How to Build a Passive House - Cost, Design, Technique, Examples & Prefab Kit Homes - The Complete Guide for Building a Passive House on a Budget

Living in a Healthy Home that uses next to Zero Energy is what everybody wants, and building a home to Passive House standards is one way to achieve this - Check out below "How to Build A Passive House on a Budget" in USA & Canada with EcoHome. Many high-performance construction techniques are explained in the Green Building Guides section, and for an overview to Passive House Certification in North America see here.

Passive House

Everything you need to know about Passive House certification

A certified Passive House in North America & Canada can be certified by the Passive House Institute PHI or PHIUS, the US certification system. Discover the differences to decide which Passive House certification is best for you. What is Passive House certification? The term “Passive House” was once obscure jargon…

Passive House

Comparing Net Zero Energy homes to Passive House solar gain designed homes: a head-to-head analysis

The main principles of Net Zero house and Passive Solar house can be applied to the same house. We've decided to compare them, as a way of getting to the bottom of the issue. The Net Zero Energy home. The concept of the Zero Energy home is appealing in its simplicity: a residence that generates as much renewable…

Passive House

The Passive-aggressive house - our history of a Passivhaus build

Recounting the trials — and joys — of building a Canadian home to meets the "Passivhaus" standard. First, the background to this Passivhaus My partner and I are geeks. Our idea of a romantic dream was to build a house so well insulated you could heat it with a hairdryer. For added fun, we wanted to do this on a…

Passive House

An owner/builder's account of building a Passive House

Follow owner/builders Sarah Cobb and William Murray as they build a home targeting both Passive House and LEED Certification. Building a Passive House that's also LEED certified This is an owner blog Ecohome posted following the personal experience of Sarah Cobb and William Murray of Rocket Construction Inc. as they…

Passive House

The city of Vancouver is actively promoting Passive House construction

As a part of their Greenest City Action Plan, Vancouver is helping builders get homes certified under the Passive House Standard. Vancouver has set a goal of being the greenest city in the world by the year 2020 . Some of the policies included in that plan are expanded public transportation, bike lanes, encouraging…

Passive House

The North Park Passive House on Vancouver Island, BC

The North Park Passive House is a six-unit urban-infill condominium on Vancouver Island, BC. Passive House construction on Vancouver Island Building the first certified Passive House on Vancouver Island, a duplex shared with our son Mark’s family, convinced us that the market in Victoria was ready for Passive House…

Passive House

Multi-unit Passive House for Heiltsuk First Nation in British Columbia

Modular Passive House construction replaces hospital staff housing that burned down in 2004. Bella Bella is a small community located on Campbell Island between the northern tip of Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii. Approximately 90% of its 1,500 residents belong to the Heiltsuk First Nation. In 2004, a fire…

Passive House

The Un-certified but 'Damn Near' Passive House.

Sustainable building practices can reach the stage where cost effectiveness becomes questionable & when money should be used optimally. The "Damn Near" is a Passive House on a Budget to prove the point. What is a Passive House? The term 'passive house' refers to an extremely high performing energy efficient home…

Passive House

Prefab Passive House & LEED ready kit homes - the future of home building?

Prefab homes make choosing an Architect designed LEED or Passive House high performance house design easy. All the important choices of non-toxic Sustainable materials have been made, add a building lot & in a few months you're home & dry (& warm!). Prefab home kits are ideal for Passive House or LEED certified…

Passive House

To understand the principles of Passive Solar Design for Homes see here, to see a great example of a home designed to Passive House standards on a budget see here & to learn about Passive House windows, see here.

If you are interested to find out information on Prefabricated Passive House & LEED ready Kit Homes in Canada or the US, see here

For any questions about building a Passive house, from Passive House Insulated slabs & foundations, Passive House Wall designs, Passive House Insulation, How to air-seal a building envelope to Passive House Standards, then EcoHome has the answers in our Guides, or via our Q&A Green Building Forum.