Comparison of passive house construction types using analytic hierarchy process

The decision tree for a passive house, the priorities of criteria, the priorities of alternatives with regard to the criteria, and the final priorities of alternatives. •Criteria on choice of material for a passive house were identified by AHP analysis.•AHP analysis can be efficiently used for comparing different construction types.•AHP showed that the highest ranking criteria were health and psychological aspects.•AHP can help professionals and future dwellers for passive house optimization. In this study, in order to determine the advantages and disadvantages of the most common construction materials, different constructions types for passive houses, such as solid wood, wood-frame, aerated concrete, and brick, were compared with each other. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP), a widely used multi-criteria method, was applied to quantify the comparison. The analysis of different construction types based on quantifying different criteria for passive houses was performed on a case study. The AHP analysis revealed that the highest ranking criteria came into play here, notably well-being, the psychological aspect, and functionality in the wood construction considered as one of the most suitable options for passive houses. The AHP analysis can help professionals and future dwellers to make a reasonable choice on further optimizing and developing a particular aspect of the building process by giving them the possibility of comparing different alternatives on a common and comprehensive basis. In the light of the growing importance of energy-efficient building methods, it could be said that wood construction would play an increasingly important role in the future.