Part 5/8:
- Airtightness: Measuring air changes per hour (ACH) is essential for evaluating a building's airtightness. Lower ACH values indicate better performance, and European standards typically surpass American benchmarks. For example, a Passive House must not exceed an ACH of 0.6.
The Role of Energy Codes
America's fragmented approach to energy codes exacerbates the inefficiencies in residential construction. State and local guidelines are often outdated or nonexistent, leading to a patchwork of building standards. In contrast, European nations maintain comprehensive codes that contribute significantly to improving energy efficiency.