What is a Passive House?

Short answer

A Passive House is a building standard that delivers exceptional energy efficiency, comfort and air quality by using advanced insulation, airtightness and ventilation systems.

Full answer

Passive House is a globally recognised performance-based building standard that minimises energy use for heating and cooling by up to 90% compared to conventional buildings. It achieves this through continuous insulation, airtight construction, high-performance windows and mechanical heat recovery ventilation. The result is a home that stays naturally warm in winter and cool in summer, with minimal reliance on artificial heating or cooling.

Why this matters

Understanding what Passive House is helps homeowners and developers see the value of a building that’s healthier, more sustainable and significantly cheaper to run. It also positions a project for future energy compliance standards.

How Certified Energy can help

We provide Passive House consulting, design reviews and certification services. Our team ensures your project meets Passive House standards without unnecessary costs, guiding you from planning through to compliance and construction.

Related regulations

• Passive House Institute (PHI) International Standard
• Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) energy efficiency provisions
• NCC 2025 performance standards (future alignment)

Helpful resources

• How much does it cost to build a passive house?
• What are the benefits of Passive House Design?
• Do all Passive Houses need certification?
• How is Passive House different from NatHERS?