technology landscape. Additionally, this chapter is not meant as a guide to designing and installing RPTs. There are plenty of excellent resources available for this purpose, and specialist subcontractors are generally employed for such purposes. Rather, its aim is to present a broad overview of the most relevant power technologies and their characteristics, along with the key aspects that a Passivhaus designer should consider in the selection and integration of RPTs in Passivhaus developments.
