Every home we build is custom—and so is our process.

Whether you're building new, renovating, or pursuing a high-performance Passive Home, our team brings a flexible, thoughtful approach to every project.

We apply the principles of building science to create homes that are more comfortable, efficient, and durable—whether or not you choose to pursue formal Passive House certification.

As the only Certified Passive House Builder in southeastern Minnesota, we’re uniquely qualified to deliver homes that meet the highest standards of energy performance.

But certification is just one path forward.

We’ll work with you to determine the right level of performance, design, and investment for your goals, and guide you through a process that’s collaborative, clear, and transparent from start to finish.

How we build:

  • Custom design solutions tailored to your lifestyle and site

  • Seamless integration of energy-efficient strategies

  • Deep experience + a transparent, open-book process

  • Durable, healthy homes built with non-toxic materials and better air quality

  • A building experience grounded in trust, collaboration, and care

Smarter homes. Healthier Lives.

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Efficient

Being efficient doesn't just mean being energy conscious or fast; it's also about being precise. We pride ourselves on completing home building projects in a timely manner while also holding ourselves to the highest standards. Our reputation for efficient home building is part of what has made us successful.

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Experienced

With over 25 years of experience in carpentry, building, and remodeling, you can trust us with any home building project. We have worked on a variety of projects and thrive on making each one personalized for the client.

Tranquil lake with autumn trees and houses reflecting on water under overcast sky.

Established

Our more than 25 years of building and growing in Rochester and its surrounding communities has provided us a sincere appreciation and love of the area.  And as our expertise grows, so has our periphery—expanding our services into the southern twin cities metro area and Wisconsin border cities.

Passive house design is just one tool in our toolbox.

What matters most is building the right home for you.

  • The building blocks of passive building come from the same building blocks as North American energy standards like Energy Star, LEED, and the Department of Energy’s Zero Energy Ready Home designation, because you can’t argue with physics. Those individual programs move buildings incrementally closer to energy efficiency.

    Passive building certification though PHIUS (Passive House Institute US) is a direct route to net-zero building that is substantially more comfortable, durable, healthful, and predictable than partial measures cobbled together.

    Therefore, high-performance building is the way we build better, more efficient and more comfortable homes for our clients. 

    We believe better systems build better homes. You’ll hear us mention these benefits a lot as we’re building your passive home: 

    • Optimized building envelopes—means superior insulation and airtight construction for your home.

    • Balanced ventilation and moisture control—advanced ERV systems for continuous fresh air circulation.

    • High-performance windows and doors—triple-pane glazing for energy efficiency.

    • Minimal mechanical systems—right-sized HVAC solutions for efficient temperature control.

    • Cost-optimized comfort and performance—strategic energy modeling ensures the most effective solutions for each home.

  • In addition to ultra-low energy use, which reduces heating and cooling energy consumption by 80-90% compared to conventional structures, passive homes hold warmth in the winter and stay cool in the summer while a continuous supply of fresh air ensures exceptional indoor air quality.

    Building a passive home goes beyond mere construction; it's an investment in sustainability, efficiency, and unparalleled comfort. Here are the pivotal benefits:

    • Energy Efficiency: Significantly reduces energy needs for heating and cooling, slashing utility bills and environmental impact.

    • Superior Comfort: Ensures consistent indoor temperatures year-round, free from drafts and cold spots.

    • Excellent Indoor Air Quality: Airtight construction and controlled ventilation system filter out pollutants, ensuring healthier indoor air.

    • Durability: Uses high-quality materials and construction standards, leading to a home that lasts generations.

    • Sustainability: Minimizes carbon footprint by reducing energy consumption, contributing to a healthier planet.

  • In a custom built passive home, you’ll benefit from excellent indoor air quality, year-round comfort, and a reduced power bill. And if you’re thinking about renewable energy—whether now or down the line—integrating passive building principles will go a long way toward making your home a net-zero or net-positive building.

    HAUS Builders apply passive building practices when designing and building your new home. Certified by the Passive House Institute US, we’re the first in Rochester, MN, to offer this premier level of energy efficiency and indoor comfort in new homes.

