What Passive House California (phca) does

Passive House California (PHCA) is a 501c3 non-profit organization founded in 2008 and formally incorporated in 2010, headquartered in Los Angeles, California. PHCA promotes awareness, understanding, and application of the international Passive House building standard across California through education, public outreach, events, and policy advocacy. The organization operates as the California affiliate of the International Passive House Association (iPHA), the Passive House Institute (PHI), and the North American Passive House Network (NAPHN), connecting four distinct customer segments—homeowners and occupants, industry professionals (architects, engineers, consultants, contractors), developers/owners/operators of multi-family and commercial real estate, and government agencies and policymakers—with Passive House resources, training, and certification pathways.

PHCA's core offerings include the Certified Passive House Tradesperson Training (CPHT) program, Certified Passive House Designer/Consultant (CPHD/C) preparation, a library of on-demand webinars and educational content, a member directory of 172 Passive House professionals and companies, an interactive California project map, and recurring community programming such as Passive House Open Days, the Net Zero Conference, Code Breaker webinars, and community meetings. The organization disseminates the Passive House standard's five core principles—superior insulation, thermal bridge-free design, high-performance windows, airtight building envelopes, and balanced ventilation with heat/energy recovery—and references PHI certification criteria (≤15 kWh/m²/year heating demand, ≤120 kWh/m²/year primary energy demand, ≤0.6 ACH at 50 Pa airtightness).

PHCA generates revenue through a community-led, event-driven go-to-market model combining individual and corporate membership dues, professional training fees, corporate sponsorships from building product manufacturers (Rockwool, Rheem, Stiebel Eltron, Small Planet Supply, Ikon Windows) and utilities (Southern California Edison), and tax-deductible donations. Distribution is primarily digital via passivehousecal.org, supplemented by in-person training, project tours, and conference participation. PHCA is currently the lead advocacy organization for California Assembly Bill 368, which would establish Passive House certification as an alternative compliance pathway to the state's Title 24 energy code.

Name

Passive House California (phca)

Legal name

Passive House California

Website

https://passivehousecal.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Passive House California is a 501c3 non-profit that advances the Passive House building standard in California through education, training, and policy advocacy. It serves homeowners, industry professionals, developers, and government agencies via membership, certification programs, and events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: PHCA generates revenue through annual membership dues, with different tiers for individuals and companies. Members receive benefits including access to Passipedia resources, reduced or free webinar fees, and member directory visibility.
2. Training Programs: PHCA offers Certified Passive House Tradesperson Training (CPHT) and other professional education courses. These training programs generate revenue and are a core part of the organization's educational mission.
3. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors (e.g., Rockwool, Rheem, Stiebel Eltron, Small Planet Supply, Ikon Windows, and others) support PHCA through sponsorship arrangements, gaining visibility on the website and at events.
4. Donations: PHCA accepts donations to support its non-profit mission of advancing Passive House adoption in California.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Passive House California (PHCA) is a non-profit membership organization that promotes the International Passive House building standard in California through education, training, events, and policy advocacy. Its core offerings include Certified Passive House Tradesperson (CPHT) and Designer/Consultant (CPHD/C) training, on-demand webinars, Passive House Open Days project tours, community meetings, a member directory of certified professionals, and a California Project Map showcasing certified buildings. PHCA is the California affiliate of iPHA and PHI, and works to influence Title 24 building code compliance through legislation such as AB 368.

