What is passive construction?
A building that heats with almost nothing. Remarkable comfort in every season. And a construction logic built on five rules.
A passive house does not heat. It conserves.
The idea is radical in its simplicity: instead of offsetting heat losses with a large heating system, you start by eliminating them. A very well insulated envelope, free of defects, captures solar heat and heat from the occupants — and retains it.
The result: a building that can do without conventional heating, or almost. The heat given off by occupants, electrical appliances and the sun is enough to maintain a comfortable temperature.
First passive house in France, 2006. Large south-facing windows, timber frame structure, louvre solar shading.
Five non-negotiable rules
The Passivhaus standard rests on five construction principles. Two of them are building certification criteria — heating demand and airtightness; the other three are the component target values for a cool-temperate climate. It is this overall coherence that guarantees performance.
U ≤ 0,15 W/m²·KPHI Criteria v10b, Table 2: cool-temperate climate zone (French-speaking Switzerland), exterior insulation U ≤ 0.15 W/(m²K). This is a component criterion, not a building certification threshold.Passive House Institute (PHI), Darmstadt — Criteria for the Passive House, EnerPHit and PHI Low Energy Building Standards, Version 10b — Table 2
Uw ≤ 0,85 W/m²·KPHI Criteria v10b, Table 2: in a cool-temperate climate, U(D/W,installed) ≤ 0.85 W/(m²K). The value applies to the INSTALLED window, fitting included, not to the window on its own.Passive House Institute (PHI), Darmstadt — Criteria for the Passive House, EnerPHit and PHI Low Energy Building Standards, Version 10b — Table 2
η ≥ 75 %PHI Criteria v10b, Table 2 and note 7: minimum 75 % heat recovery in a cool-temperate climate, required for the WHOLE system including duct losses, not just the ventilation unit.Passive House Institute (PHI), Darmstadt — Criteria for the Passive House, EnerPHit and PHI Low Energy Building Standards, Version 10b — Table 2, note 7
n₅₀ ≤ 0,6 /hPHI Criteria v10b, Table 1: "Pressurization test result n50 ≤ 0.6 1/h", measured to ISO 9972 method 1 (§4.1.1 for the Vn50 volume). For EnerPHit the limit is n50 ≤ 1.0 h⁻¹.Passive House Institute (PHI), Darmstadt — Criteria for the Passive House, EnerPHit and PHI Low Energy Building Standards, Version 10b — Table 1
ψ → minimal
Heat recovery ventilation (HRV) deserves particular attention: often misunderstood, it is inseparable from the passive standard. It continuously renews the air while recovering the heat from the extracted air — which avoids any loss due to ventilation.
First and foremost, a building that is pleasant to live in
The paradox of the passive house: in seeking to reduce energy consumption, what you get above all is remarkable comfort. No cold draughts near windows. No cold surfaces. Constant air quality.
The interior surface of the glazing stays around 17 to 18°C in the depths of winterPHI Criteria v10b, §2.4.4 "Thermal comfort": no more than 4.2 K below the operative temperature, checked at 22 °C (≈ 17.8 °C); floor ≥ 19 °C. Passipedia cites "over 17 °C" as a practical finding.Passive House Institute (PHI), Darmstadt — Criteria for the Passive House, EnerPHit and PHI Low Energy Building Standards, Version 10b — § 2.4.4 — eliminating the cold-surface sensation typical of ordinary buildings.
How much does it consume?
Heating demand is measured in kWh per square metre per year. The comparison speaks for itself.
Space heating demand (PHPP indicator). The passive standard uses 8 to 10 times less heating energy than an unrenovated existing buildingThe PHI threshold of 15 kWh/(m²a) covers space heating demand alone, referred to the TFA (PHPP). It is not directly comparable to a Minergie index or to metered heating + hot water consumption.Passive House Institute (PHI), Darmstadt — Criteria for the Passive House, EnerPHit and PHI Low Energy Building Standards, Version 10b — Table 1, note 1. Plus and Premium share the same heating threshold as Classic: they differ in renewable primary energy (PER ≤ 45 and ≤ 30 kWh/m²·an) and renewable energy generation (≥ 60 and ≥ 120 kWh/m²·an)PHI Criteria v10b, Table 1: PER ≤ 60 / 45 / 30 kWh/(m²a) and renewable generation ≥ – / 60 / 120 kWh/(m²a) for Classic / Plus / Premium. No class is defined as "energy-positive".Passive House Institute (PHI), Darmstadt — Criteria for the Passive House, EnerPHit and PHI Low Energy Building Standards, Version 10b — Table 1. Since reference floor areas (SRE) are calculated differently between Passivhaus (PHPP) and Minergie® (SIA 416/1), the values are indicative.