    A Passive Home isn’t just an energy-efficient home—it’s a home designed for superior comfort, health, and long-term value. With HAUS Builders, homeowners experience:

    • Up to 90% reduction in heating and cooling costs.

    • Consistently comfortable indoor temperatures year-round.

    • Superior indoor air quality, free from allergens and pollutants.

    • Significantly lower environmental impact with reduced carbon footprint.

    • Durability and resilience against extreme weather conditions.

  • Passive building practices work toward two goals: energy efficiency and indoor comfort. These considerations begin at the design stage of your home and take into account your desires and the environmental conditions. Your home will be optimized for Rochester’s environment—for example, temperature highs and lows, humidity levels, sunlight exposure, and seasonal variations. These optimizations are science-based and calculated specifically for your home.

    Passive building optimizations include but are not limited to the following:

    • Increased insulation (“superinsulation”). Higher quality insulation is used, and it’s applied more thoroughly around the house, e.g. where walls meet roofs and foundations.

    • High-performance windows and doors. Double- or triple-paned windows are chosen based on your unique house and environment.

    • Balanced heat- and moisture-recovery ventilation. Continuous mechanical ventilation that pushes stale air out and intakes fresh air provides excellent indoor air quality.

    • A just-right air conditioning system. Did you know that one of the most common inefficiencies in homes is an air conditioner that’s too large for the space? We’ll ensure your space condition system is appropriate and efficient for your home.

    Wondering what these optimizations really look like in a home? Get in touch, and we’ll talk you through the concrete difference that all this number-crunching can make in your home.

  • Choosing to employ passive building practices for your new home is a long-term investment. A home with these optimizations can cost as much as 5-10% more than a typical home upfront, but passive building is about the long game. 

    You’ll have a resilient, highly efficient home for years to come. And as renewable energy becomes the norm, optimized homes designed with passive building principles will become more prevalent. 

    It’s the surest path towards net-zero and net-positive energy homes available today.

    Contact HAUS Builders to learn more about passive building practices for your new home in Rochester, MN.

Our passive building process.

Getting your home PHIUS (Passive House Institute US) Certified involves several steps to ensure it meets the stringent standards for energy efficiency, comfort, and sustainability.

We follow a four-step process to ensure certification of your home.

PHASE 1 | Design

Engage with our professional team: As your PHIUS Certified Passive House Consultants (CPHC), we’ll manage the design of your entire project to ensure your design meets PHIUS standards from the beginning.

Energy Modeling: Using energy modeling software, we can predict the energy performance of your home. This helps in making design decisions that will meet PHIUS criteria.

PHASE 2 | Pre-Certification + Documentation

Submit Design Documents: We’ll submit your design documents, including plans and energy models, to PHIUS for review.

Pre-Certification Review: PHIUS will review your submission and provide feedback, and if needed, we’ll make any adjustments to ensure we meet the standards.

PHASE 3 | Construction  

Quality Assurance: During construction, a PHIUS Rater or Verifier will conduct on-site inspections to ensure the building is being constructed according to the certified design.

Testing: We’ll continue to perform various tests, such as blower door tests, to verify the building's airtightness and overall performance.

PHASE 4 | Final Certification

Submit Final Documentation: Once construction is complete, we’ll submit the final documentation for your home, including test results and as-built drawings to PHIUS.

Final Review: PHIUS will conduct a final review of your project and your home will be certified.

ENERGY STAR logo in black and white.
Logo with text 'Phius Certified Builder' and a stylized turquoise spiral design.

  • “It was an absolute pleasure working with Mike Allen and his group. He completed a total renovation of our 1950's-era home in the historic Plummer Hill area. Our goals were to dramatically improve the home's efficiency and modernize the interior respecting its heritage.

    Mike was a fantastic partner on the project. He seemed to work seamlessly with our architect. We had multiple competitive offers for the project. What made it apparent that Mike Allen Homes would be our choice was his enthusiasm for the vision and personal investment in seeing it through.

