The German Passive House (Passivhaus) design uses an airtight shell, super-insulation, superior windows, and a heat exchanger for ventilation to achieve 90% or greater reductions in energy use relative to conventional housing. More than 25,000 Passive Houses have been built in Germany, Austria and other countries, and now Habitat for Humanity of Madison & Clark Counties will be building a passive house this spring in Berea.
