Performance Criteria & Certification

Performance Criteria

  • Maximum Heating or Cooling Energy: 15 kWh/m2 (1.4 kWh/ft2 or 4800 Btu/ft2) per year
  • Maximum Total Source Energy: 120 kWh/m2 (11 kWh/ft2 or 38,000 Btu/ft2) per year
    (“Source Energy” includes the energy required to produce and deliver the energy to the site, and can be offset with solar thermal and other measures. Photovoltaics cannot be used to offset this energy, but are recognized.)
  • Maximum Air Leakage: 0.6 air changes per hour at 50 Pascals (ACH50), ~0.03 ACHNAT

Certification Process

  1. Accurate compliance modeling with the Passive House Planning Package (PHPP)
  2. Third party verified blower door test, 0.6 ACH50 maximum
  3. Record of adjustment of ventilation system
  4. Declaration of Construction Supervisor
  5. Photographic Documentation

Note: PHIUS is the official and sole Certifier of Passive Houses in the US as authorized by the Passivhaus Institut