Passivhaus Philippines launches at webinar on energy-efficient building for tropical climates
- Passivhaus Philippines
- Aug 24, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 3, 2025
Event spotlights Passive House strategies for sustainable design in the Philippines
August 23, 2025
Passivhaus Philippines, a new national non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the Passive House Standard, was officially launched during a webinar showcasing energy-efficient and low-carbon building solutions tailored for the country’s tropical climate. The virtual event drew architects, engineers, planners, policymakers, contractors and academics, reflecting growing interest in resilient, climate-conscious construction across the Philippines.
Jessica Grove-Smith, Senior Researcher and Joint Managing Director of the Passive House Institute in Germany, opened the webinar with an overview of Passive House principles and their applicability in hot climates. She highlighted the importance of designing buildings that reduce energy consumption while maintaining comfort, particularly in regions where high temperatures and humidity challenge conventional construction methods. Grove-Smith emphasized that careful planning, insulation, ventilation, and strategic shading are key components in adapting Passive House standards to tropical conditions.
Jordan Parnass, principal architect at New York-based Circular, presented Sri Lanka’s first certified Passive House, highlighting strategies for retrofitting buildings in very hot climates. He outlined cost considerations and practical steps, noting that while upfront costs are higher, savings from reduced heating, cooling and ventilation can deliver payback in as little as six years.
Dylan Martello, Senior Building Systems Consultant at Steven Winter Associates and energy consultant for Sri Lanka’s first certified Passive House, focused on larger-scale applications of Passive House principles, including multi-unit residential buildings and commercial projects. He explained that these projects can achieve substantial reductions in energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions when Passive House strategies are integrated from the design phase. Martello emphasized the importance of third-party certification, which ensures that buildings are modeled and constructed according to rigorous Passive House criteria, delivering both environmental benefits and long-term operational savings.
The webinar also addressed the practicalities of adopting Passive House standards in the Philippines. Theresa Acedillo-Lapuz of Hi-Cool Engineering noted the need for ERV’s in the Philippines where both high temperature and humidity need to be addressed. Passivhaus Philippines Executive Director Norman Garcia discussed the space requirements of energy recovery ventilators (ERV’s), pointing out that modern compact units are now available, making adoption feasible even for smaller buildings.
Casiano Catapang of Society of Filipino Foresters, added that while smaller homes may face challenges during retrofitting due to dismantling and disturbance costs, new constructions present more straightforward opportunities to incorporate these standards.
Discussion during the webinar underscored the educational and advocacy components of Passivhaus Philippines’ mission. Garcia highlighted the importance of raising awareness among local stakeholders and fostering technical knowledge that makes Passive House principles achievable and widely adopted. Participants were encouraged to explore certification options to ensure projects are built according to Passive House principles and verified using the energy modelling software Passive House Planning Package (PHPP).
Dr. Jennifer D. Del Amen, dean of the Northwestern University College of Engineering, Architecture, and Technology expressed hope that the Philippines could develop more certified Passive House projects, reflecting a growing interest in sustainable design within the academic community. Garcia noted that while there are currently only a handful of certified Passive House professionals in the country, efforts are underway to expand training and certification opportunities for architects and engineers. He also emphasized the inclusion of students and faculty in webinars and events, providing free access to encourage the next generation of sustainable building professionals.
The launching of the Passivhaus Philippines drew support from the Philippine green building community: the Philippine Energy Efficiency Alliance (PE2), the Green Architecture Advocacy Philippines (GreenAP), the Philippine Green Building Council (PHILGBC), and United Architects of the Philippines Makati Greenbelt Chapter (UAPMGBC).
The webinar concluded with practical advice on participation and membership. Passivhaus Philippines representatives invited attendees to join as members to support ongoing education, advocacy, and technical assistance. The organization also encouraged registration for future events to continue building local expertise in high-performance, resilient buildings.
About the Passive House Standard
The Passive House Standard is an internationally recognized benchmark for energy-efficient building design. It emphasizes high levels of insulation, airtight construction, optimized ventilation with heat recovery, and careful design to minimize energy demand for heating and cooling. Buildings constructed to Passive House principles use significantly less energy than conventional buildings while maintaining superior indoor comfort, making them a practical and sustainable solution for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change.
About Passivhaus Philippines
Passivhaus Philippines is a national non-profit professional association of Passive House volunteer stakeholders, including architects, engineers, planners, policymakers, contractors, academe, suppliers, and members of the public. The organization promotes the Passive House Standard and fosters public understanding of highly energy-efficient, low-carbon buildings that reduce greenhouse gas emissions while providing resilient structures capable of withstanding extreme weather events related to climate change.
The organization envisions a future where all Filipinos live and work in healthy, comfortable, low-energy, resilient buildings by 2050. Passivhaus Philippines aspires to a country with buildings that serve as solutions to the global climate crisis. Its mission is to make the International Passive House standard understood, achievable, and adopted across the Philippines through education, technical support, and advocacy.
Individuals and organizations can support this mission by joining as founding members here or registering for upcoming events here.
Contact:
Norman Garcia
Executive Director, Passivhaus Philippines
Email: info@passivhausph.org
Viber #: 1-204-930-3737
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