This course furthers Passive House designers’ expertise, extending their skills in the design of PHI-certified building projects. The course includes non-residential and EnerPHit projects as well as family homes, plus teaches advanced PHPP techniques.
This course replaces the Advanced PHPP course delivered in 2017. That course content has been streamlined and condensed and is now taught in a way that aligns with the learning targets for the PHPP Expert exam.
From April 2025, Advanced PHPP is available online in a self-paced, on-demand format.
Detailed course outcomes
The course is designed to prepare students for the PHPP Expert exam and accordingly it aligns with the outcomes set by PHI for that qualification:
- Understand how to enter projects with a mixed use into PHPP.
- Understand how to select or calculate the correct internal heat gains for non-residential buildings.
- Understand how to enter non-residential user patterns into PHPP.
- Understand how to enter multiple ventilation units and various types of ventilation units into PHPP.
- Understand how to enter specific electricity uses for non- residential buildings, such as lighting, lifts, office equipment or user-specific appliances.
- Understand how to enter components typical for non-residential or large buildings into PHPP, such as curtain wall facades or structural glazing.
- Advanced understanding of how to enter more complex shading situations (reveal shading on only one side, deciduous trees, stand-alone buildings) and how to enter separately calculated shading factors.
- Apply the variants calculation by means of the multiple operations / data table operations.
- Understand how to enter variant parameters into PHPP.
- Understand how to set up user defined variant parameters or calculation results.
- Understand the concept of economic comparison in PHPP.
- Identify specific data entry and results in PHPP and EnerPHit Retrofit Plan (ERP), which are relevant for the data input or certification of retrofit projects.
- Understand how to enter step-by-step retrofits in PHPP.
- Understand the concept and features of the ERP.
Course structure
The course is designed to make it as accessible as possible for busy professionals and to remove the costs and logistics associated with travel, accommodation and a block of time off work. The on-demand format makes the learning and coaching available right when people need it, often as a new project gets underway. Lectures are delivered via pre-recorded video. In-person support is available via the dedicated student forum and by booking personal coaching.
Who is this course for?
This course is designed for existing users of PHPP. It is also suited to Passive House designers and consultants targeting the PHPP Expert Qualification. The knowledge covered in this course is a necessary requirement to enrol for the PHPP Expert exam.
In general, it is expected that students will have completed the CEPH course and have a reasonable amount of experience using PHPP and Excel. Although less experienced practitioners are welcome, do understand that basic concepts will not be covered and you may not have the skills to get the most out of the course.
Detailed outline
| Class | Topic | Learning outcomes and homework |
| 1 | Overview and EnerPHit | Understand the overall structure of the class; EnerPHit and Variants files; step-by-step and the ERP.
Homework EnerPHit variants setup. |
| 2 | Variants | Variants in some depth. Homework: EnerPHit variants in EnerPHit Retrofit Plan. |
| 3 | Non-residential start | What’s the TFA, mixed use, lifts, multiple ventilation units and other complexity. Homework: example non-residential project – highlight and setup. |
| 4 | Non-residential details | IHG, occupancy, electricity for non-residential buildings.
Homework: example non-residential project for these three sheets. |
| 5 | Economic comparison in PHPP | PHPP Comparison sheet and PHeco.
Homework: modify example for NZ costs. |
| 6 | Complexities shading, windows and ventilation | Complex shading in PHPP and designPH entries; window detailed entries and curtain walls. Homework: none |
A certificate of completion (and an optional listing on the upcoming Sustainable Engineering course graduates webpage) will be provided to graduates.
Heat pumps
Enrolment in Advanced PHPP will also include complimentary entry into heat pump entry into PHPP.
(Heat pump entry is not among the PHI learning targets for this course and there’s not enough time to cover it in the above course structure. However we consider this topic to be both advanced and important so will create specific training to cover it.)
Investment
$1200 (+GST) Current members of PHINZ/APA receive a 10% discount.
The course fee is due in full prior to starting the course.
Recommended resources and knowledge
This course is open entry. In order to fully benefit from this learning opportunity, we recommend students have the following background.
- Experience with Excel and PHPP; having modelled at least several Passive House projects is a good start.
- Basic building science, physics, and construction knowledge such as taught in the Certified Passive House Designer/Consultant (CEPH) classes offered by PHANZ, or an equivalent.
- Proficiency in mathematics to senior secondary school level.
- We will teach the course using PHPP10.6 and students need their own copy of this software to complete the exercises.
How to apply
Limitations, liability and copyright
There will be no refunds once the course has been accessed so it is important that students understand the prerequisites and what is expected of them. This course involves mathematics and physics and assumes participants are familiar with using a spreadsheet; this will not be taught in class.
The course materials including videos represent a significant investment in intellectual property. They are copyright and may not be shared with anyone.
In general, this course material is provided under our website terms and conditions, and we wish to highlight two points in particular:
The authors of the information in this course have used their best efforts to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. While reasonable care has been taken to provide accurate information, the author(s) and Sustainable Engineering Ltd make no warranty of any kind, expressed or implied, with regard to the information provided being suitable for any particular purpose. The information presented must be used with care by professionals who understand the implications of what they are doing. The author(s) and Sustainable Engineering Ltd shall not be liable in the event of incidental or consequential damages in connection with, or arising from, the use of the information contained in this course.
This online course(s) are delivered to you under a limited, non-transferable, single-user licence to access such course(s) for your own use only in accordance with our Terms and Conditions as posted on our website. You are permitted to display, download, and print the files provided under the condition that such activity is for your personal or internal business purposes. You may not modify or prepare derivative works or otherwise re-distribute or publicly display the content.