Latin American Passivhaus approach: an exploration of SDGs and policy

Although Passivhaus was first developed for mid- and northern European cold weathers, it has now spread and adopted in many other countries. The climatic conditions may have changed, but the primary goal is still the same: reduce energy consumption while providing high indoor environmental comfort levels. The Passivhaus Standard's recent uptake in Latin American countries brings exciting opportunities to develop and adapt for the certification.This work explores the Passivhaus Standard potential to shape the low-carbon, energy-efficient and healthy buildings practices and policy agenda. In doing so, we explore the Passivhaus positive contribution and negative implications for implementing the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Latin America. The discussions are presented in two separate contexts. The first examines the Passivhaus adoption in Latin America following the current practices and how it responds to five SDGs responding to the UN's specific targets and indicators. The second sets the context for building Passivhaus in Latin America using natural materials, particularly bio-based fibre materials. Therefore, this section builds upon the response to the SDGs discussing these new approaches. Finally, we explore the potential for design-led research to engage real people and communities, understand everyday problems and implement the 'right' solution, not just the 'newest technology.' The findings support the Passivhaus adoption, open the debate for policies and a straightforward transition to healthier and more energy-efficient buildings in the Latin American context.