Welcome to the Passivhaus Trust‘s learning resource centre. Whether you’re a curious beginner or a seasoned expert, our Passivhaus Learning Hub provides a wealth of on-demand content. Join as a member to get discounts and other benefits.
New & noteworthy
Don’t miss these latest resources from the Passivhaus Trust.
2024 Large and Complex Passivhaus Masterclass
2024 Large and Complex Passivhaus Masterclass
Larger UK Passivhaus projects are expanding, presenting new challenges. Our 2024 online Passivhaus Large & Complex Masterclass series continues, addressing high-demand topics. Learn about airtesting high-rise blocks, choosing MVHR systems for 100+ home developments, and bespoke non-domestic settings. We offer in-depth case studies and topic-focused sessions, led by expert practitioners. Enhance your practical and technical knowledge for large-scale Passivhaus projects.
2024
Getting Started
New to Passivhaus? Explore these introductory resources. We recommend you begin with the free online introduction to Passivhaus course. If you are interested in a particular sector such as self-build or social housing – check our curated industry sector pages.
Passivhaus Benefits
Passivhaus Benefits
Often considered primarily as the exemplar standard for producing high-performance buildings, Passivhaus does indeed minimise energy demand, but it delivers much more. Passivhaus can slash building heating demand by 90% without compromising our health & wellbeing.
2023
An introduction to Passivhaus: online course
Passivhaus Social Housing
Passivhaus Social Housing
This guide highlights significant synergies between the priorities of social housing providers and the multi-faceted benefits of successfully building and delivering Passivhaus homes. The aim is to explain why social housing providers should be aiming for Passivhaus and how to successfully implement the Standard.
2019
Passivhaus Costs Summary
Passivhaus Costs Summary
PHT costs & benefits guidance shows that innovation costs associated with early Passivhaus projects are now reducing as the methodology has become more widely adopted. Costs are expected to fall further once the Standard is adopted at scale.
2023
A route to Net Zero – Retrofit
Operational Carbon Primer
Delving into details
Grasped the basics and ready to learn more? Whether you want to deepen your understanding, develop your skills, or work towards a Passivhaus qualification, these resources are for you.
How to Build a Passivhaus
How to Build a Passivhaus
How to Build a Passivhaus: Good Practice Guide covers the essential topics that are key to successfully delivering a Passivhaus project. It reflects the most recent evolution of best practice approaches to designing and building to the Passivhaus and EnerPHit standards.
2023
Passivhaus & Embodied Carbon
Passivhaus & Embodied Carbon
Explore the relationship between Passivhaus and embodied carbon. Get access to the on-demand recording of the popular webinar to learn more about the Trust’s Embodied Carbon paper, followed by engaging presentations from key experts. It is an excellent opportunity to learn first-hand from industry practitioners as they share real-life case studies and valuable lessons learnt.
2022
How to Build a Passivhaus Series
How to Build a Passivhaus Series
As the adoption of Passivhaus continues to grow in the UK, we are watching more sizeable projects emerge with increasing complexities that bring new challenges. This on-demand mini-series covers some exciting, detailed case studies & the latest research on large & complex Passivhaus.
2023
Masterclasses
Aiming for mastery? For those with more Passivhaus experience, these resources explore advanced concepts & specialised tools. Elevate your ability to lead and innovate in the field.
2024 Large and Complex Passivhaus Masterclass
2024 Large and Complex Passivhaus Masterclass
Larger UK Passivhaus projects are expanding, presenting new challenges. Our 2024 online Passivhaus Large & Complex Masterclass series continues, addressing high-demand topics. Learn about airtesting high-rise blocks, choosing MVHR systems for 100+ home developments, and bespoke non-domestic settings. We offer in-depth case studies and topic-focused sessions, led by expert practitioners. Enhance your practical and technical knowledge for large-scale Passivhaus projects.
2024
2022 Large and Complex Passivhaus Masterclass
2022 Large and Complex Passivhaus Masterclass
As the adoption of Passivhaus continues to grow in the UK, we are watching more sizeable projects emerge with increasing complexities that bring new challenges. This on-demand mini-series covers some exciting, detailed case studies & the latest research on large & complex Passivhaus.
2022
Passivhaus Retrofit lecture series
Passivhaus Retrofit lecture series
This series is for anyone interested in designing and delivering Passivhaus retrofit. Learn from expert practitioners to enrich your practical and technical knowledge about EnerPHit, the Passivhaus retrofit standard, and how to apply it to your projects.
2022
Good Practice Guides
Good Practice Guides provide in-depth, practical advice on implementing Passivhaus standards. These comprehensive resources offer step-by-step guidance, best practices, and lessons learned to ensure successful design, construction, and performance of Passivhaus buildings.
