Does Passive Building Cost More to Build ?

Of course, it does. Quality always costs more.

For commercial and multifamily construction, expect to pay about 5 percent or 6 percent more if your design and construction team is not experienced in passive building and/or PHIUS certified.

Experienced teams report about 2 percent to 3 percent cost premium over code construction. Depending on the project, you may be able to do it for even less. A 58-bed boarding facility in Spokane, WA, was able to do it for less than code standard by practically eliminating the heating system. With extra-thick insulation and 70 people generating heat every day, not much supplemental heat is needed. Because insulation is cheaper than mechanical equipment, the team was able to come in under the cost of a standard-code building.

Also, as more large-scale window and door manufacturers bring high-performance products to market, economies of scale drive down costs.

(image courtesy of CAPACES Leadership Institute)