The Passive House Advantage
At LTA, we believe Passive House is one of the most effective ways to design and build across project types. It’s a performance-based standard that prioritizes energy efficiency, comfort, and indoor air quality—resulting in buildings that are healthier to occupy and more resilient over time. With significantly reduced energy use, better thermal performance, and lower operating costs, Passive House offers long-term value while making a meaningful environmental impact. It’s a thoughtful, proven approach that reflects our commitment to designing buildings that work better—for people and for the planet.
AIR TIGHT ENVELOPE
Passive Houses are built with an exceptionally airtight envelope, tested to ensure no more than 0.6 air changes per hour under pressurization. Achieving this requires detailed coordination across all trades, using continuous air barriers and careful sealing of all joints, penetrations, and service entries. The result is a home that prevents drafts, moisture intrusion, and energy loss, while enhancing acoustic performance.
OPTIMAL ORIENTATION & SHADING
Large, south-facing windows are used to harvest solar heat during the winter, while properly designed overhangs, exterior shading devices, or vegetation prevent overheating during the summer. These passive strategies reduce mechanical heating and cooling demand and contribute to occupant comfort year-round.
HEAT EXCHANGE SYSTEM
Passive Houses employ a mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery. This balanced system supplies filtered fresh air to living spaces and extracts stale air from kitchens and bathrooms. Through a heat exchanger, it captures up to 90% of the heat from outgoing air and transfers it to incoming air, maintaining indoor temperature without the need for constant heating or cooling..
SUPER INSULATED
One of the most foundational elements is superinsulation, which involves insulating the entire building envelope—walls, roof, and floor—to levels well beyond standard code requirements. This minimizes heat transfer, keeping interiors warm in winter and cool in summer with minimal energy input. The insulation is continuous and uninterrupted to prevent thermal losses, forming a critical layer of the building’s energy strategy.
RENEWABLE ENERGY
Because Passive Houses use very little heating and cooling energy, relatively small renewable systems—typically solar photovoltaic (PV) panels—can supply most or all of the required electricity. This is especially effective in homes that also use electric-based heating, hot water, and cooking, eliminating reliance on fossil fuels.
OTHER PASSIVE MEASURES
While not required for Passive House certification, additional passive strategies like sealed-combustion wood stoves and cross ventilation can help further reduce energy use. Wood stoves must draw air from outside, vent exhaust separately, and be airtight and high-efficiency to align with Passive House standards. Cross ventilation, achieved by strategically placed openings, provides natural cooling and requires a site-specific analysis of wind patterns.