Below is a complete, detailed explanation of our Certified Modular Passive House system and the energy-savings table, focusing on how each value is calculated, why we used Germany as an example, and how savings can be even larger in other countries (or for bigger/heated spaces, such as an attached garage). We also include all disclaimers to ensure you have a realistic, comprehensive understanding of the potential benefits.
What Is a Passive House?
A Passive House is a type of building designed for ultra-low energy consumption, mainly for heating (and sometimes cooling). It achieves this through:
High-Quality Insulation
Thick insulation around walls, roof, and floors, minimizing heat loss.Airtight Construction
Careful sealing of joints, doors, and windows to prevent unwanted drafts and energy leaks.Advanced Glazing & Frames
Typically triple-glazed windows and insulated frames that retain internal heat.Heat Recovery Ventilation
A system recovering heat from outgoing air and transferring it to incoming fresh air, drastically reducing heating needs.Optimal Building Orientation
Placing the building and windows to maximize solar gains in cold seasons and minimize thermal bridges.
When these elements are correctly implemented, a Passive House can achieve a specific heating demand of about 15 kWh/m²/year—far lower than a typical older German home, which uses ~112 kWh/m²/year.
1. Background: Traditional vs. Passive House in Germany
We took Germany as an example in our calculations because it has comprehensive data on average building consumption (112 kWh/m²/year) and an estimated 2024–2025 energy price (€0.40/kWh). Many older German homes fall around this energy use level due to moderate insulation, conventional windows, and typical heating systems.
Important Note for Other Countries:
In many regions around the world, the average heating consumption can be even higher than Germany’s ~112 kWh/m²/year. Consequently, the potential savings with a Passive House are often greater as well. For example, if your climate is harsher or your current building stock is less efficient, the difference between 15 kWh/m²/year (Passive House) and the local average can be even more substantial.
Traditional House Consumption (~112 kWh/m²/year)
Represents an average for older or standard buildings in Germany, supported by national studies and energy audits.
Real homes may vary; large, poorly insulated, or heated garages and extra spaces can push consumption even higher.
Passive House Consumption (~15 kWh/m²/year)
A certified Passive House typically aims for ≤15 kWh/m²/year for space heating.
Achieving this standard requires optimal orientation, high-performance insulation, airtight construction, and heat recovery ventilation.
Our Modular Passive House system is certified and can reach these values in climates similar to Germany’s if conditions are right (e.g., favorable site, design, occupant habits).
Germany’s Average Energy Price (€0.40/kWh)
We use an assumed €0.40/kWh, based on market projections and regional data for 2024–2025.
Actual prices differ by supplier and region. Higher or lower energy costs directly affect your final annual savings.
2. The Table Columns Explained
Our table compares various house sizes in a traditional scenario vs. a Passive House scenario. Below is an explanation of each column:
Country / Size (m²)
For instance, “Germany 24” refers to a living area of 24 m². This is heated/occupied space, not total built-up area (important when considering attached garages or unheated rooms).
Traditional Specific Heating Demand (kWh/m²/year)
We use 112 kWh/m²/year (German average). Multiply this by the living area to get total annual consumption.
Passive House Specific Heating Demand (kWh/m²/year)
We use 15 kWh/m²/year (Passive House target). Multiply by the living area for the total annual Passive House consumption.
Total Annual Consumption – Traditional (kWh/year)
Living area (m²)×112 (kWh/m²/year)
Total Annual Consumption – Passive House (kWh/year)
Living area (m²)×15 (kWh/m²/year)
Energy Price (€/kWh)
Set at €0.40/kWh for illustration.
Annual Cost – Traditional (€/year)
Traditional kWh/year×€0.40
Annual Cost – Passive House (€/year)
Passive kWh/year×€0.40
Annual Savings (with 0.75 Factor)
Theoretical Annual Savings = (Cost Traditional) – (Cost Passive).
Realistic Annual Savings = Theoretical Savings × 0.75.
We apply a 0.75 factor to account for real-world conditions such as occupant behavior, suboptimal orientation, or minor construction variations.
10-Year / 30-Year / 50-Year Savings (with 0.75 Factor)
Multiply the “Annual Savings (with 0.75)” by 10, 30, or 50 to get cumulative savings.
We emphasize 50 years because buildings often last for decades, making long-term savings crucial.
