The Passive House Network

What The Passive House Network does

The Passive House Network (PHN) is a US-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit (also operating as the North American Passive House Network / NAPHN) that delivers Passive House building methodology education, training, and credentialing to architecture, engineering, construction, development, and policymaking professionals. Founded circa 2015 (with some firmographic sources citing 2011) and headquartered in New York, PHN is the sole US affiliate of the Passive House Institute (PHI, Darmstadt, Germany) and a member of the International Passive House Association (iPHA), positioning it as the exclusive US channel for PHI's 30+ years of Passive House scientific research and for the internationally recognized CPHD (Certified Passive House Designer), CPHT (Certified Passive House Tradesperson), and Building Certifier credentials.

PHN's core product set centers on a hierarchical training and certification ladder: a free 1-hour introduction, the flagship CPHD cohort course at $2,295 (Atlantic and Pacific regional cohorts, ~3 months to PHI exam, including PHPP training and 35 AIA HSW LU credits), the CPHT tradesperson track delivered with partner Emu Passive via in-person bootcamps and hybrid cohorts, and a catalog of specialized on-demand and live courses covering PHPP, FLIXO thermal bridging, designPH, easyPH, wildfire resilience, the EnerPHit retrofit standard, and the PHribbon embodied-carbon plug-in. Distribution extends through an on-demand LMS, regional Atlantic/Pacific cohort delivery, custom in-house corporate training, and 11 US regional chapters (Cascadia, California, Rocky Mountains, Gulf Coast, Midwest, Minnesota, Empire State, Northeast, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and DC/MD/VA) that host recurring peer meetings and AIA/PHI continuing education events. Adjacent revenue and community infrastructure includes individual tiered memberships ($15/$49/$199), tax-deductible donations, the annual national conference (2014-2026), the PHN Presents webinar series, the PHN DEI program, the BIPOC Education Fellowship, design awards, the Ice Box Challenge public-awareness event, the member directory of 182+ certified professionals, and the CertiPHIers Cooperative channel for building certification services.

PHN makes money primarily through per-seat course tuition, annual membership subscriptions, conference ticket and recording sales, donations, merchandise (Bonfire storefront), and reimbursed training delivered under state-funded programs (NYC HPD/NYSERDA, MassSave, PG&E, 3C-REN, NJ Clean Energy, Colorado CGBG, Fort Collins, Denver, Vermont), with substantial need-based discounts (BIPOC Fellowship, veterans, educators, students, unemployment) and aggressive bulk pricing. Operationally, PHN runs on a small 1-10 person core staff, governed by an independent Board of Directors that includes industry leaders from Wythe Windows (Chair Darren Macri), Becker + Becker, Beyer Blinder Belle, Energy Solutions, Wells Fargo Community Lending, Urban Earth, Love|Schack Architecture, and KS&Co. The organization's stated mission is to address building-performance illiteracy by training professionals to deliver buildings that cut operational energy by up to 90% and operational carbon by up to 80% via optimized envelopes, insulation, ventilation, and airtightness.

Name

The Passive House Network

Legal name

The Passive House Network

Website

https://passivehousenetwork.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Passive House Network (PHN) is a US 501(c)(3) nonprofit and sole US affiliate of the Passive House Institute that trains, certifies, and supports architects, engineers, builders, developers, and policymakers in Passive House building methodology through cohort courses, on-demand training, conferences, and 11 regional chapters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Education and Training

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Real Estate, Appraisal & Mortgage (Agent/Broker CE, Appraiser CE) (EDAAALAI)

Keywords

• Passive house training
• Building certification courses
• Sustainable architecture education
• High-performance buildings
• Energy efficiency training

