Alan Clarke
Energy Consultant & Building Services Engineer CEng
Certified Passivhaus Designer
- Intermediate
- Part Time - 2 Days/Wk or Modular
- Online
- 75 hours CPD
- FROM £2,270 ex. VAT
Learn how to design for comfort, quality and performance. Understand how to design and detail building fabric and services to the quality required for Passivhaus or Net Zero energy performance standards, learn to use PHPP for energy modelling and get ready for the Certified Passivhaus Designer exam.
What you'll learn
Discover how Passivhaus provides a quality-assured approach to design and model high-performance, low-energy buildings that excel in sustainability and comfort. Through live webinars, and interactive tutorials supported by online self-study lessons, you'll gain a deep understanding of the Passivhaus standard, building physics, and essential concepts for detailing the building envelope and services. You'll also learn how to use Passivhaus Planning Package (PHPP) software, completing a whole PHPP and exploring how to use it effectively as a design tool.
We provide a full PHPP10 licence and printed manuals to support learning. Practice questions throughout, tutorials and a dedicated revision session will ensure you are fully prepared to take the Certified Passivhaus Designer/Consultant exam.
Our trainers are the UK's leading Passivhaus experts -all highly-experienced practitioners actively working in the sector, who'll share their practical insights into best practices and real-world challenges.In addition, ongoing access to the course materials for a year ensures you can turn to our library of site examples and specialist case studies on topics including educational buildings, large scale residential and retrofit approaches for support when you start tackling your own projects.
This course will fundamentally transform your approach to sustainable design.
By the end of the course you will be able to
- Understand the Passivhaus standard and how it provides a quality assured route to achieve high building performance.
- Recognise the impact of design choices and how building form, airtightness, thermal bridging, insulation and glazing affect energy in use.
- Assess the impact of construction choices, considering multiple construction methods and how to detail common elements.
- Define design strategies to prevent summer overheating, understand the design choices and how occupants interact with them.
- Understand what makes efficient heating & hot water systems, from heat pump specification to distribution systems.
- Complete energy modelling using PHPP (Passivhaus Planning Package) software and gain proficiency in using it for design and analysis.
- Understand the role of a Passivhaus Designer/Consultant, what your responsibilities are and how to collaborate effectively on Passivhaus projects.
Who is this course for?
Professionals seeking to design high-performance, low-energy buildings including architects, architectural technologists, architectural assistants, designers, engineers, sustainability consultants, building professionals and anyone aiming to become a Certified Passivhaus Designer/Consultant.
The live-online format and split-study schedule are useful for busy professionals expecting to combine work and study. You can also opt to take the course at your own pace and select individual modules to suit your timetable.
Course modules
Duration75 hours - Part time over 6 weeks. Total study time including Bitesize foundation course is approx. 90 hours.
How we teachBlended learningEach teaching day blends live online teaching with self-study: two 2-hour live sessions (AM and PM) plus up to 3 hours of self-guided e-learning.
FlexibilityEvery live session recorded Recordings of all live sessions and full course materials can be accessed on our learning platform. You can also book the modules individually - contact the team.
Pre-course Essentials
3.5 hours3.5 hours - Learn essential building physics equations and principles, plus core economics concepts, that you'll apply later in the course and exam.
Building Fabric
30 hoursExplore concepts including heat transfer, energy balance of buildings and what is needed for thermal comfort and to avoid summer overheating, learning how to calculate each of the required values and what it means in practice for building design. You'll discover how Passivhaus differs to standard practice, how to achieve airtightness and thermal-bridge-free construction and learn how successful design follows through to what happens on site. Practical, real-life construction examples and guidance throughout show you what good looks like.
Building Services for Passivhaus
15 hoursExplore building services used in Passivhaus and what's different to business as usual, learning how to interrogate services design at a high level and understand how services requirements can influence the overall building design. You'll cover concepts, calculations and commissioning for ventilation design, heating systems and hot water distribution and review Primary Energy Renewable.
