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.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