    The communication throughout was excellent. The product is beautiful, and we get to live in a home that feels calm, peaceful, and fits our needs perfectly.

    As important as the product, we would like to reinforce for those considering Mike Allen Homes that the project was completed essentially to the budget and on time, during the pandemic. We consider that a remarkable feat. “

    Colin and Gina | Rochester, MN

  • “Mike helped us take on a complex home build, with energy efficiency at the top of our priority list.

    As first-time home builders, we relied on Mike’s expertise and experience to feel confident every step of the way. His genuine interest in partnering with us and the members of his team helped the project move along very efficiently, effectively, and enjoyably.

    Mike earned our trust from the very outset, and maintained it throughout the design, planning, and building of our home.”

    Bill and Elise | Rochester, MN

  • “Choosing Mike Allen to build our home was one of the best decisions we’ve made. From the very beginning, he demonstrated incredible flexibility, adapting to our evolving ideas and making thoughtful adjustments along the way. No matter what changes or challenges arose, he always had a solution, ensuring that our vision came to life exactly as we imagined. His willingness to listen and work with us made the entire process smooth and stress-free.

    What truly set Mike apart was his innovation. He brought creative ideas to the table that enhanced both the design and functionality of our home. Whether it was suggesting unique layout improvements, incorporating cutting-edge materials, or finding smart ways to maximize space, his expertise and forward-thinking approach made a huge difference.

    He didn’t just build a house—he crafted a home that is both beautiful and highly functional.

    Above all, the quality of his work is outstanding. Every detail, from the structural integrity to the fine finishes, reflects his commitment to excellence. It’s clear that he takes great pride in his craftsmanship, and it shows in every corner of our home. We are beyond thrilled with the final result and would highly recommend Mike Allen to anyone looking for a builder who is not only skilled but also dedicated to delivering top-tier quality with a personal touch.”

    Terri and Al | Rochester, MN

  • “A few years back, we bought our home in Mantorville and knew that we had to change the entire -dated- interior, top to bottom to match with our modern style.

    Mike and his team worked closely with us and handled the total transformation, turning a house into our home.”

    A and F | Rochester, MN

  • “My husband and I selected Mike Allen Homes to build our dream home a few years ago. The home turned out beautiful and we couldn't be happier. We would highly recommend him to our friends and family and wouldn't hesitate to have him build another home for us in the future.

    Throughout the process of planning and building, Mike and his crew were exceptional to work with. He was upfront and honest when pricing the home and everything we wanted in it; he implemented our vision of the home beautifully. He also kept us informed of the progress along the way and was always personally on the job site (something you rarely see these days). Communication was easy with Mike. He's personable, was easy to get a hold of and offered creative style ideas. We put him under a time crunch when building our home and he rose to the challenge while not sacrificing the home's quality. We also cannot say enough about his attention to details... from the framing to the subcontractors he uses, to the finishing details, to the huge binder he gave us with every user manual, supplier name & contact, etc. He and his crew put together an excellent home and it shows. You can tell Mike is proud of the homes he builds and he should be... the house he built for us won him an award!

    There haven't been any issues to address with our home since it was built except a little settling in the lawn in a small area. He had the landscape crew out there right away and it's good as new. Mike has checked in with us several times after the home was done. We have no worry that if something needs attention down the road, Mike would be right there.”

    David and Jennifer | Rochester, MN

  • “I found my way to Mike through a realtor when I requested to connect with a builder who is interested in customizing a house to the needs and aesthetics of the owner. Mike was the perfect match.

    Instantly, he came across as innovative and interested in new ideas and approach. Throughout the build process, we discovered the creative process of home building as the construction evolves. He was always responsive to our needs and concerns. He always maintained open and transparent lines of communication. He is naturally curious and a problem solver. Furthermore, he is very environmentally conscious.

    Rochester is a small market and it's refreshing that we have a bold builder, like Mike Allen. I would 100% recommend him and will surely partner with him for all future builds."

    - Fahad Shuja | Rochester, MN