A Multiple-Case Study of Passive House Retrofits of School Buildings in Austria

Abstract

Strong increases in energy efficiency in buildings is central to reducing energy consumption and costs, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, tackling climate change, and at the same time, improving energy security. The concept of “nearly zero energy buildings” gives an indication of what is considered achievable, and this has now been widely demonstrated for new buildings of all kinds. However, the large number of buildings that have already been built emphasises the need to carry out extensive energy efficiency upgrades of the existing building stock in order to the “nearly zero energy” concept to achieve its real societal importance. This article highlights retrofits of large buildings using Austrian schools as examples, which have been chosen to illustrate reductions of more than 80 % in heat demand. Key issues are addressed through a multiple-case study of four school retrofits in Austria. All four buildings demonstrate the achievement of the energy efficiency level of the Passivhaus standard for new buildings. They present a paradigm for this form of upgrades and thus validate the Passivhaus standard.