PROJECTS being built to the Passivhaus standard now account for approximately 1% of all new homes under construction in the UK, according to new figures released by the Passivhaus Trust.
The organisation credited policy and funding changes, as well as the standard’s growing popularity as a solution to the energy bill crisis, with increased uptake within the UK construction industry.
The Trust is now setting its sights on achieving 10% of all new UK housing by 2035.
The Passivhaus Trust suggests the surge in popularity is down to a combination of factors, including political and economic changes.
The Scottish Government is currently developing a Scottish Passivhaus equivalent policy for new-build housing, which could include, as a minimum, a requirement that homes to the Passivhaus standard be considered ‘deemed to satisfy’ current building standards.
Passivhaus Trust data estimates there are over 2,250 certified Passivhaus homes in the UK and over 8,000 homes targeting Passivhaus currently in the pipeline. This represents 1% of all new UK housing, assuming that 2,000 projects in the pipeline will be built per year.
Jon Bootland, chief executive of the Passivhaus Trust, said, “This new data shows that Passivhaus standard is now a mainstream option in the UK. 1% is the figure that has been achieved by Passivhaus in the UK, but we now expect exponential growth.
“We’re aiming to move up from 1% to 10% of all new housing by 2035. We also want at least 50% of the industry to understand the principles behind Passivhaus. It’s a massive challenge. We need to really accelerate delivery. The Passivhaus Trust, as an independent, non-profit organisation, aims to provide the leadership the industry needs to do just that.”
