Passive House
Passive House and NatHERS both relate to residential energy performance, but they are not the same system. One is commonly used for compliance. The other is a voluntary high-performance building standard.
If you are building a home in Australia, you have probably come across NatHERS. It is commonly used to assess the thermal performance of new homes and apartments and is often part of the residential energy compliance process.
Passive House is different. It is not simply a higher NatHERS rating. It is a separate performance standard focused on very low energy demand, airtightness, controlled ventilation and consistent indoor comfort. Both systems can support better homes, but they measure different things and are used in different ways.
High Performance
Learn how Passive House works and when it may suit a residential project.
Thermal Rating
Understand NatHERS ratings, certificates and residential energy compliance.
Passive House is a performance-based building standard designed to reduce energy demand while maintaining a stable and comfortable indoor environment. It uses detailed modelling and verification to test whether a building is likely to meet strict performance targets.
Instead of assigning a star rating, Passive House focuses on measurable outcomes such as:
NatHERS, the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme, is used to assess the thermal performance of residential buildings in Australia. A NatHERS assessment models how much heating and cooling energy a home may need to remain comfortable in its climate zone.
The result is expressed as a star rating, usually from 0 to 10 stars. NatHERS is commonly used as part of the residential compliance pathway for new homes and apartments, alongside other state-based requirements such as BASIX in New South Wales where applicable.
| Area | NatHERS | Passive House |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Commonly used for residential thermal performance compliance | Voluntary high-performance building standard |
| Output | Star rating | Performance targets and verification |
| Main focus | Predicted heating and cooling load | Comfort, airtightness, ventilation and very low energy demand |
| Testing | Modelled assessment | Modelling plus on-site verification, including airtightness testing |
| Ventilation | Does not generally require mechanical ventilation with heat recovery | Typically includes continuous filtered ventilation with heat recovery |
One of the simplest ways to understand the difference is that NatHERS produces a rating, while Passive House sets a performance standard. NatHERS assesses the thermal performance of the dwelling and assigns a star rating. Passive House sets specific performance targets that the design must meet and then verifies key outcomes.
This does not make one system “better” in every case. It means they are designed for different purposes. NatHERS is often part of the compliance process. Passive House is usually chosen when the client or project team wants a more demanding performance outcome.
A major difference between Passive House and NatHERS is the treatment of airtightness and ventilation. Passive House places strong emphasis on reducing uncontrolled air leakage and then providing controlled ventilation through a mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery.
This is one reason Passive House projects can feel very stable internally. The building fabric, windows, insulation, air barrier and ventilation system are designed to work together. NatHERS, by contrast, is focused on modelled thermal performance and does not generally require the same airtightness testing and ventilation verification process.
Yes. A home can be designed for Passive House performance while still needing to demonstrate residential energy compliance through NatHERS, BASIX or another applicable pathway.
In practice, many Passive House projects are likely to perform strongly under NatHERS because they use high-quality insulation, better glazing, careful shading, airtight construction and strong thermal bridge control. However, a high NatHERS rating does not automatically mean a home meets Passive House requirements, because Passive House also includes specific targets for airtightness, ventilation and total performance.
For many new residential projects, NatHERS is part of the required compliance process. Passive House is usually a deliberate project decision made by the homeowner, architect or project team.
Passive House may be worth considering if you want:
Certified Energy can help project teams understand the relationship between NatHERS compliance, Passive House ambitions and broader residential energy performance. The right pathway depends on the project brief, budget, climate zone, design stage and approval requirements.
For some projects, the priority is achieving the required NatHERS or BASIX outcome. For others, Passive House may be part of a higher-performance design strategy. Early review helps clarify what applies and how the building fabric, glazing, ventilation and services should be coordinated.
Certified Energy can review your project and advise how NatHERS, Passive House, BASIX or another residential energy pathway may apply.