Passive House and Sustainable Design

Runtime:

discussed individually*
Project’s cost:

discussed individually**
Architectural supervision:

discussed individually

* Depends on the Project

** Price depennds on the style and complexity of the Project.

Our European background gives us deep roots in Passive House methodology. We have worked with the standard since its early adoption in Europe and understand both the technical requirements and the design opportunities it creates. A Passive House is not a compromise — it is a higher-performance version of exceptional architecture.

Seattle's climate is well-suited to Passive House design. The combination of high-performance insulation, airtight construction, and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) keeps homes warm and dry year-round with minimal energy input. The same system provides passive cooling during Seattle's increasingly warm summers — without air conditioning.

We use PHPP energy modeling software to simulate building performance before construction begins, verifying that every design decision contributes to the certified performance target. Our designs are developed in close collaboration with PHIUS-certified consultants and structural engineers experienced in Passive House construction detailing.

Our portfolio

Copper Hall. Exterior

Stages

01

04

Energy Analysis and Brief

We begin with a thorough energy analysis of your site — solar orientation, prevailing winds, shading, and local climate data. Combined with your brief, this informs every design decision and establishes the performance targets for your Passive House project.

02

04

Integrated Design and Certification Planning

Our team develops an integrated design where architecture, structure, and building systems work together to achieve Passive House standards. We model energy performance using PHPP software and plan the certification pathway with accredited consultants.

03

04

Technical Documentation and Permits

Full working drawings incorporate Passive House details: thermal bridge-free construction, triple-glazed windows, airtight membrane systems, and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR). All documentation meets Washington State energy code and Passive House Institute requirements.

04

Construction Quality Assurance and Blower Door Test

We supervise construction with a focus on airtightness and thermal continuity. Critical junctions are inspected at every stage. The completed building undergoes a blower door test to verify performance, ensuring your home achieves the certified Passive House standard.

Q&A

How much more does a Passive House cost compared to a conventional home?

A Passive House typically costs 5-15% more upfront than a conventional home of similar size and quality. However, energy savings of 60-80% on heating and cooling costs mean the investment pays back within 7-12 years — while delivering superior comfort, air quality, and resilience throughout.

Is Passive House suitable for Seattle's climate?

Absolutely. Seattle's mild, rainy climate is well-suited to Passive House design. The combination of high insulation, airtight construction, and heat recovery ventilation keeps homes warm and dry year-round with minimal energy input — and the same system provides passive cooling during Seattle's increasingly warm summers.

Can an existing home be renovated to Passive House standard?

Yes — this is called EnerPHit, the Passive House standard for retrofits. We assess your existing home, develop a phased retrofit plan, and can achieve near-Passive House performance through targeted improvements to the building envelope, windows, and ventilation systems.

Do you work with Passive House certified consultants?

Yes. We collaborate with PHIUS-certified consultants and use PHPP energy modeling software on all Passive House projects. We manage the certification process from design through blower door testing to final certification documentation.

How long does Passive House design take?

Longer than a conventional house, because energy modeling and thermal-bridge-free detailing are added to the architecture. We agree on the schedule at the start, based on size and complexity.

What is a blower door test?

It measures how much air leaks through the building envelope at a 50-pascal pressure difference. A Passive House must not exceed 0.6 air changes per hour.

Do you have any more questions?

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Waterfront Home Design

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noreply@dezzign.com.ua
+14254719496
Seattle, USA & Kyiv, Ukraine
Mon - Sat: 9.00 - 20.00

Passive House Design in the Pacific Northwest

Passive House and sustainable design represent the future of luxury residential architecture in the Pacific Northwest. At DeZZign, we integrate Passive House principles - superior insulation, airtight construction, heat recovery ventilation and optimized solar gain - into architecturally refined homes that are as beautiful as they are efficient. Seattle homeowners benefit from dramatically reduced energy costs, exceptional indoor comfort and a significantly lower environmental footprint.

A Standard With Measurable Targets

The Passive House standard originated in Germany and has been refined over three decades of building research. It sets precise, verifiable targets: annual heating demand of no more than 15 kWh/m², airtightness of no more than 0.6 air changes per hour at 50 pascals, a limit on renewable primary energy demand (60 kWh/m² per year for the Classic class), and a cap on how often the interior overheats. These are not aspirational goals - they are certified, verified outcomes. In North America, projects can certify through the Passive House Institute or PHIUS, which offers climate-specific targets for US locations.

Why It Suits Seattle

The mild, damp marine climate of the Puget Sound is a natural fit. Heating loads are moderate, so a well-insulated, airtight house needs very little energy to stay warm, while continuous balanced ventilation with heat recovery keeps indoor air fresh and dry through long, wet winters - the conditions in which leaky houses develop condensation and mold.

Summers are the newer challenge. The June 2021 heat dome pushed Seattle past 100°F for several days, and many homes without cooling became unsafe. A Passive House is designed against overheating from the start: careful orientation and glazing ratios, external shading, night ventilation and, where needed, a small heat pump for cooling. The same airtight envelope that keeps heat in during winter keeps it out in summer and keeps wildfire smoke outside when the air quality drops.

Codes, Heat Pumps and Solar

Washington's energy code already points in the same direction: since July 2023 most new homes must use heat pumps for space heating. In a Passive House, that heat pump can be remarkably small and inexpensive to run, and a modest rooftop solar array can bring the home close to net zero over the year. For the economics of solar in our cloudy climate, see our guide to solar panels for private houses in Washington State.

New Builds and Retrofits

We design the complete Passive House architectural package - concept, energy modeling, technical documentation and material specifications - and work with experienced licensed contractors who build to our drawings and coordinate permits with local authorities. For existing homes, including Seattle's many older craftsman and mid-century houses, the EnerPHit standard sets realistic targets for deep energy retrofits when building new isn't an option.

To understand the terminology first, read our plain-language glossary of energy-efficient house terms and our introduction to Passivhaus; for how the same principles play out with frame construction in a colder climate, see our piece on a modern energy-efficient house.