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Courses/Engineering/GreenBuild

The Newest Passive House Standards: Design and Construction

Leverage the latest PHIUS standards to design high-performance, net-zero buildings that deliver exceptional durability, health, and energy resilience.

Created byHalfMoon Educationworkspace_premium
BeginnerUpdated Jan 26, 2026
The Newest Passive House Standards: Design and Construction

What You'll Learn

check_circleIdentify PHIUS climate-specific targets.
check_circleDetail continuous insulation strategies.
check_circleOptimize passive solar orientation.
check_circleIntegrate balanced ventilation systems.
check_circleModel energy use with WUFI software.
check_circleReview hot and cold climate case studies.

About This Course

This six-hour course provides a comprehensive understanding of the Passive House Standard and focuses on its design and construction. The course explores the principles of passive design, architectural elements, and mechanical systems, along with strategies for optimizing energy performance.

The course also examines certification criteria, building codes, and standards related to passive house and energy-efficient design.

Through a blend of building science theory and practical application, professionals will learn how to optimize the building envelope to manage heat, air, and moisture effectively. The content covers the evolution of Passive House from its origins to the specific requirements of North American climate zones, moving through the critical components of the "perfect wall," the elimination of thermal bridges, and the science behind airtight construction. Instructors also provide detailed insights into mechanical system integration and the financial viability of high-performance builds.

This course covers the following key topics:

  • PHIUS Principles and History: Understanding the development of the standard, climate-specific targets, and the path to net-zero energy.
  • Building Envelope Mastery: Strategies for continuous insulation, advanced framing, vapor profiles, and the elimination of thermal bridges in walls, roofs, and slabs.
  • Fenestration and Solar Control: Selecting and installing high-performance windows and doors based on U-values, Solar Heat Gain Coefficients (SHGC), and shading strategies for different climates.
  • Air Tightness and Ventilation: The importance of the blower door test and implementing balanced ventilation systems using Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERVs) and Heat Recovery Ventilators (HRVs).
  • Mechanical Systems: Sizing and selecting efficient heating and cooling equipment, including mini-splits and ground source heat pumps, as well as efficient hot water distribution.
  • Solar and Net Zero Integration: Designing for passive solar gain and integrating active renewable energy systems like solar PV to achieve zero energy status.
  • Case Studies: An in-depth look at real-world projects, including a duplex in Houston (Climate Zone 2) and a home in Pennsylvania (Climate Zone 5), analyzing their assemblies, performance data, and lessons learned.

Ideal for architects, engineers, builders, and energy consultants, this course provides the technical knowledge necessary to design durable, healthy, and resilient structures that meet the newest Passive House standards.

Your Instructors

HalfMoon Education
HalfMoon Education

Online Courses for Engineers

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HalfMoon Education is a nonprofit continuing education provider offering live webinars and on-demand courses for engineers, architects, landscape architects, land surveyors, attorneys, paralegals, accountants and others. Since 1996, we’ve helped thousands of professionals nationwide stay current with industry standards and codes, earn CE hours, and advance their expertise through practical, expert-led learning experiences. Learn more about us at: www.halfmoonseminars.org

Paul  Westbrook
Paul Westbrook

President, RE:source Design, LLC

Paul Westbrook designed his own solar home in north Texas in 1996, which won the Energy Value Housing Award for Innovative Design (https://enerjazz.com/house). It still ranks as one of the most efficient homes in Texas. While serving as Sustainable Development Manager at Texas Instruments International Facilities, Mr. Westbrook was the LEED AP for the 1.1 million square foot Texas Instruments factory, which was the first LEED Gold semiconductor factory in the world. He led the effort to improve the energy and water efficiency of TI’s 20 million square feet of existing global facilities. They were able to double the company’s energy and water efficiency in less than 10 years. In 2012, Mr. Westbrook was named a Senior Fellow for the US State Department’s Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas program. He visited Honduras, Bolivia, Colombia, and Peru where he worked with governments, universities, and industry on efficiency and renewable energy. Mr. Westbrook received his B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA in 1982.

Roger  Taylor
Roger Taylor

Certified Passive House Consultant and Owner of DwellGreen

Mr. Taylor is a certified Passive House consultant and Passive House rater. He is a HERS Rater and is certified by Energy Star, DOE Zero Energy Ready Home, IECC, and BPI.   Mr. Taylor has served on the ANSI/RESNET National Committee for Water Efficiency, on the Environmental Committee for the town of Fairview, Texas, and as a project manager for large commercial data centers. This is a second career after the US Navy, a computer science degree, and 35 years in the computer services industry.

Andrew  Peel
Andrew Peel

Founder and Principal of Peel Passive House Consulting

Mr. Peel is a renowned expert in the field of Passive House buildings. He is the founder and principal of Peel Passive House Consulting, a consulting firm that specializes in supporting the design and construction of high-performance, low-carbon buildings. Andrew has over 15 years of experience in the field and is an accredited Passive House certifier, consultant, and trainer. Andrew's passion for sustainable building began early in his career, and he has been dedicated to promoting energy efficiency and sustainability ever since. He has worked on a wide range of projects, including residential homes, multi-family dwellings, and commercial buildings, all with the aim of improving occupant quality of life, reducing energy consumption, and minimizing environmental impact.   As a certified Passive House consultant, Andrew is well-versed in the principles of energy-efficient design and construction. He has a deep understanding of building science and can apply this knowledge to create buildings that are not only energy-efficient but also comfortable and healthy for their occupants.   Andrew is also an active member of the sustainable building community, regularly attending conferences and events to stay up-to-date on the latest developments and innovations in the field. He is committed to educating others about the benefits of sustainable building and is always eager to share his expertise with clients, colleagues, and industry partners. With his passion, expertise, and commitment to sustainability, he is a leading figure in the industry and a valuable asset to any project.

Credit Information

Do these courses count toward my professional development requirements?

This portal is provided as a training and development resource for City of Markham employees. Every course is delivered by a qualified subject matter expert or learning organization, is quantifiable in hours, and is verifiable — you receive a documented certificate of completion for every course you finish, stored on LearnFormula indefinitely.

If you hold a professional designation (for example in engineering, accounting, human resources, or law), courses may be counted as professionally relevant, verifiable learning activities toward your continuing professional development. Individual practitioners are responsible for confirming that an activity meets the requirements of their professional body. For questions about the City of Markham's training and development policies, please speak with your people leader or Human Resources.

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We are a registered provider with 327+ associations and regulatory bodies worldwide. We operate across 29 global markets including Canada, the US, Australia, and the UK. Every course page clearly displays its specific accreditations. Upon completion, you receive a professional certificate that can be validated online. Our certificates include all necessary accreditation details, credit hours, and completion dates, and are formatted specifically to meet the submission requirements of most global regulatory bodies.