FAQ: What is Passivhaus standard?

The Passivhaus standard is a strict, voluntary international building energy standard. It aims to drastically reduce a building's energy consumption by utilising a "fabric-first" design; this design requires highly insulated, airtight construction with advanced, controlled ventilation. This means homes can maintain constant, comfortable temperatures with minimal need for traditional heating or cooling.

The Passivhaus standard, originating in Europe, is becoming increasingly influential as a benchmark for low energy building design.

What are the core principles of Passivhaus standard?

The standard consists of three approach principles and five primary design principles.

The three approach principles are:

•    Evidence-based, clearly defined and detailed performance and comfort criteria
•    Passivhaus Planning Package (PHPP) as a model for each Passivhaus project
•    Quality assurance through careful verification at every stage of the build

The five key building principles are:

• High performance insulation
• Continuous airtight layer  
• High performance window specification & shading
• Efficient Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR):
• Minimised thermal bridge-free design

What are the key benefits of Passivhaus Standard buildings?

In terms of performance, Passivhaus buildings can achieve up to 90% reductions in heating and cooling energy demand compared to conventional buildings. Even when measured across total energy use, they can deliver around 50% lower energy consumption, demonstrating the scale of efficiency gains possible.

Across Europe, Passivhaus principles have been widely adopted, with tens of thousands of certified buildings and increasing use in residential, public, and commercial projects. In the UK, adoption is also growing as part of the industry’s efforts to meet net zero targets and reduce long-term operational energy use.

How can Eland Cables support Passivhaus projects?

As a supplier of power, data, and control cables to construction projects across the UK and Europe, we play a supporting role in enabling the delivery of modern buildings and infrastructure. Our focus is on ensuring that the right cable solutions are available, compliant, and ready to meet the changing needs of the industry.

Our product range covers a wide variety of construction applications, including power distribution, building management systems, fire performance, and EV infrastructure, supporting projects from residential developments through to large‑scale commercial and infrastructure builds.

We work closely with contractors, developers, and project stakeholders to help ensure that materials are available when and where they are needed, providing reliable supply backed by responsive service. 
As construction continues to evolve - driven by electrification, sustainability, and digitalisation - we remain part of that wider ecosystem, helping to support projects with the infrastructure required to deliver safe, efficient, and future‑ready buildings.