Passive House standards offer affordable, energy-efficient multifamily housing solutions, reducing costs and enhancing comfort during extreme weather.

Passive House standards, which create a building envelope so tight that central heating and cooling systems may not be needed, are being used as a solution for affordable multifamily housing. Katrin Klingenberg, co-founder and executive director of the Passive House Institute-U.S., says that the additional work required to meet an aggressive efficiency standard is not that expensive. Building to Phius standards is only about 3-5% more expensive than building a conventional single family home or 0-3% more for multifamily construction. The tight envelope for Phius buildings regulates indoor air temperature, which can be a lifesaver during power outages during extreme heat waves or cold snaps. There is also a business case for implementing Phius and other sustainability metrics into residential construction, such as lowered bills appealing to market-rate buyers and renters.