Welcome to the Norrsken Passive House space. 

Here, you'll find information specifically tailored to your Passive House project. Browse our specialised Passive-specific product directory, read our previous customers' Passive House journeys with Norrsken and be inspired by our gallery of stunning Passive House builds. 

New to Passive House? 

The Passive House (or Passivhaus) standard is a building standard and construction concept designed to drastically increase the energy efficiency, comfort and longevity of a newly built property. Learn about Passive House requirements and benefits here. 

"The experience of living in the house is, frankly, amazing."

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French Doors
Sliding Doors


benefits of PASSIVE HOUSES


Why build a Passive House? Read about the standard - and what it means in real terms- here.

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REQUIREMENTS FOR PASSIVE HOUSE 


Technical and performance requirements for “the world’s leading standard in energy efficient design”.



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norrsken Passive Products 


Explore our Passive House range, technical information, cross-sectional views and typical U-values. 


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download PHPP data



Speed up your calculations. Download PHPP data for our products here.



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Why choose norrsken?


What sets us apart as your Passive House window and door supplier?



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EnerPHit & Passive Retrofits



Learn about the EnerPHit standard, a Passive-oriented retrofit approach. 



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PASSIVE HOUSE GALLERY


Find inspiration for your project with our gallery of stunning Passive House builds.



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PASSIVE HOUSE FAQS & Resources



Find answers to your frequently asked Passive House questions and a list of useful resources here.

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Benefits of Passive Houses

What's life in a Passive House like?



Start your Passive House journey 

Norrsken products are designed for homes of the future - homes owned by people who believe in lowering emissions and building to low-energy standards. They are designed and built with sustainability in mind, and are the natural choice for your Passive House project.

Get in touch to speak to one of our knowledgeable and experienced product specialists. Start the ball rolling on your Passive House windows today. 


SPEAK TO US

01202 632777

EMAIL US

HELLO@NORRSKEN.CO.UK

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Read our reviews from previous Passive House projects

We cannot recommend the Norrsken team and their windows highly enough

We cannot recommend the Norrsken team and their windows highly enough; from first contact... they dealt with us on our self-build Passivhaus in an exceedingly friendly and professional way... in spite of COVID and our many changes of mind!...read more

5 stars

Richard Bendy

We chose Norrsken over several other companies...

We chose Norrsken over several other companies and are very happy we did. Our [Passive] house is highly insulated and quite specialised in its design... Norrsken provided all glazing, including a very large slider, triple glazed throughout...read more

5 stars

Peter Vasey

 
Read more outstanding reviews of our expert team, our attention to detail and our fabulous products across a range of Passive and non-Passive House projects:
 



Explore the Passive House gallery

Find inspiration for your project with our stunning Gallery of Passive House builds. From traditional timber clad heating-free homes to contemporary apartment blocks, see our products at work in beautiful and striking buildings across the UK.


Eco Style Passive House

This self-build family home features our fully Passive-certified P41A windows alongside sliding and entrance doors. Says the client: ‘We chose Norrsken over several other companies and are very happy we did.’




Barn Style Passive House

Designed to look as traditional as possible, this Oxfordshire barn-style home makes fabulous use of our ultra-high performance P44A windows in a heating-free home.



Rural Passive House

Striking with its contemporary design, this Passive House home remains sympathetic to the rolling Staffordshire countryside around it. High performing 300-series windows were used throughout, along with framed and sliding doors.



Passive House Apartments

An Award-winning development of seafront apartments in Devon named ‘Sustainable project of the year’ in 2021. Features a wide range of products, including our panoramic S315A lift and slide doors.




Why choose Norrsken Windows for your Passive House? 

We've identified five key reasons. Follow any of the links below to learn more or click here to read the article. 

 

We're deeply passionate about energy efficiency, and our service reflects this commitment.


Superior Quality

Our superior products are designed for low energy and Passive house projects.


People & expertise

Our team has years of  experience and expertise that goes beyond merely windows and doors.


Customer Service

We're renowned for exceptional customer service, and we make customer satisfaction a priority at Norrsken.


Bespoke Products


Our products are bespoke, and we know the importance of meeting individual project requirements.

Always bespoke: unique Norrsken windows emerging from a green roof on a Passive House project in Devon.


At Norrsken, we understand the complexities of the Passive House process. 


We offer support and expert advice throughout with one primary goal: to provide our clients with an exemplary service from beginning to end, regardless of project size or budget. Whether you're building a Passive House or not, our service and products are unmatched. 

We work hard to maintain a reputation for integrity and attention to detail - more important nowhere than during a Passive House project. To deal with a diligent, committed and caring team for your Passive House project, enquire today. 

SPEAK TO US

01202 632777

EMAIL US

HELLO@NORRSKEN.CO.UK

FOLLOW US:

 







                       


Showroom Information

Where can you see our products?

We have three main showroom spaces for our products. Depending on the location, you can book a one-to-one appointment to discuss your project in full with a member of our sales team or discover a selection of our products yourself. 

Visit the Showroom page to learn more.



Tradeshows

Did you know? We also exhibit regularly at Tradeshows throughout the year. 

