Do all Passive Houses need certification?

Short answer

No, but certification ensures your project meets the global Passive House Standard and provides independent proof of performance.

Full answer

While you can build to Passive House principles without certification, formal certification through the Passive House Institute (PHI) or an accredited certifier provides assurance that the home meets the strict performance criteria. Certified projects also carry greater value in the property market as buyers and councils recognise them as meeting verified sustainability standards.

Why this matters

Certification protects your investment and gives confidence that the design performs as intended. Without certification, there’s no independent guarantee that the energy efficiency targets are met.

How Certified Energy can help

We guide you through the certification process, from preliminary design review to final compliance checks. Our accredited assessors simplify the process and ensure certification is achieved efficiently.

Related regulations

• Passive House Institute (PHI) Certification Protocol
• NCC performance requirements
• Local council sustainability frameworks

Helpful resources

• What is a Passive House?
• How much does it cost to build a Passive House?
• What are the benefits of Passive House design?
• How is Passive House different from NatHERS?