Passive House Institute

What Passive House Institute does

The Passive House Institute (PHI), founded in 1996 and headquartered in Darmstadt, Germany, is an independent nonprofit research institution dedicated to advancing highly energy-efficient construction. It develops and maintains the Passive House standard for new buildings and the EnerPHit standard for retrofits, and operates the PHPP (Passive House Planning Package) as its core planning and energy-balance verification tool. The Institute certifies buildings and building components (windows, doors, insulation, ventilation systems) against its standards and maintains two public databases — a building database and a component database — alongside the Passipedia knowledge platform.

Name

Passive House Institute

Legal name

Passive House Institute

Website

https://passiv.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

The Passive House Institute is an independent German nonprofit research institute that develops the Passive House and EnerPHit building energy efficiency standards, certifies buildings and components, and trains professionals worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Building Energy Efficiency Certification

akta.pro primary industry

Residential Green / High-Performance Home Construction (Net-Zero, Passive House) (IMAFABAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Custom Home Building (IMAFABAC)

Keywords

• Energy-efficient buildings
• Building certification
• Passive house standards
• Energy retrofit consulting
• Building component certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Darmstadt

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Training Courses and Examinations: The Institute offers certified training programmes including Passive House Designer/Consultant and Passive House Tradesperson qualifications. Revenue is generated through course delivery and examination fees, either directly or through partner organisations worldwide.
2. Building Certification: Certification services for buildings meeting Passive House or EnerPHit standards. Buildings are verified and certified as meeting the rigorous energy efficiency requirements.
3. Component Certification: Certification of building components including windows, doors, insulation materials, and ventilation systems that meet Passive House performance criteria.
4. Online Portal and Database Access: The Institute operates online databases for buildings and components, with portal access for certified professionals and organisations.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Passive House Institute develops and maintains the Passive House building standard for new construction and the EnerPHit retrofit standard for existing buildings. It certifies energy-efficient buildings and building components (windows, doors, insulation, ventilation), provides certified training and professional qualifications (Passive House Designer/Consultant and Tradesperson), and develops the PHPP (Passive House Planning Package) planning and verification tool. The Institute is supported by knowledge resources including Passipedia and an affiliated global network via the International Passive House Association (iPHA).

Product overview

The Passive House Institute offers a comprehensive ecosystem of certification, training, and knowledge services for energy-efficient building. The core offerings include Building Certification and Component Certification programs that verify compliance with Passive House and EnerPHit standards. Planning is supported through the PHPP (Passive House Planning Package) software tool. Professional development is delivered through Certified Passive House Designer/Consultant and Tradesperson training programs. These services are supported by knowledge resources including the Passive House Database, Component Database, and Passipedia knowledge platform. The institute is affiliated with the International Passive House Association (iPHA) for global advocacy and hosts the annual International Passive House Conference. The organization also runs the Component Award program to recognize innovation in building components.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Passive House Building Certification Certification service for buildings meeting Passive House or EnerPHit retrofit standards, validating energy efficiency, comfort, and air quality requirements.
• Passive House Component Certification Certification program for building components (windows, doors, insulation, ventilation systems) that meet Passive House efficiency requirements.
• PHPP (Passive House Planning Package) Detailed proprietary planning and verification tool for designing Passive House buildings and calculating energy balance, thermal comfort, and moisture risk.
• Passive House Designer/Consultant Certification Professional certification program qualifying individuals to design and consult on Passive House projects, offered through training courses and examinations via partner organisations worldwide.
• Certified Passive House Tradesperson Qualification program for tradespeople specializing in the construction of Passive House buildings.
• International Passive House Conference Annual conference bringing together professionals to discuss energy-efficient construction, present projects, and advance sustainable building practices globally.

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• International Passive House Association (iPHA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Institute works together with iPHA and its global affiliates to advocate for Passive House principles in policy, media, and the construction industry. The association supports the Institute's mission and extends its reach through a worldwide network.
• Training Course Partner OrganisationscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner organisations worldwide deliver Passive House training courses and host examinations. They register participants and forward registration data to the Institute for examination processing and certification. The Institute may share examination results with examination hosts.
• Quantum (Canada)minorOthersParticipant in the Passive House Institute Component Award 2026, focusing on scalable solutions for high-performance window replacement in existing buildings.
• 21 Degrees (UK)minorOthersParticipant in the Passive House Institute Component Award 2026, focusing on scalable solutions for high-performance window replacement in existing buildings.
• WICONA (Germany)minorOthersParticipant in the Passive House Institute Component Award 2026, focusing on scalable solutions for high-performance window replacement in existing buildings.
• Eurofinestra (Italy)minorOthersParticipant in the Passive House Institute Component Award 2026, focusing on scalable solutions for high-performance window replacement in existing buildings.
• Parka Wrap (New Zealand)minorOthersParticipant in the Passive House Institute Component Award 2026, focusing on scalable solutions for high-performance window replacement in existing buildings.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• International Code Council (ICC): Develops model building codes (I-Codes) used across the US and internationally, including energy efficiency provisions (IECC) and standards that increasingly embed Passive House-style performance levels. Comparable as an incumbent standards and certification body whose code decisions shape demand for Passive House-style construction.
• BRE Group: UK-based building science organization that operates BREEAM, the dominant sustainability rating for buildings in the UK and many international markets. Comparable as a competing green-building certification and standards body with global reach and broader portfolio (BREEAM, LZC, etc.).
• U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC): Operates LEED, the most widely used green-building rating system globally, plus professional credentialing (LEED AP). Comparable as the largest competing green-building standards/certification and training ecosystem serving architects, developers, and manufacturers.

Direct peers

• PHIUS (Passive House Institute US): US-based counterpart to PHI that runs its own Passive House certification and training programmes for North America. Directly comparable as a competing Passive House standards body, designer/tradesperson certifier, and event/training organizer.
• DGNB (German Sustainable Building Council): German national certification system for sustainable buildings, offering building certification, consultant training, and component accreditation. Most directly comparable as a competing national/international sustainability standards body headquartered in Germany.
• Passivhaus Trust: UK-based non-profit that promotes Passive House principles, runs training events and member services for UK practitioners. Directly comparable as a regional Passive House advocacy and training organization operating in PHI's extended ecosystem.

Regional players

• Minergie: Swiss energy-efficiency building standard (Minergie, Minergie-P, Minergie-A) with certification, training and component lists. Highly comparable as a national high-performance building standard serving Switzerland with similar certification/training/label architecture to Passive House.

Emerging players

• International Living Building Institute: Administers the Living Building Challenge and other regenerative building certifications, plus professional credentials. Comparable as a mission-driven certification and training body in the high-performance building space, though with a more aspirational/regenerative framing.
• Architecture 2030: Non-profit research and advocacy organization pushing for carbon-neutral built environment by 2030/2040, producing widely cited targets and tools (e.g., 2030 Palette, ZERO tool). Comparable as a mission-driven organization shaping building decarbonization standards and providing planning/assessment resources.
• International WELL Building Institute (IWBI): Administers the WELL Building Standard focused on occupant health and wellbeing, with certification and professional accreditation (WELL AP). Comparable as a newer building-performance certification and training programme competing for specifier mindshare, though with a different (health) emphasis.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/IGPassivhaus
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/passive-house-institute

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Passive House Institute