Two labels, one shared logic
In Switzerland, the passive standard is available under two labels. One is international — the Passivhaus Institut in Darmstadt — the other is Swiss: Minergie®-P. Their requirements are similar, with some differences in method.
| Criterion | Passivhaus Classic | Minergie®-P |
|---|---|---|
| Heating threshold * | ≤ 15 kWh/m²·anPHI Criteria v10b, Table 1: heating demand ≤ 15 kWh/(m²a) referred to the TFA, OR alternatively heating load ≤ 10 W/m². The same threshold applies to Classic, Plus and Premium.Passive House Institute (PHI), Darmstadt — Criteria for the Passive House, EnerPHit and PHI Low Energy Building Standards, Version 10b — Table 1 | ≤ 70 % of MoPEC 2025 limit values, whose cantonal transposition is under wayMinergie regulation 2026.1, cl. 6.1, table: Minergie-P ≤ 70 % of the MoPEC 2025 Qh,li for new build and ≤ 90 % for retrofits, all building categories, with a floor of 15 kWh/(m²a).Association Minergie — Règlement des labels MINERGIE®/MINERGIE-P®/MINERGIE-A®, Version 2026.1, ch. 6.1 |
| Airtightness | n₅₀ ≤ 0,6 /h | qE50 ≤ 0,8 m³/(h·m²)Minergie regulation 2026.1, cl. 6.2: Minergie-P and Minergie-A, qE50 ≤ 0.8 m³/(h·m²) for new build and ≤ 1.6 for retrofits; airtightness test mandatory, in principle for each dwelling unit.Association Minergie — Règlement des labels MINERGIE®/MINERGIE-P®/MINERGIE-A®, Version 2026.1, ch. 6.2 |
| Ventilation | Heat recovery ventilation mandatory | Automatic outdoor-air supply required, with or without heat recovery (SIA 382/1:2025)Minergie regulation 2026.1, cl. 10.1: "automatic outdoor-air supply […] with or without heat recovery"; uncontrolled manual window ventilation is not sufficient.Association Minergie — Règlement des labels MINERGIE®/MINERGIE-P®/MINERGIE-A®, Version 2026.1, ch. 10.1 |
| Fossil fuels | Permitted (penalized in the PER balance) | Prohibited for heating and domestic hot water, with exceptions (regulation 2026.1)Minergie regulation 2026.1, cl. 8.1: fossil fuels banned for heating and hot water, with four derogations (peak load, CHP, district heating ≤ 50 % fossil, grid electricity).Association Minergie — Règlement des labels MINERGIE®/MINERGIE-P®/MINERGIE-A®, Version 2026.1, ch. 8.1 |
| Calculation tool | PHPP (PHI Darmstadt) | Minergie verification + EnDK-certified software (Lesosai, Enerweb…)EnDK list of 08.07.2026: Lesosai, certification no. 1616, developer E4tech SARL (Lausanne), one of 21 certified programs. Minergie regulation 2026.1 cl. 6.1 refers to this list, not to one tool.EnDK / EnFK — Hub énergie bâtiment — Liste des logiciels informatiques certifiés pour le calcul de la norme SIA 380/1 (version 2016) |
| Certification | PHI Darmstadt or accredited certifier | Minergie® Association (CH) |
| Relevance in Switzerland | ✓ internationally recognized | ✓ dominant on the Swiss market |
* Reference energy floor areas (SRE) are calculated using different conventions between Passivhaus (PHPP, PHI Darmstadt) and Minergie® (SIA 416/1 standard). A direct comparison of the numerical thresholds is therefore approximate and does not necessarily reflect a real difference in requirements between the two labels. Minergie® values according to regulation 2026.1 (absolute minimum of 15 kWh/m²·an; airtightness qE50 measured according to EN ISO 9972:2015 + SIA 180:2014Minergie regulation 2026.1, cl. 6.2: requirements "per standards SIA 180:2014 and SN EN ISO 9972 (standard SIA 180.206)"; testing follows SIA 180:2014 and the current RiLuMi directive.Association Minergie — Règlement des labels MINERGIE®/MINERGIE-P®/MINERGIE-A®, Version 2026.1, ch. 6.2).
