“I love the idea... but the numbers just don’t work.”
That’s what the developer said after the initial Passive House pitch.
They liked the energy savings. They liked the comfort. They believed in the long-term value.
But when they looked at the overall budget, all the materials, detailing, and systems needed to meet the standard, it felt like too big of a jump.
And to be fair, most of those costs are essential. High-performance windows, better insulation, airtight construction. You simply can’t deliver a Passive House without them.
But as consultants committed to making these projects viable, we kept asking:
Where is there still room to be smarter?
We looked carefully for the most cost-effective strategies across the entire design.
And when we stepped back from thinking purely in terms of systems and line items, and instead applied the same Passive House principles of reducing waste and optimizing performance, we realized something important.
Mechanical systems remained an area where the market had not yet caught up to Passive House performance.
Because even when the design team specifies high-performance, energy-efficient heat pumps — the best available technology — those systems are typically configured for much higher loads than a Passive House requires.
Not because anyone is doing it wrong, but because the market simply has not offered integrated solutions specifically sized for these ultra-low-load buildings.
So we asked a different question:
What would it take to design a system specifically for low-load Passive House buildings?
One that is fully integrated, simpler to design around, and more aligned with the building’s true performance, so everyone involved can realize the benefits without compromise.
And what if, by doing that, we could bring down the costs enough to remove one of the biggest barriers to entry?
So that the next time a developer looks at the budget, the conversation isn’t about whether Passive House is too expensive, but about how much sense it makes to move forward.
Opportunity: Cooling Through the Ventilation System — With Super Cool Air
Here’s the big idea:
What if we could cool the building just through the ventilation system?
We’re not talking about slightly chilled air. We’re talking super-cooled air — around 5°C — delivered efficiently through the same ducts that already provide fresh air.
That alone is bold. But we’ve gone further.
What we’re proposing (and piloting in six buildings across Canada, thanks to support from CMHC) is a single, all-electric system that handles:
✅ Heating
✅ Cooling
✅ Ventilation
✅ Domestic hot water
One integrated mechanical solution — tailored for ultra-low load buildings like Passive House.
Practical Steps: It’s Not Easy — But It’s Working
Now let’s be honest.
As soon as you hear “5°C air,” your first reaction might be:
“That’s going to cause condensation. Or cold drafts. Or uncomfortable spaces.”
You’re not wrong to think that.
Those are exactly the challenges we’ve had to tackle — and we’ve spent the past year engineering our way through them. Not only from a technical standpoint, but also by:
- Identifying and sourcing the right components that actually play well together
- Testing and fine-tuning in both new construction and retrofits
- Navigating the messy reality of real buildings and stakeholder buy-in
We’re not saying it’s plug-and-play. But we are saying the hard part’s done — and you don’t have to start from scratch.
Promise: A Comfortable, Affordable, Scalable Passive House Future
Imagine walking into your next design meeting and telling the developer:
“Yes, Passive House can be affordable.
Yes, comfort in the summer is fully achievable.
And yes, you only need one mechanical system to do it all.”
You become the voice of innovation.
They become the project that proves it’s possible.
And the Passive House community moves one step closer to a scalable future.
Want the real details? Join our presentation.
We’ll show you:
- The design logic behind super-cooled air
- How we overcame the real-world risks you’re probably thinking of right now
- The actual components we’ve tested and recommend
- What this looks like in both new builds and retrofits
This isn’t theoretical. It’s built. It’s running. And it’s ready for more teams to adopt.
👉 Join the movement. Be the next project to prove what’s possible.