Product overview

Passive House California is a non-profit organization that promotes awareness, understanding, and application of the International Passive House standard in California through education, public outreach, and advocacy. The organization operates a membership-based network offering training programs (including Certified Passive House Tradesperson Training), educational webinars, a member directory of Passive House professionals, resources and publications, Passive House Open Days events, community meetings, and a project map. The organization is affiliated with the International Passive House Association (iPHA), Passive House Institute (PHI), and North American Passive House Network (NAPHN).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Certified Passive House Tradesperson Training (CPHT) Professional certification training program that prepares tradespeople to work on Passive House construction projects, covering technical principles and practical implementation of the Passive House standard.
• Passive House Designer/Consultant (CPHD/C) Training Training offerings including Certified Passive House Designer/Consultant (CPHD/C) certification preparation and continuing education for professionals working in Passive House construction.
• Passive House California Webinars Online educational presentations covering topics including energy codes, Passive House certification, building design, decarbonization, and construction best practices. Includes the Code Breaker series, community meetings, and iPHA co-hosted webinars. Available on-demand for members through Passipedia.
• Passive House Open Days Annual international event organized with iPHA and PHN that allows people to tour Passive House buildings, meet current owners, and experience first-hand what it is like to live and work in Passive House buildings.
• Community Meetings Regular virtual community meetings featuring presentations on Passive House topics, project showcases, and discussions on building standards, fire resilience, window selection, and other technical subjects.
• Member Directory Directory of Passive House professionals and companies including architects, engineers, consultants, contractors, manufacturers, and other industry specialists available for project collaboration. Currently lists 172 members.
• Resources and Publications Educational materials including e-books, publications, conference materials, and videos covering Passive House principles, case studies, and technical guidance for homeowners, professionals, developers, and governing agencies.
• California Passive House Project Map Interactive map showcasing Passive House projects throughout California, allowing users to explore certified buildings and submit their own projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• Passive House (PHI standard) reduces heating and cooling energy use by over 50% compared to Title 24 homes in California
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• California State Legislature (AB 368)coreOthers · 1 March 2025PHCA is actively advocating for AB 368, a bill introduced in the California State Legislature to establish Passive House certification as an alternative compliance pathway to Title 24. This policy partnership aims to advance high-performance, energy-efficient buildings statewide.
• International Passive House Association (iPHA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012PHCA is an affiliate member of the International Passive House Association (iPHA) since 2012. This affiliation provides PHCA members access to the Passive House Institute's rich database of information and resources, and connects PHCA to the global Passive House community. PHCA participates in iPHA campaigns such as '#EfficiencyFirst' and co-hosts iPHA webinars.
• Passive House Institute (PHI)coreTechnology or IntegrationPHCA is affiliated with the Passive House Institute (PHI), the organization that developed and administers the Passive House standard. PHCA promotes PHI-certified buildings and training programs and provides access to PHI resources and certification processes to its members.
• North American Passive House Network (NAPHN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPHCA collaborates with the North American Passive House Network (NAPHN) on events, advocacy, and research. NAPHN is a co-organizer of the International Passive House Open Days and provides national leadership on Passive House policy.
• Passive House Network (PHN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPHCA and PHN share a joint booth at events (e.g., 2025 California Green Building Conference) and collaborate on webinars, research dissemination, and advocacy. PHN Executive Director Ken Levenson regularly partners with PHCA on presentations and press releases.
• Climate Action CaliforniaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerClimate Action California has been a key supporter of PHCA's advocacy efforts, including support for AB 368, the groundbreaking bill to establish Passive House certification as an alternative compliance pathway to Title 24 in California.
• Emu PassiveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmu Passive, an international building science research and consulting firm, conducted the California-specific analysis (Appendix B) of Passive House performance across 11 single-family homes in California's climate zones, published in partnership with PHCA and PHN.
• Southern California Edison (SCE)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSouthern California Edison co-hosts webinars with PHCA (e.g., Code Breaker series, Right-Sizing Plumbing) and participates as a sponsor, supporting PHCA's education mission on California energy codes and building electrification.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC): USGBC administers LEED and runs the broader green-building advocacy, education, and certification ecosystem in the U.S. It is a broader incumbent operating in the same space with overlapping audiences (architects, developers, policymakers) but a much wider portfolio.
• RMI (Rocky Mountain Institute): RMI is a clean-energy non-profit with significant building-decarbonization programs (e.g., Carbon-Free Buildings, Climate-Aligned Real Estate). It is a broader incumbent in the building decarbonization space with overlapping policy and market-transformation work.
• International Passive House Association (iPHA): iPHA is the global umbrella Passive House organization of which PHCA is an affiliate member since 2012. It is a broader incumbent operating globally with similar education, advocacy, and conference functions, but at international rather than regional scale.
• Passive House Institute (PHI): PHI is the German-based institute that developed the Passive House standard and administers certification, PHPP, and training. It is a broader incumbent: PHCA is affiliated with PHI and uses its standard, but PHI is the original developer operating globally.

Direct peers

• Architecture 2030: Architecture 2030 is a non-profit focused on building-sector decarbonization through the 2030 Challenge and policy advocacy. It is a direct peer in that it pursues a similar advocacy-and-education mission around building carbon performance and policy adoption.
• New Buildings Institute (NBI): NBI is a non-profit that advocates for high-performance, zero-energy, and zero-carbon buildings through policy, technical resources, and practitioner engagement. It is directly comparable as a mission-aligned advocacy and education non-profit in the same building-performance category.
• North American Passive House Network (NAPHN): NAPHN is a North American Passive House advocacy and education organization that co-organizes International Passive House Open Days with PHCA and collaborates on policy and research. It is the most direct peer as a sister Passive House non-profit with overlapping membership and events.
• Passive House Network (PHN): PHN is a U.S. Passive House advocacy organization that shares a joint booth with PHCA at the California Green Building Conference and co-hosts webinars and press releases. It is a near-direct peer in mission, structure, and audience.
• Carbon Leadership Forum: Carbon Leadership Forum is a non-profit research and advocacy organization focused on reducing embodied carbon in buildings through industry collaboration and policy. It is directly comparable as a mission-driven non-profit driving building-sector decarbonization standards and adoption.

Regional players

• Build It Green: Build It Green is a California-based non-profit that promotes green building practices through professional certification, education, and advocacy. It is a regional peer addressing the same California professional and homeowner market for high-performance building practices.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xbsky.app/profile/passivehousecal.bsky.social
• Facebookfacebook.com/PassiveHouseCal
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/passivehousecal
• Instagraminstagram.com/passivehousecal

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Passive House California (phca)