EnerPHit: the passive standard for existing buildings
Retrofitting to the passive standard is possible, but the constraints of existing buildings — geometry, structure, unavoidable thermal bridges — call for adaptations. The EnerPHit standard (Passivhaus Institut) and Minergie®-P Rénovation define specific targets.
EnerPHit target : ≤ 25 kWh/m²·anPHI Criteria v10b, Table 3 (heating demand method): 25 kWh/(m²a) in a cool-temperate climate — French-speaking Switzerland. By zone: 35 arctic, 30 cold, 20 warm-temperate, 15 warm.Passive House Institute (PHI), Darmstadt — Criteria for the Passive House, EnerPHit and PHI Low Energy Building Standards, Version 10b — Table 3, i.e. 75 to 90% less heating energy than before the retrofit according to the Passivhaus Institut, with incomparable comfort.
Valid for any new build or high-performance energy retrofit: the logic of the five pillars remains the guiding thread.
Retrofit in progress: insulation and careful attention to envelope details determine the final performance.
What we often hear. And the reality.
Sources and references (20)
Every figure and every claim in this dossier links back to its source. Hover or tap a footnote marker to see it.
- Passive House Institute (PHI), Darmstadt — Criteria for the Passive House, EnerPHit and PHI Low Energy Building Standards, Version 10b — Table 2
PHI Criteria v10b, Table 2: cool-temperate climate zone (French-speaking Switzerland), exterior insulation U ≤ 0.15 W/(m²K). This is a component criterion, not a building certification threshold. - Passive House Institute (PHI), Darmstadt — Criteria for the Passive House, EnerPHit and PHI Low Energy Building Standards, Version 10b — Table 2
PHI Criteria v10b, Table 2: in a cool-temperate climate, U(D/W,installed) ≤ 0.85 W/(m²K). The value applies to the INSTALLED window, fitting included, not to the window on its own. - Passive House Institute (PHI), Darmstadt — Criteria for the Passive House, EnerPHit and PHI Low Energy Building Standards, Version 10b — Table 2, note 7
PHI Criteria v10b, Table 2 and note 7: minimum 75 % heat recovery in a cool-temperate climate, required for the WHOLE system including duct losses, not just the ventilation unit. - Passive House Institute (PHI), Darmstadt — Criteria for the Passive House, EnerPHit and PHI Low Energy Building Standards, Version 10b — Table 1
PHI Criteria v10b, Table 1: "Pressurization test result n50 ≤ 0.6 1/h", measured to ISO 9972 method 1 (§4.1.1 for the Vn50 volume). For EnerPHit the limit is n50 ≤ 1.0 h⁻¹. - Passive House Institute (PHI), Darmstadt — Criteria for the Passive House, EnerPHit and PHI Low Energy Building Standards, Version 10b — § 2.4.4
PHI Criteria v10b, §2.4.4 "Thermal comfort": no more than 4.2 K below the operative temperature, checked at 22 °C (≈ 17.8 °C); floor ≥ 19 °C. Passipedia cites "over 17 °C" as a practical finding. - Office fédéral de la santé publique (OFSP) — Aérer correctement — Fiche thématique B : Évaluation de la qualité de l'air intérieur
FOPH topic sheet B: below 1000 ppm indoor air quality is rated good to very good; above it, fatigue and reduced concentration increase. SIA 382/1 places 1000–1400 ppm in category INT 3. - République et canton de Genève — OCEN — Que faire selon le résultat IDC de votre immeuble
Geneva: permitted IDC 450 MJ/m²·yr (≈ 125 kWh/m²·yr); significant-exceedance threshold 800 MJ/m²·yr for 2022–2026, 650 from 2027, 550 from 2031 (LEn L 2 30 art. 6(8) and 15C; REn art. 14, 14A). - Association Minergie — Règlement des labels MINERGIE®/MINERGIE-P®/MINERGIE-A®, Version 2026.1, ch. 6.1
