Education and Standards Uptake

Convenes coalitions, provides expert testimony, and shapes policy development to advance green building regulations, including Local Law 97 and Local Law 154 in New York City. Since 2010, has shaped over 100 laws and regulations and convened over 450 groups to inform policy.

Provides on-demand and live training courses in sustainable building practices, including heat pumps, energy auditing, and code compliance, with free access for enrolled students. Has trained over 65,000 professionals since 2002 across more than 100 cities.

Offers a data tool with cost-effective compliance recommendations for Local Law 97 and provides free live training on New York City and State energy code compliance, reaching nearly 18,000 professionals since 2010.

Conducts and publishes research on building electrification, carbon policy implications, and grid capacity, including the "Grid Ready" report and analysis of hydropower and offshore wind integration in New York City by 2028.

Engages in collaborative advocacy and policy work to support the adoption of Passive House building science in the built environment, promoting regenerative, healthy, and resilient development.

Engages in public education, outreach, and advocacy to promote the adoption of the Passive House building energy standard through events, media, and public programming.

Provides a platform for knowledge sharing, professional networking, and community engagement through events, online access, and member benefits including regional networking, training discounts, and access to project and product databases.

Provides financial and organizational support for events such as Regenerative Metropolis '25, which focus on integrating Passive House standards into broader urban and building systems.

Offers in-person and online educational courses and training programs for building professionals on Passive House design and construction principles and practices.

Offers comprehensive Certified Passive House Designer (CPHD) and Certified Passive House Tradesperson (CPHT) training programs through hybrid, on-demand, live online, and in-person formats, preparing professionals for certification exams with structured curricula, mentorship, and continuing education credits. Over 2,100 professionals have been trained through the CPHD program, and CPHT training has achieved a pass rate exceeding 96%.

Organizes the annual national Passive House Conference, regionally hosted by member organizations, along with building tours, webinars, and recurring educational events such as PHN Presents, International Passive House Days, and office hours with education staff. The 2026 conference is scheduled for June 4–5 in New Haven, CT, including tours of Hotel Marcel, North America’s only Passive House hotel.

Provides targeted discounts, cost reimbursements, and full tuition coverage for CPHD/CPHT training to increase access for underrepresented groups and those impacted by climate disasters or working on affordable housing. Includes $500 discounts for students and veterans, $250–$500 rebates for residents of California and Vermont, full coverage for NYC affordable housing project teams, and tiered bulk enrollment discounts for firms.

Develops and publishes case studies, cost reports, policy recommendations, and open-access educational materials on Passive House performance across U.S. climates. Also creates and maintains PHribbon, a design tool for calculating and reducing embodied carbon emissions during building design.

Offers free and discounted introductory courses, including one-hour online trainings on Passive House principles and methodology, as well as specialized technical courses in thermal bridging, high-performance windows, EnerPHit retrofits, wildfire resilience, and energy modeling tools like designPH, easyPH, PHPP, FLIXO, and THERM. Courses are available in live, on-demand, and in-house customizable formats, many offering AIA and PHI continuing education credits.

Operates 11 regional chapters across the United States that facilitate monthly online meetings, educational content, networking, and skill-sharing among members to strengthen local Passive House communities and support knowledge exchange.

Performs research in illumination engineering and publishes findings in peer-reviewed journals, including the Leukos journal.

Conducts standards development through technical committee activities and disseminates guidance to lighting professionals globally.

Organizes and hosts an annual conference focused on lighting research, design, and technological advancements.