Passivhäuser für Mieter – Eine Chance für nachhaltiges Bauen und Wohnen

Abstract

The field of "building and dwelling" is especially important to the development of strategies for a sustainable consumption. About 30 percent of all energy and matter fluxes related to consumption occur in this field. Passive houses are an advancement of low-energy-houses. In Kassel/Germany, the first passive houses for tenants were built in 2000. One of these houses was evaluated regarding its ecologic, economic and social performance, thus considering the three dimensions of sustainable development. Physical values like heating energy consumption and room temperature were measured, and tenants were regularly interviewed about their expectations and experiences. The heating energy in the passive houses was reduced by a factor four compared to low-energy-houses. Lower energy consumption resulted in reduced energy costs for the tenants. Higher costs for heat insulation, windows and ventilating systems were compensated because no conventional heating system was implemented. The tenants widely claimed passive houses offer a higher dwelling comfort than conventional housing.