Minergie regulation 2026.1, cl. 6.1: Qh (SIA 380/1:2016) ≤ 90 % of the MoPEC 2025 Qh,li for new Minergie buildings, ≤ 70 % for Minergie-P; minimum 15 kWh/(m²a). No "30–40" figure appears in it. - Passive House Institute (PHI), Darmstadt — Criteria for the Passive House, EnerPHit and PHI Low Energy Building Standards, Version 10b — Table 1, note 1
The PHI threshold of 15 kWh/(m²a) covers space heating demand alone, referred to the TFA (PHPP). It is not directly comparable to a Minergie index or to metered heating + hot water consumption. - Passive House Institute (PHI), Darmstadt — Criteria for the Passive House, EnerPHit and PHI Low Energy Building Standards, Version 10b — Table 1
PHI Criteria v10b, Table 1: PER ≤ 60 / 45 / 30 kWh/(m²a) and renewable generation ≥ – / 60 / 120 kWh/(m²a) for Classic / Plus / Premium. No class is defined as "energy-positive". - Passive House Institute (PHI), Darmstadt — Criteria for the Passive House, EnerPHit and PHI Low Energy Building Standards, Version 10b — Table 1
PHI Criteria v10b, Table 1: heating demand ≤ 15 kWh/(m²a) referred to the TFA, OR alternatively heating load ≤ 10 W/m². The same threshold applies to Classic, Plus and Premium. - Association Minergie — Règlement des labels MINERGIE®/MINERGIE-P®/MINERGIE-A®, Version 2026.1, ch. 6.1
Minergie regulation 2026.1, cl. 6.1, table: Minergie-P ≤ 70 % of the MoPEC 2025 Qh,li for new build and ≤ 90 % for retrofits, all building categories, with a floor of 15 kWh/(m²a). - Association Minergie — Règlement des labels MINERGIE®/MINERGIE-P®/MINERGIE-A®, Version 2026.1, ch. 6.2
Minergie regulation 2026.1, cl. 6.2: Minergie-P and Minergie-A, qE50 ≤ 0.8 m³/(h·m²) for new build and ≤ 1.6 for retrofits; airtightness test mandatory, in principle for each dwelling unit. - Association Minergie — Règlement des labels MINERGIE®/MINERGIE-P®/MINERGIE-A®, Version 2026.1, ch. 10.1
Minergie regulation 2026.1, cl. 10.1: "automatic outdoor-air supply […] with or without heat recovery"; uncontrolled manual window ventilation is not sufficient. - Association Minergie — Règlement des labels MINERGIE®/MINERGIE-P®/MINERGIE-A®, Version 2026.1, ch. 8.1
Minergie regulation 2026.1, cl. 8.1: fossil fuels banned for heating and hot water, with four derogations (peak load, CHP, district heating ≤ 50 % fossil, grid electricity). - EnDK / EnFK — Hub énergie bâtiment — Liste des logiciels informatiques certifiés pour le calcul de la norme SIA 380/1 (version 2016)
EnDK list of 08.07.2026: Lesosai, certification no. 1616, developer E4tech SARL (Lausanne), one of 21 certified programs. Minergie regulation 2026.1 cl. 6.1 refers to this list, not to one tool. - Association Minergie — Règlement des labels MINERGIE®/MINERGIE-P®/MINERGIE-A®, Version 2026.1, ch. 6.2
Minergie regulation 2026.1, cl. 6.2: requirements "per standards SIA 180:2014 and SN EN ISO 9972 (standard SIA 180.206)"; testing follows SIA 180:2014 and the current RiLuMi directive. - Passive House Institute (PHI), Darmstadt — Criteria for the Passive House, EnerPHit and PHI Low Energy Building Standards, Version 10b — Table 3
PHI Criteria v10b, Table 3 (heating demand method): 25 kWh/(m²a) in a cool-temperate climate — French-speaking Switzerland. By zone: 35 arctic, 30 cold, 20 warm-temperate, 15 warm. - Passipedia — Passive House Institute — Are Passive Houses cost-effective?
Passipedia (PHI): extra cost of about €15,000 for a single-family house in 2010, i.e. ~8 % of total construction cost in Germany; less than €10,000 in 2015, i.e. under 5 %. - Passive House Institute (PHI), Darmstadt — Criteria for the Passive House, EnerPHit and PHI Low Energy Building Standards, Version 10b — § 2.4.3
PHI Criteria v10b, §2.4.3 "Quiet": guidance values for system-generated noise at standard airflow — ≤ 25 dB(A) in supply-air rooms of dwellings and bedrooms, ≤ 30 dB(A) in other rooms.
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