Passive House as energy standard for urban development in Heidelberg-Bahnstadt zero-emissions area
Ralf Bermich
City of Heidelberg, Environmental Protection Bureau, Trade Supervision and Energy
Introduction
Passive Houses show high growth rates, but nevertheless they are still limited to a niche market pushed by ecologically minded building investors and architects. Based on practical experience from this project, however, it seems that the Passive House Standard is ready for broad implementation. For the first time, an entire city district – Heidelberg’s Bahnstadt – is being built to the Passive House Standard, with a large number of different types of buildings. Bahnstadt is therefore the world’s largest Passive House area. This is possible because of a scientifically sound and politically supported energy concept comprising technical standards, obligations based on planning law and contracts, energy consulting, quality assurance, awareness-raising, and financial incentives. In addition, cogenerated district heat and electricity supply from a wood-fired heat plant makes Bahnstadt a zero-emissions district.
