Cost Data

We have compiled a collection of data from various organizations showing how much Phius projects really cost to build.

In This Section

Passive House Premium?

Conventional wisdom says the efficiency, comfort, resilience, and quality of Phius buildings come at a stiff premium. But as more and more performance data rolls in, we're learning otherwise. Phius certified buildings are coming in at or near cost levels of conventional equivalent buildings. Below you will find some of that data -- check back, there's more coming.

The taller the building, the lower the cost

Multifamily Phius projects have proven to be the most cost effective type of building. This is because 1) the surface area to volume ratio of multifamily projects is such that less insulation is required, and 2) it is easier to meet the air sealing requirements. Less insulation + time spent on air sealing = savings.

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Practice Makes Cost Effective

It has been empirically proven that the more experienced a project team/contractor is on a Phius project, the more money they will save. Teams that are familiar with the processes, principles, materials etc. associated with passive building save money by working more efficiently and making sound decisions when it comes to materials and systems.

This trend is revealed in states with strong policies incentivizing passive building, such as Pennsylvania, which includes passive in its qualified allocation plan as part of the Low Income Housing Tax Credit. The accompanying graph compares the average costs of passive house vs. non-passive house projects in Pennsylvania across three years. In just that short amount of time, the average passive project became cheaper to construct than its code-built counterpart.

Policy --> Construction --> Expertise --> Lower Costs

How Much Does a Phius Building Cost?

We have compiled some of the cost data related to passive building projects to help answer this important question.

MA Clean Energy Center

The award-winning Phius Finch Cambridge project is among the buildings included in this cost analysis.

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MA Dept. of Energy Resources

This presentation takes a look at incremental cost for a number of passive projects.

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Mass Save Efficiency Plan

This document lays out a detailed plan for increasing the efficiency of buildings in Massachusetts, including cost considerations.

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NYSERDA Buildings of Excellence

The database for the winners of NYSERDA's Buildings of Excellence competition (nearly half of which are Phius projects) includes detailed cost analysis.

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Cost Data Quick Reference Guide

Download our easily digestible breakdown of Phius cost data to bring to your next meeting!

Passive vs. Average Comparison

Below is cost data compiled from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Authority for Phius projects that received funding from the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program.

Average Cost/sq. Ft of the Non-Passive House Projects ($176 (+/-$36)			Average Cost/sq. Ft of the Passive House Projects ($168 (+/-$45)
Non-Passive House Projects			Passive House Projects
Number of Units	Building Area (Sq. ft)	Cost/sq. ft	Number of Units	Building Area (Sq. ft)	Cost/sq. ft
45	53,021	$128	54	70,128	$111
53	82,070	$129	34	39,447	$145
40	53,52	$144	49	54,287	$151
35	61,504	$149	66	70,689	$155
45	63,458	$154	61	63,949	$157
40	40,959	$157	50	55,099	$226
24	36,064	$160	52	50,275	$233
31	43,868	$162
53	51,690	$163
44	49,406	$169
56	56,250	$176
28	45,434	$178
12	16,796	$181
43	55,832	$185
51	62,509	$189
23	28,205	$193
37	48,767	$199
88	79,560	$228
52	43,868	$287

We were able to deliver these buildings without additional cost, and [that] was a big goal for us.

Chris Benedict R. A. (CBRA) , Architect