Tradeshows are a great way to get a feel for the kind of products you want to use in your project. They also often feature free masterclasses and seminars about everything from triple glazing to landscape design and are excellent learning spaces for new home builders. 

You can experience our fabulous products in person and discuss your project with our friendly and expert sales team in various location around the UK. Visit the Tradeshows update page or scroll down to the footer at the bottom of this page for up-to-date information on where you can see us next. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a passive house ?

The Passive House (or Passivhaus, in Europe) standard is a building standard and construction concept designed to drastically increase the energy efficiency, comfort and longevity of a newly built property. German physicist Wolfgang Feist founded the Passivhaus Institute (PHI) and created the Passivhaus performance standard.  

how do passive houses work ?

Passive Houses must meet criteria in five areas of the building envelope: thermal insulation; windows; ventilation; airtight construction; and eliminating thermal bridging. Building orientation is also used to capitalise on solar gain as a heat source. Careful planning guarantees the building is both very thermally efficient and extremely comfortable. 

do passive houses need heating ?

Passive buildings’ heating demand is capped at 15kWh/m2 per year - 80-90% less than the average domestic building. Passive Houses are designed to use passive heating sources such as sunlight and body heat to keep the building warm. Some Passive Houses are even built with no central heating system, although most use some form of active heating. 

what are passive house windows ?

Passive house requirements are performance-based. Windows must have a whole window U-value of 0.80W/(m²K) or less to be suitable. They are usually triple-glazed, with insulated frames or thermal breaks, one or more panes of Low-Emissivity (Low-E) glass, and contain inert gas between the glass panes. 

can you open windows in a passive house ?

You can open the windows in a Passive house to let fresh air in. This is the simplest and cheapest way of cooling your home in summer. Passipedia recommends having ‘at least one window in each room openable and having a tool to keep it fixed at a specific level.

do passive houses overheat in summer ?

No. Passive houses are designed to be comfortable in both low and high temperature periods. High levels of insulation actually help to keep the indoor temperature low in well-ventilated buildings during the summer. Read more about Passive Houses in summer here.

how much glazing can you have in a passive house ?

Solar gain, particularly through glazing on the south façade, is used as a heat source in passive houses, but too much glass causes overheating in high temperature periods. This is inefficient if cooling must be used and uncomfortable for occupants. The PHPP is used to balance these factors at the design stage. 

are passive houses expensive ?

It’s generally, but not always, true that Passive House construction costs more in components than a standard build. “Compared with standard construction, building to the Passivhaus standard incurred an extra cost of approximately 8%” (The Passivhaus Trust). AECOM found that the capital costs of new builds reimagined as Passive Houses were estimated to increase by less than 1%.

what are the most expensive components in passive houses ?

MVHR, wall & roof components are the largest extra-over costs on average. However, these may be offset as heating systems in Passive Houses tend to cost less than typical builds. Passive buildings’ heating demand is capped at 15kWh/m2 per year - 80-90% less than the average domestic building - which may offset component costs.  

can you build a passive house at no extra cost ?

Important early design decisions including building form, orientation & window design can drive efficiency.  Offsetting these design savings against the extra costs for the higher quality fabric, it is possible to deliver higher quality Passivhaus buildings at no extra cost by recouping the extra you spend on systems. Whether this is achievable in practice will vary from project to project.

do passive houses save money ?

Passivhaus delivers a 30% saving on energy bills compared to a typical new build using either a gas boiler or an Air Source Heat Pump (source: Passivhaus Trust). Passive buildings’ heating demand is capped at 15kWh/m2 per year - 80-90% less than the average domestic building - which may offset component costs.  

what's the difference between passive houses and net zero homes ?

Net zero homes must produce as much energy as they use in a year, generally incorporating renewable energy resources to do so, while Passive Houses’ heating demand must not exceed 15kWh/m2 annually. This is achieved by meeting more stringent criteria in the building design and construction than Net Zero requirements, so Passive Houses may require less solar energy to reach Net Zero.

what are the benefits of passive houses ?

Benefits of Passive Houses include energy savings, lower heating costs, a more durable building; a healthier, more comfortable living environment; other financial benefits such as access to reduced tariffs, lower maintenance costs and higher potential for green mortgages.

are passive houses environmentally friendly ?

Yes. “Passive House buildings are eco-friendly by definition: They use extremely little primary energy... The additional energy required for their construction [embodied energy] is insignificant compared with the energy they save later on." (Passipedia) 

are passive houses healthy ?

Passive houses use MVHR systems to supply fresh air consistently throughout the building. This ensures a higher quality, more hygienic and relatively condensation-free air supply. The risk of mould, damp and cold spots is reduced - healthier for the inhabitants, and more comfortable than in a typical home. 

where can i find uk passive house suppliers ?

The Passivhaus Trust is a UK affiliate of the International Passive House Association (iPHA). The PHT promotes the adoption of Passivhaus in the UK. You can find a comprehensive list of Passivhaus Trust members and components suppliers for UK Passive House projects here.

not building a passive house?

Why Norrsken is still for you.

Our Story

Who we are, and why we care about windows and doors.