3. Example Calculation: “Germany 24” (17.6 m²)
This row in the table illustrates how each figure is derived:
Living Area: 17.6 m²
Traditional Specific Demand: 112 kWh/m²/year
Traditional Total = 17.6 × 112 = 1,971.2 kWh/year
Passive House Specific Demand: 15 kWh/m²/year
Passive Total = 17.6 × 15 = 264 kWh/year
Annual Cost – Traditional:1,971.2 (kWh/year)×€0.40≈€788.48 (Minor rounding may show slight variations in the table.)
Annual Cost – Passive House:264 (kWh/year)×€0.40≈€105.60
Theoretical Annual Savings:€788.48−€105.60≈€682.88
Annual Savings (with 0.75 Factor):€682.88×0.75≈€512.16
50-Year Savings (with 0.75 Factor):€512.16×50≈€25,608
(Rounding differences may appear in the table’s final values.)
4. Focus on 50-Year Savings
Although we show 10-, 30-, and 50-year savings, the 50-year figure is most illustrative of a building’s long-termlifecycle:
Longevity of Buildings: Homes often remain occupied for half a century or more.
Magnitude of Savings: Even modest annual differences become massive over several decades.
Rising Energy Prices: If energy costs increase, actual savings could exceed these calculations.
Example 50-Year Savings (with 0.25 error Factor)
Germany 24: ~€25,000+
Germany 48: ~€52,000+
Germany 95: ~€115,000+
Germany 142: ~€180,000+
(Exact numbers can shift with rounding and occupant factors.)
5. The Certified Modular Passive House System
How We Achieve Passive House Values
Precision Prefabrication
Modules are constructed in a factory setting, reducing on-site errors and ensuring consistent quality.
Results in tighter airtightness and superior insulation detailing.
Optimized Insulation & Glazing
Cutting-edge materials minimize thermal bridges.
Triple-glazed windows with insulated frames further reduce heat loss.
Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery
Captures 80–90% of heat from outgoing air, drastically cutting heating requirements.
Maintains fresh, comfortable indoor air.
Adaptability to Site Conditions
Even if orientation or shape isn’t perfect, we still achieve a highly efficient result—well below the traditional 112 kWh/m²/year level.
Why a 25% margin of error?
Real-world performance can differ from theoretical calculations. Factors include:
Occupant Behavior (window use, preferred temperatures, etc.)
Local Climate anomalies
Slight Construction Deviations
By applying 25%, we ensure a very conservative, realistic estimates so you can plan with confidence.
6. Key Advantages for You
Substantially Lower Energy Bills
Whether you hit 15 kWh/m²/year exactly or slightly above, you’ll still see a dramatic reduction in heating costs compared to older designs.Fast, High-Quality Construction
Our modular system expedites on-site assembly and uses top-tier building materials with consistent factory precision.Long-Term Investment Value
The 50-year perspective underscores how small annual savings add up to large financial returns over your home’s lifespan.Environmental Benefits
Cutting energy usage significantly reduces CO₂ emissions, aligning with greener building standards and future regulations.Enhanced Comfort & Indoor Air Quality
Heat recovery ventilation ensures constant fresh air, stable indoor temperatures, and fewer drafts.Even Greater Savings Elsewhere
If you’re in a region with higher average consumption than Germany or if you currently have an underinsulated structure (such as a heated garage or large open-plan), your energy-saving potential may be even bigger.
7. Important Disclaimers
Exact Performance Varies
Achieving 15 kWh/m²/year depends on ideal design, orientation, and occupant usage. Homes not fully optimized will still see major improvements over traditional standards.Energy Prices Fluctuate
We use €0.40/kWh for Germany; real rates (and future changes) might increase or decrease your actual costs/savings.Occupant Behavior & Additional Spaces
Frequent window opening, higher indoor temperatures, or heating an attached garage may raise consumption. Our 0.75 factor partly accounts for these variations.Illustrative Figures
The examples in our table are for demonstration. A professional, project-specific energy model is recommended for precise predictions.Margin of Error (0.25)
We deliberately downgrade theoretical savings by 25% to avoid over-promising. In real life, you may actually match or exceed the theoretical values—but we prefer a prudent estimate.
8. Conclusion & Next Steps
By selecting our certified Modular Passive House solution:
You could reduce heating demand from ~112 kWh/m²/year to around 15 kWh/m²/year (or close) in climates similar to Germany’s.
Even 75% of these theoretical savings can sum up to tens or hundreds of thousands of euros across 50 years.
You’ll benefit from rapid construction, rigorous factory quality control, and a future-proof, eco-friendly design.
Ready to get started?
Contact us today to discuss how our Modular Passive House approach can be adapted to your site, budget, and personal preferences. With faster build times and significantly lower running costs, it’s a forward-thinking investment that can pay off for decades—wherever you are.