Certification of Passivhaus Buildings

At Praxis Resilient Buildings we are certifiers, accredited by the Passivhaus Institute in Germany

More than a decade of experience in Passivhaus certifications

Sustainable construction has become a priority in the current architectural landscape. Passivhaus design is based on a fundamental principle: the greenest energy is the energy you don’t use. Passivhaus is an internationally recognized certification system that guarantees an excellent level of thermal comfort, low energy bills and optimal indoor air quality, adding value to a building and extending its useful life.

At Praxis Resilient Buildings we are certifiers, accredited by the Passivhaus Institute in Germany. We have more than 12 years of experience applying the standard in warm climates, both for new construction and retrofit, with more than 169 projects carried out in 6 countries. You can safely put your trust in us to reach your objective of Passivhaus certification.

Passivhaus Classic, Plus or Premium and Enerphit certification 

At Praxis we have experience certifying new or retrofitted buildings. The Passivhaus standard is constantly evolving and there are various classes of certification that we can help you with.

Passivhaus Classic: this is the standard certification category, that guarantees compliance with the Passivhaus criteria and achieves optimal comfort and significant energy savings in the range of 70 % to 90%.

Passivhaus Plus: we certify that the building is, on an annual basis, energy self-sufficient, producing more energy than it consumes. The requirements for airtightness and heating and cooling demands are identical to Passivhaus Classic, but Renewable Primary Energy (PER) consumption must be reduced to 45 kWh/m2·a (referenced the building’s treated floor area) and renewable energy generation must be equal or greater than 60 kWh/m2·a (referenced to the building’s footprint).

Passivhaus Premium: currently this is the most demanding certification class. The objective is to achieve a building that generates approximately 4 or 5 times more than it consumes, reducing PER consumption by half that of Passivhaus Classic, with twice as much renewable generation as Passivhaus Plus.

EnerPHit: this is the internationally recognized certificate of energy efficiency and comfort for existing buildings that are retrofitted to comply with Passivhaus criteria.

Enjoy the benefits of Passivhaus certification

The Passivhaus standard is advantageous for both the developer, the building owner and for the design and construction teams. These are some of the advantages of certification:

Benefits for the owner:

Energy savings

Passivhaus buildings are designed to consume minimal heating and cooling energy. The implementation of Passivhaus principles delivers highly efficient living spaces that generate energy cost savings of up to 90% compared with conventional buildings, making them largely immune to energy price hikes.

Health & comfort

Passivhaus buildings have excellent indoor air quality. The continuous supply of fresh, filtered air ensures a healthy indoor environment, reducing allergens and excessive humidity. The high level of insulation and airtightness eliminates drafts and cold spots, creating a comfortable habitat. 

Added value

Passivhaus certification will increase the long-term value of the building and improve resilience in the face of extreme weather events. Passivhaus certification is a symbol of quality and innovation that puts your constructed assets in an excellent position in the market.

Benefits for the design and construction teams:

Quality control and compliance

The quality control required by the certification process guarantees quality construction. We asses compliance with the standard and audit the design and construction process.

Professional recognition

Passivhaus certification is an internationally recognized standard and can help you position yourself as a professional at the forefront of sustainable and energy efficient design.

Accreditation & qualification

The person who signs the PHPP for building certification can qualify as a Passivhaus Designer. As accredited certifiers we can manage the process and get you the qualification you’re looking for.

We guarantee optimal compliance with the 8 Passivhaus principles

Through the certification process we guarantee compliance with 8 key Passivhaus principles:

• 1. Bioclimatic design: the objective is to ensure a compact, well-oriented and correctly conceived architectural design from the get-go, reducing heat loss and costs, while simplifying the construction process.
• 2. Thermal insulation: designed to keep the heat in during the winter and keep heat out in the summer.
• 3. Air tightness: the idea is to practically eliminate drafts and air leaks and meet the stringent the Blower Door test requirements without unnecessary headaches. This reduces energy consumption and improves thermal and acoustic comfort.
• 4. Reduction of thermal and acoustic bridges: by creating a continuous layer of insulation around the building, you eliminate cold spots, save energy and minimize the risk of mould growth. This reduces maintenance costs and improves health. 
• 5. Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery: constant fresh and pre-heated air ensures an optimal internal temperature and excellent air quality with minimal energy consumption.
• 6. High performance doors and windows: openings that are draft and condensation free, essential for maintaining thermal comfort and reducing energy costs.
• 7. Shading devices: essential for avoiding summer overheating.
• 8. Efficient mechanical & electrical systems: equipment that will power your building and work in harmony with the thermal envelope to achieve low energy consumption.

Passivhaus certification: we make it easy

If you choose Praxis for Passivhaus certification, we’ll make your journey through certification simpler and more productive, working closely with your team to deliver cost-optimal solutions through the following steps: