Passivhaus standards body launches in the UK

Affiliated with the Passivhaus Institut in Germany via the International Passive House Association (iPHA), the Trust is a not-for-profit organisation which will focus on research, education and policy campaigns around the application of Passivhaus in the UK. 

It is backed by a group of founder members committed to supporting the Passivhaus approach to constructing ultra low carbon buildings, including Willmott Dixon, Hastoe Housing Association, Bramall Construction, Bere Architects, Architype, ECD Architects, Prewett Bizley Architects, Ecology Building Society, Knauf Insulation, brooksdevlin, ISG Pearce, Isover, Internorm Windows UK and the Scottish Passive House Centre.

Neil Cutland, a director of the Passivhaus Trust, says:

“There is phenomenal interest in Passivhaus around the world as a robust, proven and cost-effective way to help us cut carbon within the built environment.  The Trust will be the guardian of the Passivhaus standards in the UK.  Members will have access to the latest technical developments and research, written in English for a UK market, and significant support to help implement the standards in their projects.”

There are more than 50 Passivhaus projects underway in the UK, and many more designed using Passivhaus principles generally.  Passivhaus buildings achieve approximately a 75% reduction in space heating requirements, compared to standard practice for UK new build.

The Trust will coordinate a series of visits to UK Passivhaus projects next month, in association with the iPHA, and will publish its first technical briefing paper in December.  The Trust will also provide information about project support, training and guidance from leading Passivhaus experts to its member organisations, and aims to publish the first comprehensive directory and gallery of Passivhaus certificated projects in the UK in 2011.

Membership is open to any individual or organisation with an interest in Passivhaus, and includes free membership of the iPHA and access to its Passipedia database, as well as discounts on training, promotion of projects and involvement in the Trust’s working groups. 

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