Passive House Case Study
White Hill Barn Passive House Infrared Heating Case Study
White Hill Barn is a contemporary low-energy family home in Hampshire designed around Passive House principles.
The property combines iHelios ceiling infrared heating with roof-integrated solar PV, battery storage, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, heat-pump hot water and highly insulated timber-frame construction.
The project demonstrates how responsive room-by-room electric heating can form part of a complete renewable-energy and low-heat-loss building strategy.
The challenge
The property required a heating system suited to a highly insulated and airtight home with exceptionally low space-heating demand.
A conventional wet central heating system would have introduced radiators, pumps, pipework and central plant that were not well matched to the building’s low heat requirement.
The system also needed to preserve usable wall space, support floor-to-ceiling glazing and maintain the clean architectural appearance of the interior.
Independent control was important because different areas of the home would require heat at different times and temperatures.
The heating design also needed to operate alongside solar generation, battery storage, MVHR and heat-pump domestic hot water.
The iHelios solution
An iHelios ceiling infrared heating system was selected to provide responsive, room-by-room electric heating throughout the property.
The heating was divided into 20 independently controlled zones, allowing different rooms and areas to operate according to their own temperatures and schedules.
Installing the heating at ceiling level removed the need for visible radiators and preserved valuable wall space.
The system provides heat only when required and is well suited to a home with low calculated heat loss.
The infrared heating operates as part of the wider energy strategy alongside roof-integrated solar PV, battery storage, MVHR and heat-pump hot water production.
System installed
• iHelios ceiling infrared heating
• 20 independently controlled heating zones
• Roof-integrated solar photovoltaic system
• Home battery storage
• Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery
• Heat-pump domestic hot-water system
• Highly insulated twin timber-frame construction
• Triple-glazed timber windows
• Rainwater-harvesting system
• No-dig screw-pile foundations
• Radiator-free interior design
Designed around renewable energy
White Hill Barn does not rely on one technology alone.
The roof-integrated solar PV system generates electricity that can be used by the home, including the infrared heating system when generation is available.
Battery storage can retain surplus solar electricity or lower-cost off-peak energy for use later.
MVHR recovers heat from outgoing air while supplying fresh, filtered air to the building.
A heat-pump water heater provides domestic hot water separately from the space-heating system.
Together, these technologies create an integrated all-electric strategy designed around the property’s low energy demand.
Results and outcomes
White Hill Barn demonstrates how infrared heating can form part of a complete low-energy home rather than operating as an isolated technology.
The completed system provides independent room-by-room temperature control without a central boiler, wet pipework or visible radiators.
The heating design supports the home’s low heat demand while preserving the clean architectural appearance of the interior.
The property combines responsive electric heating with solar generation, battery storage, MVHR and heat-pump hot water.
The result is a contemporary family home designed around year-round comfort, low operational energy demand and straightforward heating control.
Passive House infrared heating frequently asked questions
Is infrared heating suitable for a Passive House?
Yes. Passive Houses have very low heating demand because of their high insulation levels, airtight construction and reduced heat loss. Infrared heating can provide responsive room-by-room electric heating without radiators or water-filled pipework. The system should always be sized using the building’s calculated heat loss.
Why was infrared heating chosen instead of a wet heating system?
The property has a very low heating demand, so a conventional wet system with radiators, pumps, pipework and central plant was not considered necessary. Ceiling infrared heating provides an invisible installation, fast response and independent control of each zone.
Can infrared heating work with MVHR?
Yes. MVHR recovers heat from outgoing air and supplies fresh filtered air, while infrared heating provides additional room heat when required. The two systems perform different functions and can work together in a well-designed low-energy home.
Can solar panels power infrared heating?
Yes. Electricity generated by solar PV can be used by the infrared heating system when generation is available. Battery storage can retain surplus generation or lower-cost off-peak electricity for later use, although winter heating demand may still require grid electricity.
Can infrared heating be controlled room by room?
Yes. Separate thermostats and schedules can control individual rooms or heating zones, allowing different temperatures and avoiding unnecessary heating in unused areas.
Does a Passive House still need heating?
Most Passive Houses still require some space heating during colder periods, although demand is much lower than in conventional properties. The appropriate system depends on heat loss, occupancy, ventilation design and control requirements.
