EnerPHit

The EuroPHit project made use of and promoted EnerPHit, one of the most stringent and integrated standards available internationally for energy retrofits. The EnerPhit Standard, in turn, is based on the Passive House methodolgy and concept, a tried and true approach to efficient building with over 20 years of positive examples to show.

Passive House

Through a focus detailed planning paired with quality building components, superior insulation, ventilation with heat recovery, thermal bridge free design and airtight construction, Passive House buildings reach levels of energy efficiency and comfort that are practically unheard of in conventional buildings. Adherence to the strict Passive House criteria result in buildings with superior air quality and comfortable indoor temperatures year round that use up to 90% less energy than typical building stock, or less than 1.5 litres of oil or 1.5 cubic meters of gas to heat one square meter of living space for an entire year. Vast energy savings have also been demonstrated in warm climates where conventional buildings typically require active cooling. Over the last two decades, the Passive House Standard has gained rapidly in popularity and has proven to be a reliable approach in an ever increasing range of climates. With an estimated 50,000 units built worldwide as of 2013.

Retrofitting with Passive House principles: EnerPHit

Achieving the Passive House Standard in refurbishments of existing buildings is not always a realistic goal, due in large part to unavoidable thermal bridges in the existing structure. Renovations according to Passive House principles are made possible by retrofitting to the EnerPHit Standard (see criteria here). Based on Passive House principles, the EnerPHit Standard calls for high quality, energy efficient components. Setting the EnerPHit Standard as the target ensures that both the energy demand as well as the quality is future-proof.