IEE-project NorthPass: Promotion of the Very Low-Energy House Concept to the North European Building Market

The aim of the NorthPass IEE-project is increasing awareness and market acceptance of very low-energy houses in the North European construction market. This will be achieved by defining very low-energy house criteria and a concept for Northern Europe, finding solutions for removing market barriers in the wide market, removing the gap between demonstration projects and broad market penetration and supporting the implementation of the strategy and recommendations of the EU Commission. The project will increase the awareness and market acceptance of very low-energy house in the North European construction market, it will accelerate the identification of suitable solutions adapted to the cold climate environment and it will support the implementation of the EU Commission's recommendations regarding very low-energy buildings. NorthPass Steering group members have answered a questionnary about current market situation of passive houses, specific challenges of passive houses, most important technological barriers on passive house markets, most important non-technological barriers on passive house markets, and needs and hopes for NorthPass-project. A summary of the answers is presented in the conference paper.