How to Build a Passivhaus
How to Build a Passivhaus
How to Build a Passivhaus: Good Practice Guide covers the essential topics that are key to successfully delivering a Passivhaus project. It reflects the most recent evolution of best practice approaches to designing and building to the Passivhaus and EnerPHit standards.
2023
MVHR for single dwellings
Demystifying Airtightness
Demystifying Airtightness
We often take ventilation for granted; most buildings in the UK rely on draughts and leaks! Continuous fresh air & eliminating cold draughts is a key comfort factor for Passivhaus buildings. Often the steepest learning curve is reaching the airtightness target. Breathe easy with this new good practice guide.
2020
Keeping Cool: Avoiding overheating risks
Keeping Cool: Avoiding overheating risks
Recent summer heatwaves and a heating climate have made us more aware than ever that the risk of overheating in both new and existing buildings demands attention. The Passivhaus Trust has developed detailed guidance accompanied by a PHPP plugin to address this risk.
2021
Moisture and EnerPHit
Moisture and EnerPHit
This paper introduces the challenges around moisture risk to borne in mind when tackling any retrofit project, and is essential reading for designers, as well as clients who are looking to inform themselves of the key issues and factors that will influence the project.
2023
Technical Research Papers
The Trust’s expert Technical Panels & Working Groups address emerging challenges as more Passivhaus buildings are designed, built, and monitored. Explore the latest UK Passivhaus technical research documents. These resources ensure the integrity and application of the Passivhaus standard in the UK. You will need to log in or register to view these documents.
Capital Cost
Capital Cost
To obtain a clearer picture of Passivhaus costs in the UK, AECOM, in conjunction with the Passivhaus Trust, has undertaken a research study into the capital cost of building to certified Passivhaus standards across a number of affordable housing projects in the UK, using a standardised cost tool to compare projects on a like for like basis.
2015
Quality Assurance
Quality Assurance
The need for this Quality Assurance guide has arisen from the rapid growth of the Passivhaus Standard within the UK and the recognition that with the increased volume, scale and complexity of building projects, that it takes an increasingly well structured quality assurance system to maintain the required standards of design and construction.
2015
ATTMA Technical Standard L4 (TSL4)
ATTMA Technical Standard L4 (TSL4)
This document with ATTMA provides the technical standard to be followed for the air tightness testing of Passivhaus and other low energy buildings as required as part of a Passivhaus or low energy building design.
2023
Health, wellbeing & people performance
Health, wellbeing & people performance
Each of the key chapters in Passivhaus Benefits is underpinned by detailed supplementary research, to be published in three supporting papers. The first of these, Health, Wellbeing and People Performance, is available to download now.
2023
PHI Building Criteria
PHI Building Criteria
For almost 20 years, Passive House criteria have constituted guidelines for an excellent level of energy efficiency, cost-effectiveness and comfortable living conditions. To date, more than 1 million square metres of Passive House floor area has been certified through the quality assurance system set up in parallel. Through the course of time, these criteria have been carefully adapted and augmented several times in line with the experiences gained, albeit without…
2022
PHPP Periodic Heating
PHPP Periodic Heating
The Passivhaus Trust has developed guidance accompanied by a PHPP plugin to calculate more representative monthly average internal temperatures for existing buildings and an overall average for the heating season. These temperatures can then be used in the PHPP heating demand calculation to achieve a more accurate indication of energy demand.
2021
Passivhaus Costs
Steel in Passivhaus Construction
Steel in Passivhaus Construction
The integration of a steel frame for Passivhaus brings unique challenges. This paper draws on knowledge gained from the first steel frame Passivhaus projects in the UK to offer applied guidance and a best practice approach to high performance and Passivhaus steel buildings.
2023
Retrofit
Discover how Passivhaus retrofit principles and training, including the EnerPHit standard, can transform existing buildings into energy-efficient, comfortable spaces, tackling the challenges of retrofitting at scale while promoting sustainability and high-quality construction.
A route to Net Zero – Retrofit
Passivhaus Retrofit
EnerPHit and PAS 2035/2030
Moisture and EnerPHit
Moisture and EnerPHit
This paper introduces the challenges around moisture risk to borne in mind when tackling any retrofit project, and is essential reading for designers, as well as clients who are looking to inform themselves of the key issues and factors that will influence the project.
2023
Heat Pumps in Retrofit
Heat Pumps in Retrofit
There is an urgent imperative to decarbonise home heating, but we also need better housing that is more comfortable, healthier and cheaper to run. How do we enable heat pumps and fabric to work in synergy to maximum effect? This paper aims to answer the question by modelling heat pump installation at different levels of home retrofit.
