What is Passive Building?

Passive building utilizes five core principles to create safe, resilient, comfortable and – most importantly – energy efficient structures, from commercial to residential to multifamily. Phius sets the standard for passive house in North America and has certified 3,000+ professionals.

Principles of Passive Building

  • Using continuous insulation throughout the building envelope to minimize or eliminate thermal bridging
  • Building a well-detailed and extremely airtight building envelope, preventing infiltration of outside air and loss of conditioned air while increasing envelope durability and longevity
  • Employs high-performance windows (double or triple-paned) and doors - solar gain is managed to exploit the sun's energy for heating purposes in the heating season and to minimize overheating during the cooling season
  • Using some form of balanced heat- and moisture-recovery ventilation to significantly enhance indoor air quality
  • Minimizing the space conditioning system because of lower space conditioning loads

The Smartest Way to Zero

Buildings designed according to Phius passive house standards provide energy savings of 40-60%, compared to regular buildings. In the quest for net zero in the building industry, passive is truly the only answer — and Phius sets the standard.
Learn More About Zero

Start Your Passive Building Journey with Foundations Training

The self-paced Passive Building Foundations Training offers an introduction to the basic principles of passive building and Phius. It is ideal for anyone without technical training who is interested in what passive building has to offer. Those who complete the course and pass the exam are recognized as Phius Associates.

A Better Way Forward: The Advantages of Passive Building

Safe

Safe

Phius-certified buildings go through a rigorous quality control process, ensuring safety for the environment and the building inhabitants.

Resilient

Resilient

Phius buildings have been proven to be more resilient in the event of natural disasters, such as wildfires and extreme heat and cold events.

Healthy

Healthy

Superb indoor air quality is a prerequisite for Phius certification – you can count on a healthy environment.

Durable

Durable

The holistic design of Phius buildings make them uniquely built for the long haul.

Comfortable

Comfortable

Superinsulation and efficient mechanical systems help maintain the strict comfort standards required for Phius certification.

Affordable

Affordable

Phius projects require minimal to no additional upfront costs, while guaranteeing substantial energy cost savings in the future.

Engaging a Community of Professionals

About Phius

Phius founded the passive house movement in North America. We certify buildings, products and professionals on the cutting edge of the passive building industry. We are the only passive standard that includes a third-party quality assurance process.