Passive House incorporates strategies based on building science to minimize the use of energy while maximizing comfort and quality of life. Passive House standards are some of the most demanding in the construction industry. Certification requires demonstrated design and documented adherence to measurable standards followed by testing to verify that performance is met. A building that meets Passive House standards can be both cost-effective and eco-friendly, thanks to its innovative approach to ventilation, heating and cooling. Passive House buildings can use as little as 1/10th the energy of standard code-compliant construction.
Based in Darmstadt, Germany, The Passive House Institute (PHI) is the world’s leading source of Passive House research, certification and training. It was founded in 1996 by Dr. Wolfgang Feist, who, together with Professor Bo Adamson, originated and developed the Passive House standards. ‘Passive House’ is not limited to houses. Currently certified buildings internationally include urban towers, dormitories, churches, laboratories, public housing, libraries, schools and numerous other categories. All building types are capable of including Passive House energy strategies.
PHI offers independent testing and certification for buildings and building components, and consults on the development of new products. It hosts the International Passive House Conference, an annual gathering of thought leaders and innovators. It also holds sessions for the Research Group for Cost-effective Passive Houses, to address questions and challenges in the field and to identify new projects.
PHIUS is a non-profit organization that split from PHI in 2007 and promotes standards, practices, and certifications that are specific to North America. These standards and practices take into account the varied climate zones across the U.S. and use similar but different calculations and systems of measurement than PHI.
PHIUS has established a network of member-based chapters through Passive House Alliance US (PHAUS), and hosts workshops and conferences for design professionals. They train builders to become Certified Passive House Consultants or PHIUS Certified Builders, and offer training in PHIUS + Rater verification and the WUFI Passive modeling tool.
In North America, one can receive Passive House Certification from either PHIUS or PHI. Buildings which are PHIUS-certified receive a positive HERS rating, meet RESNET (Residential Energy Services Network) Third-Party Quality Assurance requirements, and are awarded Zero Energy Ready Home status from the U.S. Department of Energy.
Achieving the Passive House Standard in refurbishments of existing buildings is not always a realistic goal, one of the reasons being that basement walls remain as barely avoidable thermal bridges even after refurbishment. For such buildings, the Passive House Institute has developed EnerPHit for certified energy retrofits with Passive House Components. This requires either meeting climate-zone-dependent requirements on heating and cooling demand or alternatively the consistent use of Passive House components