Still crazy after all these years – the Denby Dale Passivhaus, 15 years on

Well, actually not crazy at all, but leading the way in the sanest approach to building!

The Denby Dale Passivhaus is now 15 years old. Since completion it has been both an inspiration and an exemplar for a whole generation of construction professionals and others interested in creating buildings that are not only supremely comfortable and cheap to run but which also that address the climate crisis head on.

So, it was a great pleasure to see that the house is still leading the way and to welcome local MP, Jade Botterill, like thousands before her, to learn the lessons that Denby Dale has for us. Our brave pioneering homeowner, Kate Tunstall, had invited Jade to learn more about Passivhaus, and what better way than to visit her home - one of the very first Passivhaus homes built in the UK.

As former joint MD of the company – now 21 Degrees - responsible for pioneering Denby Dale and also as former Chair of the Passivhaus Trust, it was a very great pleasure to be able to join Jade and Kate to discuss some of the benefits of Passivhaus and the lessons that our Government really should be learning from it. In the end, though, it was the house that was the star, still lighting the way to better building after all those years.

Chris Herring, Founding Director.