Experiencing Passivhaus first hand

Nothing really sells the Passivhaus Standard quite like experiencing its comfort and quality first hand. Lighting, acoustics, and temperatures all contribute to a space’s ambience. The 2021 International Passivhaus Open Days have just taken place, offering an opportunity to visit Passivhaus and EnerPHit projects - in real life and virtually - and to talk directly to the owners or professionals involved. Internationally, projects from British Columbia to Bavaria took part and the world’s first Passivhaus, which is now 30 years old, was featured in an online tour.

Somag Open Day, Image Credit: Paper Igloo Architects

In the UK 11 projects were involved in the Open Days, from Northern Ireland’s Passivhaus Premium Erne Campus educational building to a one-off home in the Cotswolds. Several projects under construction were involved, giving visitors a unique opportunity to understand the technical and quality assurance aspects of Passivhaus on site. EnerPHit projects in Bristol and Manchester demonstrated how the Passivhaus standard can be applied to retrofit projects. Two additional Passivhaus and EnerPHit projects in West Yorkshire were opened up for students from the Climate Challenge College, as part of the Building section of their course.

The day was very informative, interesting and helpful to our learning. It was impressive to see the systems in place and the house was nice.

Students from Climate Challenge College, Todmorden

Climate Challenge College students visiting the Kirkburton Passivhaus. Image Credit: Green Building Store

Somag Open Day. Image Credit: Paper Igloo Architects

One couple came along to the Open Days with the husband very dubious about Passivhaus and the wife much more enthusiastic. By the end of the visit the husband was definitely coming around to Passivhaus.

Owner of the Golcar Passivhaus

Great to meet lots of interesting people whilst providing tours of Ostro #passivhaus as part of the @PassivhausTrust @the_iPHA #iPHopendays over the weekend. Thanks to everyone for coming! #ClimateCrisis #architecture #COP26 #lowcarbon #timber pic.twitter.com/kJ6fj8ItAd
— Paper Igloo Architecture (@paperigloovoice) November 8, 2021

Thank you to @YWTstirleyfarm for hosting our afternoon visit with the @climate_college students and staff to the award-winning Cre8 Barn EnerPHit project. A great chance to share how the Passivhaus methodology can be applied to existing buildings. #COP26 #Passivhaus pic.twitter.com/0FX1dKYf9F
— Green Building Store (@passivhausnews) November 8, 2021

Check out #iPHopendays for more posts.

The Passivhaus Trust would like to thank all those who so warmly and generously welcomed visitors into their homes and buildings as part of the Open Days. Nurturing knowledge sharing is a core activity for the Trust and the inspirational and educational open days could not take place without the help of participating projects and the Passivhaus community.