Buildings
Passive House (Passivhaus)
Definition
Passive House (Passivhaus) is a performance-based building standard, developed in Germany in the early 1990s, that limits heating and cooling demand to very low levels — a maximum of 15 kWh per square metre per year for heating in the classic standard — achieved through super-insulation, airtight construction, high-performance windows, thermal-bridge-free design and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery.
References
definition and performance criteria
global adoption and certification context
Overview
What it means
A certified passive house typically uses a small fraction of the heating energy of a conventional building while maintaining superior comfort and air quality. The standard is verified by design-stage modelling (PHPP) and on-site testing, and applies to new builds and retrofits (EnerPHit) across building types.
How it is used
Passive House certification is administered by the Passivhaus Institut and affiliated bodies; many cities and regions reference the standard in building policy, and it has become a benchmark for deep-efficiency construction worldwide.
Why it matters
Passive House demonstrates that near-zero heating demand is technically and economically achievable today, providing a proven pathway to decarbonise buildings while improving occupant health and comfort.