Next-Gen Buildings: Why Passive House is the Future

As the building industry shifts toward decarbonization and stricter energy codes, Passive House standards are emerging as a future-proof approach to sustainable construction. These high-performance buildings offer unmatched energy efficiency, comfort, and durability while aligning with long-term regulatory trends and climate goals. In this focused 30-minute webinar, industry experts Mark Bacon, Energy Efficiency Practice Lead, and Ethan Clifford, 45L Tax Consultant, will guide you through the core elements of Passive House design and certification. Whether you’re exploring Passive House for the first time or refining your high-performance strategy, this webinar delivers the insights you need to build smarter, meet emerging standards, and stay ahead of the curve.

Agenda:

• ● What is Passive House? 
• ●Green Building & Performance Benefits 
• ● Certification Overview 
• ● Why build PHIUS vs. Passive House Institute: What’s the difference?
• ● Financial Incentives & Funding

Q+A:

How does a Passive House maintain indoor thermal comfort without relying heavily on traditional heating and cooling systems? 

The key passive house components —high-performance insulation, windows, reduced thermal bridging techniques, and an air-tight envelope — greatly reduce air infiltration and heat loss, helping passive homes reduce the required heating and cooling loads for occupants to stay comfortable in a wide variety of climates. 

What are the main challenges in implementing Passive House standards in retrofitting existing buildings compared to new construction? 

Passive house retrofits can be particularly challenging. Often, old homes lack detailed architectural plans, as they would have today, which can lead to uncovering many surprises that may require replacement, remediation, or redesign. Another aspect would be the desire to preserve historical components of a building, such as an old facade. This can add an additional variable to passive house building techniques and requires creative problem-solving to ensure the performance is in line with passive house standards. 

Does a house have to be certified in order to receive the credits? 

No, a home doesn’t have to be Passive House certified to qualify for 45L tax credits. It must be certified through either the ENERGY STAR for Homes/Multifamily program or the DOE Zero Energy Ready Homes program. That said, Phius projects are unique—they require both of those certifications, so pursuing Phius automatically makes the project eligible for 45L. 

Who certifies a Passive House project? 

PHIUS certifies projects pursuing the PHIUS passive house certification. Projects pursuing Passive House Institute (PHI) passive house certification are certified through a certification organization. The current listed certification organizations can be found here.

About Leyton:

Leyton is an international consulting firm that helps businesses leverage financial incentives to accelerate their growth and achieve sustainable performance. ​We simplify access to these complex incentives. Our combined teams of highly skilled Tax and Technical specialists maximize the financial benefits for businesses.​ With compliance always front of mind, we have been delivering optimal services for our client for over 25 years. This provides peace of mind that you will always receive the maximum benefit, without taking risks.