Is Passive House Certification right for your new build?

The five Passive House principles are:

• Insulation: High levels of insulation minimises heat loss in winter and keeps the home cool in summer.
• Airtightness: Creating an air and weather tight envelope is an essential element to a high-performing home to ensure there are no unwanted drafts and warm air can’t escape.
• Thermal bridge-free construction: Preventing heat from escaping through weak points in the building envelope.
• Windows: High performance window glazing and joinery are used to maximise heat gains in winter while minimising losses.
• Ventilation: A Mechanical Heat Recover Ventilation (MHRV) system ensures a constant supply of fresh air while retaining warmth from outgoing air.

Achieving Passive House certification is a rigorous process that ensures your building meets the highest standards of energy efficiency, comfort, and sustainability. But is it worth it for your eHaus? Let’s explore the certification process and help you decide.

Why certify?

Certification provides a level of assurance that your home will perform to the Passive House standard, which guarantees:

• Energy savings: Certified Passive Houses use up to 90% less energy for heating and cooling compared to conventional homes.
• Comfort and health: These homes are designed for optimal indoor air quality, consistent temperatures, and superior insulation, contributing to a healthier living environment.
• Property value: Passive House certification is an independent quality stamp that can increase your home's market value, as it assures future owners of its energy performance.

What’s involved in certification?

The Passive House certification process involves several stages, each ensuring that your home is designed and built to meet the Passive House standard. Here's a brief overview of what to expect:

• Design: Designing a home to meet Passive House standards requires following specific design principles, even if they challenge your architectural dreams.
• Material selection: To meet Passive House standards, materials must either be certified or have proven performance data available to be specified.
• Initial check: Early in the planning stage, an independent Passive House Certifier reviews your project’s design to flag any potential issues.
• Preliminary review: During the design phase, all plans, including insulation and ventilation systems, are submitted for review. The Certifier checks them against the Passive House Planning Package (PHPP) to ensure your project meets energy performance goals.
• Final review: After construction is complete, the Certifier conducts a thorough review, which includes airtightness test verification, and verification of systems such as heating and ventilation. Only projects that pass all criteria are awarded certification.

What's the cost to certify a Passive House?

The cost of certification varies depending on the complexity of your project. The pricing for a family home ranges from $8,000 to $12,000.

To certify or not to certify?

Not all eHaus clients opt for certification, but if you’re looking to ensure your home achieves the highest standards in energy efficiency, comfort, and sustainability, certification can be a valuable investment. Whether you choose to certify or not, building an eHaus guarantees performance that far exceeds conventional homes. If you’re building an eHaus Euro and want to ensure your home reaches the highest possible performance standards, Passive House certification is a solid investment in both your home and its long-term value.

Please note that the certification process is reviewed regularly, and some requirements are beyond our control. While every effort will be made to achieve certification, it cannot be guaranteed.