AECB in conversation with Dr Wolfgang Feist

The founder of Passivhaus and president of the Passivhaus Institut in Germany, Dr Wolfgang Feist, was the keynote speaker at the AECB's 2009 conference. The AECB's Peter Warm took the opportunity to ask the questions people often have about Passivhaus such as is heat recovery ventilation really so important? Why the emphasis on airtightness?

You can hear Dr Feist in his lucid, engaging style revealing the numerous benefits of Passivhaus beyond energy saving, discuss his inspirations, tackle the finer points of overheating risk, and remind us of the central purpose of a Passivhaus building – to offer quality of life.

Peter Warm and Dr Feist

Part 1
Why the world needs Passivhaus, what is a Passivhaus building?

Part 2
Not just energy – how heat recovery, airtightness and high-performance glazing deliver comfort and protect the building's fabric. Plus- why base performance calculations on floor area.

Part 3
Onsite generation, renewables and the UK's zero carbon target.

Part 4
Adoption of Passivhaus in the UK, finding contractors, and the role of the AECB

Part 5
Inspirations, intellectual satisfaction and how Passivhaus helps you create your own solutions

Technical appendix
Summer overheating targets, incidental gains – and losses, coping with inefficient UK appliances