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Training Courses: Revenue from CPHD (Certified Passive House Designer) and CPHT (Certified Passive House Tradesperson) training courses. CPHD courses priced at $2,295 per cohort with various financial incentives available. Specialized courses range from free to $395. Introductory courses include free 1-hour intro and $225 for trades intro.
2. Individual Memberships: Annual membership fees providing access to member directory, training discounts (15% off specialized courses, 10% off CPHD), mentorship program, iPHA membership, and editorial priority for PHN publications. Tiers: Professional $199/year, Seniors/Emerging $49/year, Student $15/year.
3. Conference and Event Fees: Revenue from annual conferences and PHN Presents webinars. Conference course bundles available for $249, individual sessions $19 each. PHN Presents are free community webinars for AIA and PHI credits.
4. Donations: Tax-deductible donations to support PHN's mission as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
5. Merchandise Sales: PHN branded merchandise sold through Bonfire store including t-shirts, tote bags, and other items.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Passive House Network delivers professional education, training, and certification pathways for architects, engineers, builders, contractors, and policymakers in the high-performance Passive House building standard. Its flagship offerings are the Certified Passive House Designer (CPHD) and Certified Passive House Tradesperson (CPHT) courses, supplemented by free introductory training, specialized continuing-education courses, and an annual national conference.

Product overview

The Passive House Network (PHN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit education organization affiliated with the Passive House Institute, offering a comprehensive portfolio of Passive House professional training and building performance literacy programs. The core offering consists of certification courses for designers (CPHD) and tradespersons (CPHT), supplemented by free introductory training, specialized advanced courses (on topics like wildfire resilience, thermal bridging, windows, and EnerPHit retrofits), and annual conference programming. PHN delivers education through hybrid on-demand/live-online formats with regional cohorts (Atlantic, Pacific), in-person bootcamps via partner Emu, and free community webinars (PHN Presents). The organization supports the Passive House ecosystem through regional chapters (11 chapters nationwide), a member directory, design awards, the Ice Box Challenge public awareness event, and building/professional certification support. Financial incentive programs provide 50-100% training reimbursement across multiple states, with a dedicated BIPOC fellowship for increased equity in the field. PHN also provides software tools including PHribbon for embodied carbon calculations and supports Passive House Planning Package (PHPP) training as part of certification curriculum.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Certified Passive House Designer (CPHD) Course Comprehensive professional training for architects, engineers, consultants, developers, and policymakers covering Passive House principles, PHPP calculations in Imperial units, case studies, and preparation for the PHI CPHD certification exam. Includes 35 AIA LU/HSW credits. Cohorts are organized regionally (Atlantic, Pacific) on a seasonal basis and priced at $2,295 per cohort.
• Certified Passive House Tradesperson (CPHT) Course Premier core Passive House training for builders, tradespeople, construction managers, and contractors covering high-performance construction details, best practices, and preparation for the CPHT certification exam. Delivered by partner Emu in hybrid format with in-person bootcamps and a 96%+ exam pass rate.
• Free 1-Hour Introduction to Passive House Course Free introductory video course covering basic principles, history, and new frontiers of Passive House building standards. Provides 1 AIA HSW LU credit and is available on-demand as the entry point into PHN's curriculum.
• Specialized Passive House Courses Advanced continuing-education courses covering topics such as Wildfire Resilience & Passive House, Thermal Bridging Calculations using FLIXO, Passive House Windows, EnerPHit Retrofits, designPH, easyPH, and PHPP master classes. Provides AIA and PHI continuing-education credits; available live-online and on-demand, individually or via on-demand bundles such as the Specialized On-Demand Bundle ($695).
• 2026 PHN Conference Course Recordings Post-conference on-demand session recordings from the 2026 Passive House Network Conference held at Hotel Marcel, New Haven CT, covering topics including high-density results, mechanical mastery, home security, lessons learned, the Passive House business case, and 20+ other sessions. Available as a $249 bundle (was $418) or individual sessions at $19 each.
• Individual Membership Program Tiered annual individual membership program providing access to the member directory, training discounts (15% off specialized courses, 10% off CPHD), mentorship program, iPHA membership, and editorial priority for PHN publications. Three tiers: Professional ($199/year), Seniors/Owners/Emerging Professionals ($49/year), and Student ($15/year).
• Annual PHN Conference Annual national conference promoting the Passive House building efficiency standard, featuring educational sessions, design awards, networking, and building tours. The 2026 conference was held June 4-5 at Hotel Marcel in New Haven, CT.
• FLIXO Training Course Thermal bridge calculation course using FLIXO software, comprising five detailed modules covering corners, intersections, windows, slab perimeters, parapets, and advanced parametric analysis. Includes a free on-demand template setup tutorial.
• NYC HPD Passive House Training Program Free Certified Passive House training program for owners, designers, and builders working on NYC Housing Preservation and Development affordable housing projects. Includes CPHD and CPHT courses fully covered by HPD and funded in partnership with NYSERDA.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduces heating and cooling energy use by up to 90% compared to standard code buildings
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 August 2026Formalized partnership through Memorandum of Understanding to advance education, equity, professional development, and high-performance building practice. Collaboration aims to expand access to climate-responsive design knowledge and elevate minority architects, designers, educators, students, and allied professionals through shared frameworks and leadership pathways.
• Passive House CaliforniacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 November 2025Joint design competition (California Rebuilds Design Competition) recognizing nine projects for excellence in Passive House and fire resilient design. Projects exemplify high-performance building standards incorporating fire resilience, cost, and aging-in-place considerations.
• Passive House Institute (PHI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPHI, based in Darmstadt Germany, developed Passive House methodology with 30+ years of scientific research. PHN is affiliated with PHI and provides access to global knowledge community, certification pathways, and technical standards. PHN is also a member of International Passive House Association (iPHA), part of PHI.
• International Passive House Association (iPHA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPHN is a member of iPHA, providing members with access to Passipedia knowledge base, iPHA Forum, international conference discounts, and free Passive House Plus subscription.
• Emu PassivecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPHN partner for CPHT (Certified Passive House Tradesperson) training delivery. Emu delivers hybrid CPHT courses with in-person bootcamps in major US cities and has higher CPHT exam pass rates (96%+) compared to global averages (88%).
• NYC Housing Preservation and Development (HPD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFree CPHD and CPHT training for owners, designers, and builders working on HPD-financed affordable housing projects. Training 100% covered for eligible participants. Funded in partnership with NYSERDA.
• CertiPHIers CooperativeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorActive CPHD/C Assessor in the US that PHN directs professionals to for project documentation and certification renewal services.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Regional players

