Passive House Savings Calculator
Passive House design slashes heating and cooling energy demand. Model annual savings, payback period, and emissions reductions for new construction or retrofit scenarios.
Typical existing homes range from 150–250 kWh/m²·yr.
Passive House heating demand is typically <15 kWh/m²·yr.
Deep retrofits often range from $250–$400 per m².
Use local utility or national averages.
Baseline annual energy
22,500 kWh
Passive House energy
6,750 kWh
Annual energy savings
15,750 kWh
Annual cost savings
$2,835
Payback period
15.87 years
Emission reductions
5,040 kg CO₂/yr
How to Use This Calculator
Enter building parameters
Provide conditioned floor area and current energy intensity for heating, cooling, and ventilation.
Define Passive House scenario
Input expected energy intensity after retrofit/new build, along with local energy prices and emission factors.
Evaluate savings and payback
Use annual savings and payback period to assess financial and climate benefits of the Passive House approach.
Formula
Baseline Energy = Area × Baseline Intensity
Passive Energy = Area × Passive Intensity
Savings = (Baseline − Passive) × Price
Payback = (Area × Retrofit Cost) ÷ Annual Savings
Example: A 150 m² home dropping from 150 to 45 kWh/m² saves ~15,750 kWh annually. At $0.18/kWh, that’s $2,835 saved per year. A $45,000 retrofit pays back in ~15.9 years and avoids 5,040 kg CO₂ annually (0.32 kg/kWh).
Include solar PV or incentives externally to refine ROI further.
About the Passive House Savings Calculator
Passive House is a rigorous energy standard emphasizing airtight construction, high-performance insulation, and heat recovery ventilation. This calculator quantifies energy and cost benefits to support informed decision-making.
When to Use This Calculator
- Retrofit planning: Evaluate ROI before undertaking envelope upgrades.
- New construction: Compare Passive House design to local building code baseline.
- Policy analysis: Estimate savings potential of incentive programs.
- Climate reporting: Convert energy savings into emissions reductions.
Why Use Our Calculator?
- ✅ Evidence-based: Includes standard Passive House intensity benchmarks.
- ✅ Financial + climate lens: Combines cost and carbon savings in one tool.
- ✅ Sensitivity-friendly: Quickly adjust parameters to test scenarios.
- ✅ Simple interface: No spreadsheets required for early-stage feasibility.
Common Applications
Architects: Present energy ROI to clients considering Passive House features.
Developers: Compare different efficiency packages during value engineering.
Utilities: Quantify savings eligible for demand-side management incentives.
Tips for Best Results
- Use detailed energy models to refine intensity inputs for specific climates.
- Include maintenance costs of mechanical systems (HRVs) when evaluating lifecycle costs.
- Consider financing incentives and tax credits to shorten payback.
- Pair with renewable energy generation to achieve net-zero performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Passive House eliminate heating systems?
Not always. Passive House drastically reduces heating load, often enabling smaller systems. Adjust intensity inputs for your HVAC design.
Can I include cooling savings?
Yes. The intensity figures combine heating, cooling, and ventilation. Use detailed energy audits for climate-specific breakdowns.
What about embodied carbon?
This tool focuses on operational energy. Add embodied carbon of materials separately to assess total lifecycle impact.
Do I need to meet full certification?
No. You can use the calculator to evaluate near-Passive or phased retrofits by adjusting target intensities.