Passivhaus Plus Home, Weetwood, Leeds
The house replaces an existing 1960’s detached residence to provide a high quality 4 bedroom Passivhaus Plus building, designed to maximise the site’s potential while respecting and enhancing the character of the area. To achieve Passivhaus Plus, a building needs to generate its own renewable energy to meet or exceed its own operational needs.
It is designed for optimum flexibility of present and future use, providing adaptable layout suited for needs at all stages of life, while also functioning well as a family home and minimising environmental impact throughout its lifetime.
The main structure is provided by a highly insulated timber frame to meet the stringent low energy targets. The project also features high performance windows from 21 degrees, a contemporary steel and glass staircase, luxurious and sustainable cork flooring, and acoustic ceilings within main living spaces.
The services strategy was developed closely with the client to be simple and effective, with simplicity of operation and installation.
The home is all electric heating and hot water, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, a 3-phase electrical supply, a large Solar Photovoltaic (PV) system and battery and multiple car charging points. It has no gas or wet heating systems making it economic to install and operate.
The 16kW PV system covers the entire south facing roof, having been specifically designed to maximise the available space for the PV and using roof integrated panel system eliminated the need for additional roof tiles. The energy generation is predicted to be greater than the whole energy needs of the house, including all the heating, hot water and appliance use. Easily meeting the definition for a net zero building and meeting the very demanding Passivhaus plus definition.
Being a Passivhaus, the heating energy demands for the home are very low and the primary energy demands are from the hot water and general electrical energy uses for cooking and other appliances.
To meet the heating needs and create very comfortable conditions the ground floor reinforced concrete slab, that is floating on a bed of thick insulation, was fitted with enough heating elements to meet the load for the whole house. The very high thermal mass of the floor means that the temperature is very stable and it very gently warms the whole house. To reduce their energy bills the owners are able use the floor as a thermal store or “heat battery” and recharge with cheap rate electricity from the grid or excess solar electricity.
| Client: | Private client |
| Services Provided: | Architecture, Full Building Services Design, Passive House Design |
| Dates: | Completed August 2024 |
| Contract Value: | Undisclosed |
| Main Contractor: | Inspired Builds |
| Technologies and Unique Features | Certified Passivhaus Plus. Solar PV array, MVHR |
