The International Passive House Association



A global network for Passive House knowledge working to promote the Passive House Standard worldwide (see Mission and values)

During the plenary session of the 24th International Passive House Association, on 20 September at 3 pm, Prof Wolfgang Feist will be joined by other notable speakers like the renowned climate scientist Prof Stefan Rahmstorf, Thorsten Herdan, Director-General in the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, WBGU Co-Chair Dirk Messner, Alexander Bonde secretary-general of the German Federal Environment Foundation (DBU) as well as Jens Deutschendorf, the State Secretary in the Hessian Ministry for Economic Affairs, Energy, Transport and Housing.

Every Wednesday and Thursday until 08 October, you can look forward to an extensive programme consisting of exciting lectures, virtual building tours, the ONLINE Passive House Exhibition and our networking opportunities.

Sign up today for a membership with your local iPHA affiliate organisation to save on the conference ticket, and experience membership benefits all year long!

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Pointing the way – then and now



Construction of the first Passive House in the world started 30 years ago in Darmstadt, Germany. The building physicist Wolfgang Feist had developed the Passive House standard prior to this. In the autumn of 1990, he started putting theory into practice with the construction of the private terraced housing complex. Since then, countless buildings have been built to the climate-friendly Passive House standard around the globe. Current projects and research findings will be presented at the 24th International Passive House Conference from 20 September until 8 October 2020. The Passive House Institute presents ten reasons for attending the online conference.

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Hospital a step closer to certification



The world’s first Passive House hospital, currently being built in Frankfurt, Germany, is a step closer to certification: an airtightness test for the building, which spans 78,000 square metres of gross floor area, was extremely successful. The Passive House Institute in Darmstadt has been consulting on this pilot project right from the start, including the initial planning phase. It has now been tasked with the certification of the project. A baseline study on the implementation of the Passive House standard in hospitals was carried out in advance by the Passive House Institute on behalf of the German Federal State of Hesse.

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Even zoos can be built sustainably!



Registration is now open for the 24th International Passive House Conference with the focal theme "Passive House – Building the future – Sustainably!" The renowned climate scientist Professor Stefan Rahmstorf will give a speech during the opening plenary of the conference , which will begin on 20 September 2020 and is being offered as an online event for the first time. Over the subsequent three weeks, expert talks will be held online two days per week. The Conference will come to a close on 8 October 2020. The online format offers the opportunity to host the Passive House trade exhibition over three weeks. Virtual excursions of inspiring Passive House projects will be offered.

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Congratulations for the 1000th certificate



Another success story from the world of energy efficient construction and renovation: the Passive House Institute has recently issued the 1000th certificate for a Passive House component. There is a great range of quality approved building components now available, and many manufacturers have recognised the potential of certified components for energy efficient buildings. Things looked completely different almost thirty years ago when the first Passive House building in the world was being constructed.

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"We can still do it!"



Professor Wolfgang Feist opened with a clear message: "We can still halt the climate crisis. To do so, we need to make the right decisions now and then act upon them." The founder of the Passive House Institute also highlighted the parallels between the COVID-19 and the climate crises. In addition, Feist explained how improved energy efficiency in buildings and a significant change in the areas of mobility and energy could limit the extent of dangerous climate change. "We cannot change the past, but we can change the future! It will be hard work, but we can still do it!"

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New first for International Passive House Conference



The 24th International Passive House Conference, planned to take place in Berlin in September this year, will now be offered as a comprehensive online conference. Presentations, workshops, the specialists’ exhibition and building tours that have always been a part of the annual Passive House Conference will remain in the programme. Virtual networking between participants will also be a highlight.

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The effort is definitely worth it!



Low operational costs for heating and electricity and a high standard of living comfort are possible at the same time: the latest session of the Research Group for cost-effective Passive Houses addressed the issue of social housing and how it can be implemented in a cost-effective and energy efficient manner. During an associated excursion, many participants visited the PassivhausSozialPlus in Darmstadt which is a nationwide model project for social housing.

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Passive House buildings lead the way





The Passive House Institute in Darmstadt has announced the Passive House Award 2020 to reward pioneering projects in the field of energy efficient construction. A special focus of the competition will be on integrated renewable energy supply. An international jury panel will select the award winners. The award ceremony will take place during the 24th International Passive House Conference in Berlin.