PHPP - Introduction to Passivhaus Planning Package software
18 hoursWe introduce you to the PHPP worksheets, and guide you in completing a whole PHPP spreadsheet, developing your understanding of the inputs, parameters and implications for building design and what needs to be considered for each of the worksheets. You'll learn how it can be used for both Passivhaus and other approaches such a AECB Carbonlite, and we'll touch on use of DesignPH. A full PHPP10 licence is included in the fees.
Exam Preparation
6.5 hoursWe give you full support to get ready for the exam, guide you through what to expect during the exam itself, offer tips on technique, and provide practice questions, a mock exam and technical IT checks to ensure you have all the exam requirements in place.
An online forum and small group tutorials with our trainers throughout the course offer further support on any specific areas of concern.
Final exam
1.5 hoursThe final online exam is open book so you can use the training manuals we provide and your own notes for support.
included FREE with the full Designer course
Design Performance for Climate Action
15 hoursComplete this on demand course in your own time before the Designer Course begins to make sure you're up to speed with design basics. Free to access for all students on RIBA-accredited courses, or included with course fees for students on non-RIBA accredited schools.
Course reviews
I now feel more confident when it comes to building fabric detailing and integrating services in projects.
It was great having the opportunity to learn from such a wide range of Passivhaus experts.
Dayle WheelerChartered Architectural Technologist, LSI ArchitectsRead the full review from Dayle Wheeler →The sessions and lessons on thermal bridging, bypass and airtightness have been invaluable.
Dewi JonesChartered Architectural Technologist, Spring Design ConsultancyRead the full review from Dewi Jones →I thank the trainers for sharing their practical experience with us, sometimes that helps more than theory.
Trainers
Bill Butcher
Founding Director - 21 Degrees
Camille Sifferlen
Passive House Trainer & Consultant
Eric Parks
Architect, Passivhaus Designer, Building Performance Specialist - John Gilbert Architects
Gwilym Still
Passivhaus Director & MEP Engineer - Max Fordham LLP
Mark Siddall
Director of Architecture & Research - LEAP
Mike Roe
Director, Passivhaus Designer & Certifier - WARM & Coaction
Nick Grant
Principal Energy Consultant - Elemental Solutions & Technical Director - PHT
Piers Sadler
Director & Passivhaus Consultant - DeltaQ
Sally Godber
Director, Energy Consultant & Passivhaus Certifier - WARM & Coaction
Toby Cambray
Director & Building Physics Engineer - Greengauge & Researcher - UCL
Caroline Martin
Passivhaus Consultant, Certifier & Building Services Engineer - WARM
Rupert Daly
Associate Director & Passivhaus Designer - John Gilbert Architects
Will South
Passivhaus Designer & Certifier & Mechanical Engineer - Etude
Kirsty Maguire
Director, Passivhaus Designer & Certifier - Kirsty Maguire Architect Ltd
Liam McDonagh-Greaves
Passivhaus Engineer & Certifier - WARM
Ann-Marie Fallon
Associate Director - Architype & Co Director PHT
Building better together
We believe better buildings start with better skills — that’s why every Coaction course is grounded in real project experience and focused on practical, actionable learning that builds confidence and competence.
Watch our overview video to learn more: Coaction Training Overview
Future-focused skills
Every course is shaped from our extensive project knowledge of what really makes a difference. Showcasing real examples, industry best practice and experience from ground breaking projects, our training builds on tried and tested and quality-assured whole building approaches such as Passivhaus so that you can have confidence to deliver high performance buildings now and as standards evolve.
Progression pathways for every role
From foundation courses to advanced specialist training, we offer clear routes for, built environment professionals, students, educators and full delivery teams. Support is ongoing after training, through our alumni community, online resources and industry partnerships.
Fully supported learning experience
You’ll receive the materials and guidance you need to apply your learning, from manuals and sample packs to exam preparation (where relevant), PHI credit points and long-term access to high-quality resources. We'll work with you and your team as needed to make sure you get the right learning in place.
