Dr Wolfgang Feist visit highlights growing momentum for Passivhaus in Ireland and strengthens UK ties

The recent visit of Dr Wolfgang Feist to Ireland has underlined the accelerating delivery of high-performance, certified Passivhaus buildings at scale, alongside a growing ecosystem of expertise, products and collaboration.

During his visit organised by the Passive House Association of Ireland, Dr Feist engaged in a series of industry events spanning site visits, technical seminars and a dedicated product certification event. These brought together designers, developers, manufacturers and policymakers, demonstrating how the Passivhaus standard is being applied in practice and supported across the supply chain.

A key milestone was the certification of multiple large-scale residential developments by Cairn Homes, signalling increasing confidence from volume housebuilders in delivering to the Passivhaus standard. This reflects a broader shift: Passivhaus is transitioning to a proven route to delivering high-quality, low-energy homes at scale.

The Passivhaus Standard offers a proven approach to achieving very low energy demand while ensuring excellent indoor comfort. It is particularly important in the current climate, given the increases in energy prices we are seeing across Europe and the world” Professor Wolfgang Feist, Founder, Passive House Institute

The Passivhaus product certification event further highlighted the importance of robust, certified components in achieving consistent building performance. With recognised products from manufacturers,the market is expanding to support reliable delivery.

For the Passivhaus Trust, these international exchanges are vital. As the official UK affiliate of the global Passivhaus network, the Trust plays a central role in sharing knowledge, aligning standards and accelerating adoption across borders. The progress seen in Ireland offers valuable insight for the UK, particularly in demonstrating how policy, industry leadership and supply chain development can align to deliver measurable outcomes.

“There is clear momentum building in Ireland, and it is encouraging to see this driven not only by committed designers and supply chain partners, but increasingly by large-scale developers delivering certified Passivhaus homes. What stands out is the level of collaboration across the sector – from product certification through to delivery on site,  creating the conditions for consistent, high-quality outcomes. These international connections are essential. They allow us to share evidence, strengthen capability and accelerate delivery in the UK, where the need for proven, scalable solutions to the climate emergency has never been greater.”   Ann-Marie Fallon, Co-Director, Passivhaus Trust

 

The visit reinforces the value of a connected, international Passivhaus community. By learning from established and emerging markets alike, the UK can continue to build confidence, capacity and quality in delivering buildings that perform as designed - supporting a rapid transition to a low-carbon built environment.

The Trust would like to invite all clients who want to deliver Passivhaus housing at scale. Or new Residential Passivhaus Client Clubs aim to help break down barriers and share lessons from other clients, designers & developers who are already delivering.

 

 

 

Further Information

RTE: Cairn gets international certification for Passive House pipeline - Thursday, 16 Apr 2026

International Passivhaus Conference 2026

Residential Passivhaus Client Clubs

Passivhaus and Building Standards

UK Passivhaus Trust Conference 2026

Previous PHT story: Belfast showcases Passivhaus innovation and climate action - 18th October 2025

Previous PHT story: Ireland’s largest homebuilder commits to Passivhaus - 14th September 2025

Cairn Housing: Passivhaus homes in Ireland - Sustainable Living

20th April 2026

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Get involved with the UK Passivhaus community

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