Aspects
There are several basic terms related to eco construction (energy-efficient house, passive house, active house, smart house, bio-positive house), and interpretation of these terms may vary. Due to this reason we believe it is important that at first we should present our own vision of these terms to make a clearer image.
Ecohouse
Energy consumption of such houses does not yet equal to zero, but it is significantly lower than energy demands of common houses. This is the first step on the way to passive house and active house concepts.
A passive house is a house with minimal energy consumption. Thanks to energy-efficientarchitectural solutions heat losses are minimized, and house's minimal demand for energy is covered by using alternative energy sources.
It is the next step after the passive house. Especially strong heat insulation and active usage of green energy sources allows this house not only to cover energy consumption needs completely, but also to transmit surplus of electric energy to an electrical network. This is the way a passive house can pay itself back over time.
When people hear this they usually think of remote and/or autonomous control of householdequipment. But there is another side of this concept - energy usage is also carefully adjusted according to inhabitants' amount and lifestyle.
This concept is double-sided as well. Biopositivitymeans that eco materials are used for construction. Manufacturing, utilizing and recycling of such materials should not harm the environment. Moreover, living in a house built of these materials should be favorable for human health. It is important to emphasize that special attention should be paid to choice of a construction site.
All these aspects can be implemented in your new house, separately or altogether. You may choose how energy-effective your house will be (energy-efficient, passive or active), and you may complete the building with biopositivity and smart house aspects. Presently the optimal solution for the Baltics is construction of a energy-efficient or passive, and simultaneously biopositive house.