• Passive House Canada: The Canadian counterpart to PHN, offering CPHD-equivalent training and certification across Canada. Directly comparable in mission, curriculum, and chapter structure but serving a different national market.
• Passivhaus Trust: The UK-based membership organization promoting Passivhaus standards. Comparable organizational structure to PHN — education, certification pathways, and member directory — but serving UK/Ireland rather than the US.

Direct peers

• New Buildings Institute (NBI): A nonprofit focused on zero energy and zero carbon building performance, policy, and education. NBI and PHN both educate building professionals on advanced performance standards and engage in code/regulatory advocacy.
• Passive House Institute (PHI): The originator of Passive House methodology based in Darmstadt, Germany. PHI is the global certifying body whose standards and certifications PHN teaches and credentials against; PHN is the sole US affiliate.
• Architecture 2030: A nonprofit driving the building sector to carbon-neutral design by 2030. Architecture 2030 provides education, policy frameworks, and targets that overlap directly with PHN's high-performance building mission.
• International Passive House Association (iPHA): The international membership association under PHI. PHN is an iPHA member and provides iPHA membership to its own members, making them a sister organization with overlapping educational and community missions.
• Energy & Environmental Building Alliance (EEBA): A membership organization delivering high-performance building education and builder training. EEBA is a close peer for CPHT-equivalent builder/tradesperson training and high-performance construction standards.

Broad incumbents

• US Green Building Council (USGBC): The dominant US green building education and certification body behind LEED. USGBC operates at much larger scale but overlaps with PHN in educating architects and developers on sustainability certifications and continuing education.
• Green Building Initiative (GBI): An ANSI-accredited green building standards body offering greenglobes certification and education. Competes in the same continuing-education-for-architects market as PHN, though with a broader (less rigorous-performance) framework.

Emerging players

• Earth Advantage: A nonprofit green building certification and education organization focused on the Pacific Northwest. Comparable educational mission with regional overlap to PHN's Cascadia chapter but at smaller scale and with broader sustainability scope beyond Passive House.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/passivehousenetwork
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@passivehousenetwork
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-passive-house-network
• Facebookfacebook.com/ThePassiveHouseNetwork

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

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 The Passive House Network