Passive House Consultancy

Bringing the building envelope and systems towards a shared objective

Window selection, insulation and ventilation need to be assessed together for their effects within the building, even when each is designed carefully. Our Passive House consultancy brings envelope, airtightness, solar control and system decisions together through energy demand and comfort objectives. AECO considers climate and conditions of use when supporting option comparisons and the development of construction details.

Our founder Taygun Yüksel is a Certified Passive House Designer. The service supports clients and project teams designing new buildings with a Passive House objective or assessing improvement opportunities for an existing building. Starting early allows envelope and system decisions to develop together. For more advanced projects, we assess strengths and areas for improvement in the existing design to establish priorities.

Envelope assessments cover insulation, window performance, thermal bridges and airtightness details. Alongside material selection, continuity at junctions and how those junctions will be built are important. We therefore connect analysis findings with the details developed by architectural and engineering teams. Recommendations are presented alongside the design and use conditions assessed.

Energy balance, shading, overheating risk and heat recovery ventilation are considered together. For example, we assess how a window or shading option affects energy demand in relation to indoor conditions. Making the implications of one design decision for other components visible supports a more complete comparison of options.

We begin by reviewing the objective and current design. We identify the calculations, drawings and product information required and clarify the assumptions used in the analysis. We then assess alternatives and work with the teams to develop design improvements and construction details. We support decisions by explaining the information behind each recommendation and the conditions under which it applies.

As the design develops, we track consistency between calculations, drawings and product choices. Where certification is an objective, we coordinate site verification, testing and documentation needs according to the relevant process. The tracking list shows which information is complete and which matters the team still needs to resolve. Preparation for independent review brings these records together consistently.

The Passive House Institute building certification framework sets out relevant programmes for new buildings and existing building improvements. Passive House provides the relevant framework for new buildings, and EnerPHit for retrofits. Classic, Plus and Premium classes relate to renewable primary energy demand and renewable energy generation. PHI Low Energy Building is a separate certification standard. Requirements of the target programme are established alongside the project stage and existing conditions. Certification is carried out by the Passive House Institute or a PHI-accredited certifier.

Deliverables include an energy and envelope assessment, design improvement and detail recommendations, and a documentation and testing checklist for certification. We organise findings to support the design team's next decisions. For envelope and moisture assessments, see our building physics service; for comparing design options, see our optimisation article.