It's a Performance Standard, Not a Style

Passive House (PHIUS-certified in the U.S.) is a measurable energy standard: airtightness, continuous insulation, and heat-recovery ventilation engineered together so the building needs almost no active heating or cooling.

What It Costs Up Front

Expect 5–10% more in construction cost versus code-minimum. Triple-pane glazing and the blower-door testing required for certification aren't cheap.

What It Saves After

On a house like Mueller Passive House, owners are seeing utility bills a fraction of a comparable code-built home through an Austin summer. Run the ten-year math before you dismiss the premium.