In 2018, Carmen and Andra Sprânceană, mother and daughter, made the decision to build a house in the center of Bacău, more precisely a passive house on a wooden structure, from Dimmer. In the context of the current energy crisis and rising energy prices, Andra Sprânceana talked about what it means to live in a passive house.
What were the requirements you wanted your future home to meet? Did you have a very clear idea of what you wanted?
Yes, we knew from the very beginning that it would have to be ecological, from natural materials. I could not in any way conceive of living among the concrete.
It was clear to me from the beginning that the future house would have to be sustainable and consume as few resources as possible. The passive house concept allowed me to do that – and it also gave me the comfort I wanted.
Why did you choose to build on a wooden structure?
It seemed to me the best option both for me and for the environment. I wanted a house that would breathe and be healthy for me and my family, but it was also important not to consume a lot of resources, neither during the construction stage nor in the future.
The fact that it was being built so quickly meant a lot. That’s how we managed to demolish the old house, build the new one, and move in less than 1 year. The house was erected in 4 days and the actual duration of the construction site was 48 working days.
Where did you find out and how did the process of choosing suppliers go?
I started searching the internet for information on how to build more sustainably. I have to admit that not having knowledge in the field, I knew nothing about it before we started building.
I had already decided that I would build on a wooden structure, and Dimmer was recommended to me by a friend who had gone through the construction process some time ago.
You moved into your new house almost 3 years ago. How does your life look now compared to your previous living experience?
If I think about the biggest difference between the way I lived before and the experience in the new house, the first thing that comes to mind is the air quality. I can’t express in words how nice it is to wake up in the morning in fresh air, not stuffy, without having to get out of bed first and open the windows to air it out.
I didn’t understand the purpose of the ventilation system at first, and the constant fresh air thing didn’t seem like anything until we moved in and felt it on my skin.
There are some other advantages that come with the ventilation system – constant humidity without beating your head with humidifiers or dehumidifiers, and the fact that I didn’t have to open the windows also got rid of bugs. Those who live at home know how important it is to be free of spiders. Also, I’ve never had any odors in the house, and it doesn’t collect a lot of dust either thanks to the filters in the ventilation system.
In short, it’s a comfort that I didn’t know I really wanted, but now that I have it, I miss it every time I don’t sleep at home.
What was the initial investment in heating-cooling systems, ventilation and photovoltaic panels, and what are the costs involved in maintaining a passive house over the course of a year?
The photovoltaic panels were 10,000 euros, the heat pump with underfloor heating 13,000 euros, and the ventilation system with heat recovery 7,000 euros.
So far, we haven’t had any maintenance work, nor have we had to pay attention to anything.
Air filters in the ventilation system are changed regularly, depending on the area you are in, and they are not expensive. Otherwise, I only make sure to set the temperature directly from the phone twice a year – in autumn and spring.
What do the monthly household expenses look like?
Exactly as in the picture below, where you can see the complete situation of invoices paid in the years 2021 and 2022, exported directly from the E-ON account.
The bills paid in the years 2021 and 2022 for electricity
We don’t have gas, only electricity, and these expenses include everything – heating water, heating and cooling the house, consumption of appliances in the house, etc.
In winter, we keep the temperature in the house at 21-22 degrees, and in summer at 20-21 degrees.
More information
Information about the Sprânceană house and more details during the construction site, HERE. The interview was conducted by the Dimmer team, timber frame house manufacturers who for over 30 years have been delivering timber frame houses in various energy efficient configurations, environmentally friendly and built to high quality standards to European customers.