2024
Passivhaus Retrofit lecture series
Passivhaus Retrofit lecture series
This series is for anyone interested in designing and delivering Passivhaus retrofit. Learn from expert practitioners to enrich your practical and technical knowledge about EnerPHit, the Passivhaus retrofit standard, and how to apply it to your projects.
2022
Managing Moisture
Managing Moisture
Learn about moisture-safe design in retrofitting with the 2023 Moisture and EnerPHit Guide. This on-demand course delves into the complexities of retrofitting for energy efficiency while addressing moisture concerns in the building fabric and structure. Understand how to prevent moisture issues when retrofitting. Don’t miss insights from expert authors and expand your knowledge of retrofit moisture management for safer, healthier buildings.
2023
Position Papers
Position papers outline the Passivhaus Trust’s approach to key topics and policies. These documents explain our stance on important issues, offering insights into how Passivhaus standards align with broader industry challenges and policy developments.
The Case for MVHR
The Case for MVHR
A widely adopted rule-of-thumb suggests that MVHR systems are only effective in more airtight buildings. This paper seeks to challenge this convention and suggests that MVHR systems are, in fact, desirable in nearly all domestic situations, either new-build or retrofit.
2020
EPCs as efficiency targets
EPCs as efficiency targets
The Passivhaus community is increasingly acknowledging and focusing on the issue of material choices and resource efficiency, demonstrated by the development of several carbon counting tools, including the embodied carbon PHribbon plug-in for PHPP.
2020
Passivhaus Retrofit
Passivhaus and embodied carbon
Passivhaus and embodied carbon
The Passivhaus community is increasingly acknowledging and focusing on the issue of material choices and resource efficiency, demonstrated by the development of several carbon counting tools, including the embodied carbon PHribbon plug-in for PHPP.
2022
Passivhaus: the route to zero carbon?
Passivhaus: the route to zero carbon?
How do we ensure Zero Carbon targets result in zero emission buildings? Many cities and regions are moving towards a Zero Carbon goal for new housing to achieve genuine emissions reductions. This paper analyses the definition of a Zero carbon building, and compares a notional building regulations Zero Carbon building with a Passivhaus Classic and renewables .
2019
EnerPHit and PAS 2035/2030
Future Home Hub contender specifications
Future Home Hub contender specifications
This position paper responds to the report ‘Ready for Zero: Evidence to inform the 2025 Future Homes Standard – Task Group Report’ by the Future Homes Hub. It addresses modelling inacurracies and puts forward four key recommendations for consideration.
2023
Overheating, Part O, and PHPP
Overheating, Part O, and PHPP
PHPP is a proven tool for assessing overheating risk. It has already been deemed to satisfy Part O of the Building Regulations (England & Wales) by several Building Control services, and should be accepted as an alternative means of compliance in place of the ‘simplified method’ and the ‘dynamic method’ for single-family dwellings and simple building forms.
2023
Passivhaus: an alternative for the FHS
Passivhaus: an alternative for the FHS
Modelling undertaken by the Passivhaus Trust demonstrates that an all-electric certified Passivhaus Classic performs better than both options proposed for the Future Homes Standard (FHS) in the 2024 consultation, as well as providing many other benefits.
2024
Heat Pumps in Retrofit
Heat Pumps in Retrofit
There is an urgent imperative to decarbonise home heating, but we also need better housing that is more comfortable, healthier and cheaper to run. How do we enable heat pumps and fabric to work in synergy to maximum effect? This paper aims to answer the question by modelling heat pump installation at different levels of home retrofit.
2024
Certifiers Circle
These guidance documents are provided by the UK Passivhaus Certifiers’ Circle. Passivhaus Certifiers are individuals who have been internationally accredited by the Passive House Institute (PHI) to certify Passivhaus buildings, EnerPHit retrofits and PHI Low Energy Buildings anywhere in the world on behalf of the Passive House Institute and in accordance with their criteria. You will need to log in or register to view these documents.
Dynamic Thermal Modelling
Dynamic Thermal Modelling
For multi-residential or non-residential buildings the Passivhaus Certifier may require dynamic thermal modelling to adequately evaluate summer comfort and overheating risk. This guidance from the UK Certifiers’ Circle aims to establish a common approach to modelling, reporting and user handover in these scenarios.
2023
Certifier Scope of Services
Certifier Scope of Services
This paper serves as a starting point for discussions and agreements between project teams and certification bodies regarding roles, responsibilities, and expectations for achieving Passivhaus certification. The scope of services it presents is designed to be adaptable and applicable to various project types and scales.
2023
Bespoke PER
Bespoke PER
This guidance note from the UK Certifiers’ Circle provides answers to frequently asked questions about what PER is, how it relates to other metrics used in the UK, under what circumstances a bespoke PER criterion might apply, and how to check if it does.