Passive House U.S. Develops Separate North American Certification

A new certification system combining the Passive House standard with the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index will issue its first certificates in January 2012, according to Katrin Klingenberg, cofounder and executive director of Passive House Institute U.S. (PHIUS). Called PHIUS+, the certification is separate from international Passive House certification, though projects still must meet the three modeled performance metrics that form the backbone of the international standard.

According to Klingenberg, compared with standard Passive House certification, PHIUS+ adds a higher level of quality assurance to projects by requiring that raters qualified by the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET), creator of the HERS Index, conduct blower-door tests and insulation inspections. She says PHIUS+ is also intended to make Passive House buildings eligible for tax incentive programs as well as more compatible with other green building rating systems that reference the HERS Index. For more information, visit www.passivehouse.us.

– Paula Melton