The Passive House Movement and What It Means for Your Contracting Business

A group of construction workers with hard hats and tools displaying their contractor licenses on a desk.

You’ve heard of sustainability and green building methods. You know that energy efficiency in construction is a way for property owners to save money and reduce their carbon footprint. What you may not know is that other countries have been taking this as far as it will go, for decades longer than the U.S. The “passive house” is just one example. This construction philosophy and certification aims to reduce an average building’s energy consumption by 90%, and that’s not a typo. Here’s what it is, and how you might take advantage of growing interest in the movement.

What Is a Passive House?
To understand the concept of a passive house, you need to imagine a building that uses almost no energy. Start with your grandmother’s house that was built in 1940 and had no air conditioning. Depending on the part of California, it might not have had much in the way of heating, either, relying on ceiling fans or a fireplace to make up the shortfall.

A passive house can be a little like this, only far more comfortable and efficient. The sealing of the house is designed to be so perfect and complete that you don’t really need heating or cooling to maintain a constant temperature. It’s airtight and has excellent insulation and ventilation, so that the air never feels stuffy or stale. Passive houses also usually have other efficient components to minimize energy usage for heating, water heating and cooling.

Why Aren’t Passive Houses More Common in the U.S.?
Passive houses are most popular in Germany, where the movement started decades ago. The region has a milder climate that is easier to manage. Compared to Europe, passive houses are quite rare in the U.S. This is partially due to lack of knowledge about passive houses, and partially related to temperature. For example, the tools you’d need for perfect temperature regulation in California is going to vary widely for people living in La Jolla compared to Baker or Truckee. This is also partly why there’s separate certifying organizations for passive houses in the U.S. The Passive House Institute didn’t want to accept different standards for people who live in Alaska versus Arizona.

How Do Buildings Qualify as Passive Houses?
Like many other energy-efficient certifications, Passive House certification requires designers to follow a specific set of requirements. These standards depend somewhat on the certifying body. As a general rule, a Passive House must:

Approval is based largely on the original design, which must be very detailed and vetted by an expert.

Can Contractors Get Certifications to Design or Build Passive Houses?
Because building a passive house can be so much more complicated than standard construction, various organizations offer certifications for professionals. These certifications call for people who already have knowledge and expertise in building, to extend their understanding of passive construction methods and standards. Successfully completing the training and testing may also help professionals partner with property owners looking to build to the standard.

How Can Businesses Take Advantage?
Since passive houses are still fairly new in the U.S., it might not make a lot of sense for people to start a California-based business focusing exclusively on building them. However, gaining a better understanding of the role passive methods play in energy efficiency could yield benefits in all types of construction. It may help you build skills that you can use for other jobs. Even if your clients aren’t looking to build a passive house, they are probably interested in energy-efficient or sustainable construction. Knowing the primary components of a passive house could set you apart from the rest.

Passive houses may be the next step in energy-efficient building. As a contractor, you’ll want to be ready to take advantage of it. To discover the latest construction technologies that will help you in your business, contact us at CSLS today!