Passive Design

Passive Design is the control of heating, cooling, ventilation and lighting without using products that consume energy. Homes that are passively designed make the best use of natural energy flows to maintain thermal comfort. It is the first step towards designing any low carbon building and can help to reduce the energy consumption of a dwelling.

PassivHaus: ‘The term 'PassivHaus' refers to a specific construction standard for residential buildings which have excellent comfort conditions in both winter and summer'. The PassivHaus web site includes basic principles, outline specification, examples, construction products and services. The site also has a planning package and includes consultancy and certification. The PassivHaus standard is comparable to Code level 5 as identified by Greenspec, a definitive guide to green building design, products, specifications and construction.
http://www.passivhaus.org.uk
http://www.europeanpassivehouses.org
http://www.greenspec.co.uk/

Canadian Super E Standard Super E® is a method of building comfortable, energy efficient, high quality housing that was originally developed by Natural Resources Canada, a Federal Government Department. The website will give you access to the technology used in the design.
http://www.super-e.com/html/uk/0uk1.html

Passivehouse Solutions supply energy saving and sustainable construction systems to reduce the footprint of new builds as well as refurbished properties.
http://www.passivehouse.co.uk

Newform Energy
Newform Energy is a company that works in close partnership with Passivehouse Solutions to provide sustainable, economic and environmental solutions as part of the government's Zero Carbon Strategy.
http://www.newformenergy.com/index.php

SustainableBuild was formed to offer a unique reference point on green construction techniques and advice to help you build in an eco-friendly way. This site includes information and advice about land and the appropriate construction.
http://www.sustainablebuild.co.uk/PassiveDesign.html

Woking Borough Council: Site Layout and Building Design Good Practice.
This guide incorporates principles of designing new developments to maximise passive solar energy by applying simple layout and building design principles.
http://www.woking.gov.uk/council/planning/publications/climateneutral2/sitelayoutand