Passive House energy efficiency concept launched in Malta

Speaking at the conference, Prof Wolfgang Feist, co-founder of the Passive House Institute in Darmstadt, stated “Through Passive House design local developers can ensure that buildings have decreased, or even negligible, energy requirements for heating and cooling in summer and winter while at the same time maintaining high standards in indoor environments.”

The two day conference discussing the application of energy saving Passive House technology in the Mediterranean was this morning launched by the Minister of Rural Affairs George Pullicino and Passive House co-founder Prof Wolfgang Feist.

Pullicino said “If we are to realise our target in reducing the carbon footprint, we need to rethink the way we use energy in our day to day lives. The most logical point of departure is energy performance in buildings.”

The conference features speakers from Austria, Germany, Italy, Malta, and Spain and is being attended by representatives from the local architecture and engineering bodies, construction industry, international experts, and MRRA officials.

The Passive House concept was developed in northern climates to reduce energy consumption by employing heat retention technology in residential and commercial buildings.

Since the construction of the first Passive House in 1991 a further 30,000 Passive Houses have been built worldwide. The concept has grown to cover both construction as well as renovation of old buildings, including buildings of high heritage value.

The Passive House concept has also been implemented in a range of climates, including hot and humid ones, to raise standards in housing while lowering the energy requirements of buildings.

The Energy Performance Buildings Directorate (EPBD) sets EU standards in energy consumption by buildings. The EPBD was recast last May and further tightens the energy requirements of buildings throughout the EU.

The Passive House concept sets standards which meet or exceed those set in the EPBD, thus helping EU member states to meet the Commission's expectations.

Professor Topiano, Dean of the Faculty for the Built Environment, said “50% of energy consumption in Malta and Europe goes towards buildings and we need a change of culture to reduce unproductive consumption of energy. Furthermore we have a political commitment to reduce energy consumption on buildings. We need to start now if we are to meet the targets set by the Commission.”

The conference has been organised by Professor Alex Topiano, Dean of Faculty for the Built Environment, Dr Vincent Buhagiar from the Faculty for the Built Environment, and Architect Andrea-Nicole Schmidt, Certified Passive House Designer.