Are you planning to renovate your home but want it to perform beyond the usual standards? As the demand for energy efficiency and sustainable homes is on the rise, many homeowners seek to build or renovate their houses in such a way that they reduce their carbon footprint and keep energy bills in check. Consider looking into the Enerphit Passive House standard if you are one of them. This blog post will discuss Enerphit and how you can renovate your home to meet this standard.
What is Enerphit?
Enerphit is the Passive House Standard for retrofits of existing buildings. The rigorous standard optimises the home’s energy performance and indoor environment quality. The goal is to greatly reduce the building’s carbon footprint, energy consumption and generate comfortable living spaces. Enerphit focuses on three main areas: air-tightness, high insulation level, and an efficient mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery. These areas ensure that the building is airtight and well-insulated and that the air stays fresh and healthy.
Enerphit Renovation Process
Renovating to Enerphit requires a specific process that considers the already existing structure. This process generally involves a thorough energy audit through the PHPP (Passive House Planning Package) to identify the unique needs of the existing building and the subsequent design considerations. This energy audit helps determine the insulation process, glazing requirements, ventilation system, and other direct renovation needs. The renovation process also includes air-tight detailing, which means going beyond what is required by standard construction code. The process also involves proper mechanical ventilation with heat recovery to ensure air is circulated efficiently indoors at regulated temperatures.
Benefits of Enerphit Renovation
One of the most significant benefits of an Enerphit renovation is reducing energy bills and carbon emissions. Homes meeting this standard can reduce energy usage by 85-90%. Moreover, by renovating to Enerphit standards, you improve your home’s comfort levels. It allows for a cosy indoor environment with fresher, healthier air and temperature stability throughout the year. Enerphit renovations can also add value to your home and give you an edge over the conventional renovations happening down the street, and with the current interest rates rising as they are, a certified Enerphit project will attract low-interest rate funding with certain banking institutions.
Enerphit in Action
At iConstruct, we have recently completed two renovation projects to the Passive House standard.
One project was turning an early 1900s heritage conservation home in Queens Park, Sydney, into a home built to the Passive House standard. The existing frontage and four rooms were completely gutted and restored to their original glory, with all original features replicated, whilst adding a full open plan kitchen, dining and living area to the rear and adding a second story for bedrooms and bathrooms. By following all of the Passive House principles and PHPP detailing, we optimised this design to meet full Passive House certification standards while maintaining the heritage character and charm.
The other was another very run-down original heritage property in Willoughby. Again keeping the original existing frontage and replicating the detail, we added a beautifully designed large open plan kitchen, dining, living and rumpus area to the rear and added bedrooms and bathrooms as an addition to the top. With a highly insulated and ventilated home, double-glazed windows and a roof with full solar coverage, the owners enjoy a cosy, fresh indoor environment with temperature stability throughout the year and vastly reduced energy bills coming through the door.
Renovating your home can be costly in any case, but if you are spending that money, it is essential to ensure that your home is energy-efficient and promotes a healthy living environment and not just building to the bare minimum to meet “code”. The Enerphit standard is an excellent option for homeowners who want to renovate to higher standards that are currently offered and future-proof their homes. It provides all the benefits of a low-energy passive house while renovating what you already have. Although renovating to the Enerphit standard requires a specific process and detailing, it doesn’t necessarily have to impact design, and the efforts and investment are worth it in the long run.
So, if you plan to renovate, consider Enerphit Passive House standard and enjoy a comfortable, eco-friendly home get in touch for more information from the Passive Home Experts at iConstruct.
Quick Links
https://www.passivehouse-international.org/index.php
