Passive House is a highly energy efficient building standard that also promotes indoor comfort and acoustic insulation. The design makes use of sunshine, shading, and ventilation, which together with very high levels of insulation and airtightness, results in homes that may use 90 percent less energy than a typical dwelling and offer thermal comfort and superior indoor air quality.

The Passive House Institute and the Passive House Institute US (PHIUS) offer professional training and credentials for those involved in designing, building, and certifying these high-performance buildings. In 2015, with support from the West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund and in partnership with Passive House Pennsylvania, GBA ushered seven trainers through a master training program with Tomas O’Leary, an Ireland-based and globally recognized Passive House champion. These trainers went on to teach more than 50 individuals in Passive House design and construction and continue to help local architects, engineers, and builders prepare for their Passive House careers.

GBA continues to partner with Passive House leaders from across the globe, including leading visits to Ireland to observe and adapt workforce development practices and tour building projects.

Passive House organizations that support education and best practices related to this building method include: 

• Passive House Pennsylvania – The Passive House Network
• Passive House Institute US (Illinois) 
• Emu Systems (Colorado) 
• Passive House Association of Ireland
• Passive House Accelerator
• Passive House Network (New York) 
• Passive House Institute (Germany)