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The passive house as a standard of energy-efficient architecture and construction, fifteen years after its first demonstration, is arguably still the leading issue in the field of energy efficiency, construction, environmental protection and sustainable development. The resolution of the Parliament of the European Union on 31 January, 2008, states that from 2011 passive houses or very low-energy buildings should become a standard of building.

Passive House, written by Ph.D. Martina Zbašnik Senegačnik, is well structured, the interpretation of issues is easily understandable and accompanied by good quality illustrations – drawings and a large number of original photographs. In addition to a general introductory thesis about the condition of the environment, the importance of energy in the built environment and energy standards, as well as definitions of low energy and passive to zero-energy homes, the first chapter is about comfort and economic determinants. The second chapter interprets the basic principles of design, physics and equipping with energy-efficient elements. The next chapter describes the solution of heat disruption of bridges, security and ventilation air vacuum. The sixth chapter explains the installation systems required – by definition a passive house includes a heat pump and active systems for converting solar radiation into heat energy and electricity. The book contains a glossary, index of terms, a list of links to literature and reference portals.

The book also functions as a manual for proper performance and supervision, because it contains many detailed plans and photos, reviews the performance of individual stages and testing of finished buildings. More than a hundred pages of text accompanied by superb photography parallel architectural implementation of different purposes. The author has visited almost all the reference sites, personally photographed individual family homes, multi-buildings and settlements, as well as the first passive public purpose buildings such as schools, hotels, religious and industrial buildings.

Please note: This book is only available in Croatian.