ZeroHouse Glossary: 50 Passive and Energy-Efficient Building Terms

How to read

Each term includes its other-language equivalent and a full-article link. In calculations, check units, boundary conditions and definitions in the relevant method.

Misleading shortcuts

Do not confuse kW with kWh, Uw with Ug, airtightness with no ventilation, or Listed with recommendation. These substitutions change the meaning of a technical decision.

50 terms

Air barrier (Повітряний бар’єр)

A continuous layer with sealed joints and penetrations that controls air leakage. Read more

Airflow rate (Витрата повітря)

Air volume per unit time; measurement location and operating mode must be specified. Read more

Airtightness (Герметичність)

Limiting uncontrolled airflow through the envelope; not an absence of ventilation. Read more

ATS (ATS)

Automatic source transfer under agreed logic; not a substitute for electrical design. Read more

Blower Door (Blower Door)

A building air-leakage test using a controlled pressure difference. Read more

BMS (BMS)

A battery-management system supervising battery condition and operating limits. Read more

Bypass (Bypass)

An exchanger bypass under defined conditions; not active cooling generation. Read more

Capillary transport (Капілярне перенесення)

Movement of liquid water through pores; distinct from water-vapour diffusion. Read more

COP (COP)

Heat output divided by electrical input at specified operating conditions. Read more

CO₂ (CO₂)

Carbon dioxide, which can indicate ventilation in an occupied room but not every pollutant. Read more

Critical loads (Критичні навантаження)

Appliances or functions designated as priorities during an outage. Read more

Dew point (Точка роси)

The saturation temperature for a given water-vapour content; not a fixed location in a wall. Read more

DoD (DoD)

Depth of discharge relative to a defined battery capacity; permitted limits are product-specific. Read more

Energy demand (Потреба енергії)

Energy over a period, distinct from instantaneous power. Read more

Enthalpy exchanger (Ентальпійний теплообмінник)

An exchanger that can transfer some moisture as well as heat; not an active humidifier. Read more

ETICS (ETICS)

An external thermal insulation composite system with a finish, assessed as a system. Read more

External shading (Зовнішнє затінення)

Solar protection outside glazing; performance depends on geometry and operation. Read more

Frost protection (Frost protection)

Ventilation-unit frost protection, with its own operational and energy effects. Read more

g-value (g-значення)

The fraction of solar energy admitted through glazing under the assessment conditions. Read more

Ground-bearing floor (Підлога по ґрунту)

A floor whose interaction with ground, moisture and the thermal boundary needs specific assessment. Read more

Heat capacity (Теплоємність)

Energy required to change a body’s temperature by one kelvin; not thermal resistance. Read more

Heat load (Теплове навантаження)

Required heating power under defined design conditions. Read more

Inverter (Інвертор)

A power-conversion device; backup operation depends on its actual capabilities and system design. Read more

kW (кВт)

A power unit, not battery capacity or daily energy use. Read more

kWh (кВт·год)

An energy unit: one kilowatt sustained for one hour. Read more

Linear transmittance ψ (Лінійний коефіцієнт ψ)

Additional heat transfer per unit junction length under the chosen dimensional convention. Read more

Listed (Listed)

A directory profile exists; this is not certification, a guarantee or a recommendation. Read more

Modulation (Модуляція)

Variation of equipment output within its available range to match demand. Read more

MVHR (MVHR)

Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery and coordinated supply and extract. Read more

n50 (n50)

Air changes due to leakage at a 50 Pa pressure difference under the test method. Read more

Overheating (Перегрів)

An unacceptable summer temperature condition under a defined criterion, not simply a sunny window. Read more

Passive House (Пасивний будинок)

An energy-efficient building approach and voluntary standard with defined criteria; the label alone is not certification evidence. Read more

PHPP (PHPP)

The Passive House energy-balance planning tool; results depend on the inputs. Read more

Plinth (Цоколь)

The lower wall zone near ground level where thermal, water and mechanical protection meet. Read more

PV (PV)

Photovoltaic generation whose yield depends on climate, geometry and system losses. Read more

R-value (R-значення)

Thermal resistance; units and included layers must be stated. Read more

Relative humidity (Відносна вологість)

Water-vapour content relative to saturation at the same temperature. Read more

SFP (SFP)

Fan electrical input relative to airflow; compare the method and units. Read more

State of charge (Стан заряду)

An estimate of current battery reserve relative to the defined capacity. Read more

Temperature factor (Температурний фактор)

A dimensionless relationship between internal surface, indoor and outdoor temperatures. Read more

Thermal bridge (Тепловий міст)

A local heat-transfer variation caused by geometry or materials relative to the main planes. Read more

Thermal conductivity λ (Теплопровідність λ)

A material’s ability to conduct heat; the design value depends on conditions. Read more

Thermal envelope (Тепловий контур)

The boundary between temperature zones across which insulation and junctions are coordinated. Read more

Thermal mass (Теплова маса)

The ability of assemblies to store heat and interact with temperature changes. Read more

U-value (U-значення)

An element’s thermal transmittance, usually W/(m²·K), under a defined model. Read more

Uf (Uf)

Frame thermal transmittance, one input to the complete-window calculation. Read more

Ug (Ug)

Glazing thermal transmittance under defined conditions; not the whole installed-window result. Read more

Uw (Uw)

Thermal transmittance of the complete window product, not just its glazing. Read more

Vapour control (Пароконтроль)

Limiting vapour diffusion in a way suited to the complete assembly. Read more

Ventilation balancing (Балансування вентиляції)

Adjustment and measurement of flows to achieve the intended room distribution. Read more