Press Release

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Better homes with less energy





Saving energy is comparatively easy in the case of buildings: these can be built so that they will not use much energy in the first place. If renewable energy is added to the mix, then sustainability is optimally implemented: “Building the future – sustainably!", this is the focal theme of the 24th International Passive House Conference 2020 in Berlin. The German Federal Ministry of Economics has assumed patronage for the conference. The call for papers has begun.



Press Release

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"1.5 degrees is still possible!"





The 23rd International Passive House Conference’s keynote speakers unanimously agreed that putting "energy efficiency first" is necessary to achieve the Paris Agreement’s objectives. For the first time, the annual Conference was held outside of Europe, in Gaobeidian, China. For the Passive House Institute and its partners, the conference was a success. At the close of the Conference, the Passive House Institute announced the "2020 Passive House Award" for excellence in Passive House architecture; the award ceremony will take place at the 24th Passive House Conference in Berlin.

Press Release

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Climate protection with comfort bonus





More climate protection in the building section is also one of the demands made by the climate activists of Fridays for Future. Extremely energy efficient buildings are part of the solution for more climate protection. Visitors will soon be able to experience first-hand, how little energy is actually required in Passive House buildings: Passive House residents around the world will be inviting the public into their homes during the Passive House Open Days from 8 till 10 November 2019.

Press Release

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Passive House social housing project winner of this year's Stirling Prize!

The Royal Institue of British Architects has awarded the 2019 RIBA Stirling Prize for UK's best new building to a Passive House development. Goldsmith Street, developed by Mikhail Riches with Cathy Hawley, comprises 100 highly energy-efficient Passive House homes in the city of Norwich. The low energy consumption not only saves the residents a lot of money but also makes the houses highly sustainable and climate-friendly. Stylistically, the design pays homage to Norwich's history while embracing the future. It combines the creamy clay bricks of Victorian terrace houses with modern Passive House building techniques. Having RIBA award this project with their esteemed prize is a testament to the tradition-steeped organisation's transition into one of the most progressive and sustainably-minded architectural associations. Photo Credit: Tim Crocker

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A new addition: energy efficiency!





The two buildings are used completely differently, but they have one important thing in common: both buildings have achieved the EnerPHit standard after an energy retrofit. The Passive House Institute recently presented the certificate for the EnerPHit retrofit of a supermarket in the Austrian town of Prutz. About 7800 kilometres away, a clothing factory in Sri Lanka also received a certificate for a successful energy efficient modernisation. This pilot project in the tropical climate will be presented in October at the 23rd International Passive House Conference in China.

Press Release

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China aims for high energy efficiency





China is building on a vast scale. This fact becomes apparent in Gaobeidian, a city about a hundred kilometres south of the capital, Beijing. Here, the Passive House district Bahnstadt with over 20 high-rise buildings and many multi-family houses is currently under construction. This is where the Passive House Institute, together with its partners, is inviting everyone to attend the 23rd International Passive House Conference. The theme: "Passive House worldwide". The Conference Programme is online, registration is now possible. The early booking discount is available until the end of July. The Passive House Institute offers a service webinar for questions regarding the conference.



Press Release

"Time to think of the national economy"





The measuring device showed more than 84 decibels! It was clear that the story about the improvised Blower-Door test in Kazakhstan was the winner of the first-ever Passive House Slam at the Passive House Conference in Heidelberg. The mayor of Walldorf received the most applause during an earlier panel discussion. Mayor Christiane Staab demanded that for climate protection and society in general it was necessary to think in terms of the national economy rather than business economics. At the conclusion, Dr Wolfgang Feist invited the participants to the 23rd International Passive House Conference in China in October. He also revealed the city that will host the 2020 Conference



Press Release

Plenty of steam around extractors





In a new study, the Passive House Institute focuses on systems for vapour extractors, with the research report also resulting in a handbook for extractor hoods in Passive House buildings. This contains the key principles for a compatible system and its dimensioning. Research findings will be presented during the Passive House Conference "Achieve Better Buildings!" at the begining of May in Heidelberg. The Institute will also present the findings at the 23rd International Passive House Conference in China in autumn 2019.

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Passive House videos:

Passive House Explained in 90 seconds by Hans-Jörg Eich

Passive Passion, documentary by Charlie Hoxie