Trusted expertise & recognised training
Created and delivered by leading UK building-performance specialists, our training has a strong reputation for quality technical content and is accredited by the Passive House Institute and Passivhaus Trust.
After the course
Becoming a Certified Passivhaus Designer/Consultant transforming will change your approach to sustainable design forever. Past course participants say 'once seen you cannot unsee'.
Your certification lasts 5 years during which you will need to continue gaining knowledge to renew your certificate. This can be done by delivering a Passivhaus, taking further courses or development learning opportunities.
Ways to earn renewal points
- Coaction courses (PHI renewal points)
- Passivhaus Trust and member approved courses
- Conferences / Communities / Events
Passivhaus Trust | iPHA | AECB
- Share your work
Publicise your projects and knowledge via the Passivhaus Trust, post on LinkedIn via your personal or work profiles and tag us and join our online community here.
Frequently asked questions
Are the live sessions recorded?
Yes, recordings will be available via the learning platform after each session. In our experience, the best outcomes happen when you attend live, so we encourage you to try to make all the live teaching sessions. If you have any issues please contact the Operations Team.
Are there prerequisites for the Certified Passivhaus Designer course?
Our training is aimed at professionals in the construction industry and you will need a working knowledge of construction systems and design, an ability to read plans, and a basic understanding of maths and Microsoft Excel.
You may find these videos helpful to familiarise yourself with the level of maths required:
- Rearranging Equations video
- Transposition (Rearranging Equations) Introduction- Series of 5 videos`
Can I defer or cancel a course?
See our Terms & Conditions here.
Can I study individual modules?
Yes. You can study individual modules to suit your own schedule. Please contact the training team for further details.
Can I take an exam in person?
All our exams are online only inaccordance with PHI guidelines.
Can I take an exam without attending the full course?
Yes, this is possible, please contact the team to discuss. Please bear in mind that the Passivhaus Institut exam is challenging and you need to ensure you are sufficiently prepared.
Can you make reasonable adjustments or give extra support?
Yes. Reasonable adjustments and additional learning support are available on request. Please get in touch and we will talk it through.
Do I need the PHPP software?
Yes, you must have your own individual copy of the PHPP software, required to register for the Certified Designer exam. A full PHPP10 licence is included within the full course fee.
Do you offer multi-booking discounts for this course?
Yes, we offer a 10% discount on groups of 3 or more booked on the same course, applied automatically at check out.
How do I renew my qualification?
You need to renew your qualification directly via the Passive House Institute. You can find out more by reading our Renewal Guide here.
How long do I have access to the self-study videos?
You will have access to our learning platform for 2 years, so you can refresh your knowledge after the exam and once you start your Passivhaus professional journey.
I am based outside of the UK, can I still take the course and receive course materials?
Yes,our courses are online although please check if the session times work for you(we work to GMT). For printed course manuals you will incur an additional fee for overseas postage.
I cannot attend the full course, what are my options?
Where possible we will offer an alternative study plan to suit your availability, please contact the Coaction Team to see how we can help.
I need additional support with my studies, who can I contact?
Please get in touch with us so we can discuss your needs and find suitable ways to support you.
Is funding available?
Group discounts are available for 3 or more places, and our funding page has information on all current grants and funding. Payment plans are also available - contact the team for details.
What do I need for the online exam?
The exam has a few technical requirements. We provide full guidance on how to meet them.
- Install the free exam safety software we provide on a laptop or PC. It runs on Mac (macOS 10.13 or newer) or Windows 11.
- Access to a room on your own, with any doors closed.
- Zoom installed on your smartphone for the exam invigilation.
Will becoming a Certified Passivhaus Tradesperson or Designer enable me to certify Passivhaus buildings?
No, this requires a separate qualification. Read more about how to become a Passivhaus Certifier here.
Have a question?
Our team are available Mon–Fri between 9am and 5pm