Table of Contents
Third-party Tools
Several dedicated developers and members of the Passive House community have contributed their expertise to the development of useful tools for the Passive House Planning Package (PHPP). We would like to present some of these third-party tools and plug-ins, which are available to help you achieve your energy efficiency targets.
Interface tools
Honeybee-PH
Honeybee-PH is the free and open-source plugin for Honeybee, the popular energy-modeling toolkit, which enables export to PHPP from Rhino3D. The Honeybee-PH plugin leverages the power of the Honeybee toolkit to enable teams to build out complete, highly detailed building energy/information models and seamlessly export their data into the PHPP v9 or 10. The plugin also includes a host of new modeling tools and features integrated into the Rhino and Grasshopper 3D modeling software. Honeybee-PH
PH Live Sync
PH Live Sync is an add-in for Autodesk® Revit® allowing two-way Live Syncing between the Passive House Planning Package (PHPP) and the Building Information Model (BIM.) With PH Live Sync you can make design changes directly to your BIM or within the PHPP and then re-sync all your changes in seconds! It has been designed to be quick and simple to use with a tool palette that is integrated seamlessly into Revit® to get you syncing within minutes. There is no file exporting or complex processes required to get your BIM data into the PHPP, you simply select the BIM elements that make up the thermal envelope and then sync them with the PHPP. PH Live Sync is compatible with Autodesk® Revit® 2018 – 2027 and the Passive House Planning Package Versions 9, 10 & easyPH.PH Live Sync
PassivLink
PassivLink is a Revit add-in that enables the user to directly export data from Revit to PHPP, saving time and money. The creators have been continuing to develop the application and are launching PassivLink V1 imminently. At the moment they’re still conducting Beta tests, so get in contact with them if you’re interested in participating! Download PassivLink
ARCHICAD Export to PHPP
In the Energy Evaluation area of ARCHICAD, there are a number of export options available through the Start Energy Simulation button, one of which is “Export to PHPP”. This then activates the PHPP Export dialog box, which enables you to send building information model data to the PHPP Excel workbook you specify, for post-processing. ARCHICAD Export to PHPP
PHPP-related add-ons and additional tools
PH ribbon
PHribbon is a set of tools used within the PHPP itself that extends what PHPP can do. It creates a custom menu in Excel and works on the PHPP while being separate from it. Most parts of it have a visual interface. It is for use by English speaking users in metric. AECB shop.
| Module | Description |
| Build PHPP module | There is a free version of this module from the PHT website. 1. U-values - builds your own library of 150 U-value assemblies and uses a library of λ values . 2. Orientation - creates a master cell to allow you to rotate the building, draws the outline of your building 3. CheckPHPP - an additional checklist that works through your PHPP helping you to find mistakes 4. Windows - enters the figures required in the v10 windows sheet and the d-reveal |
| Whole Life Carbon | PHribbon aligns with the UK RICS Whole Life Carbon methodology. It includes embodied carbon over the entire lifecyle: product manufacture, transport to site, construction, use, repair, replacement, demolition, transport, processing for reuse/recycling/incineration, and residual landfill. It reads the construction build‑ups from the PHPP, matching each to its database of over 1,000 materials and adds additional materials not captured in PHPP. It then adds operational carbon (from the PHPP energy model) and UK factors to give a complete whole‑life carbon assessment. It is the most substantial component of the software, representing eight years of development. |
| Daylight Factor | Optional module that helps you assess daylight uniformity, the daylit area and daylight factor. It can help you size the windows appropriately so that you can avoid excess heat loss. |
| Retrofit costing | Optional module calculating retrofit costs for dwellings. It includes the PAS 2035 Improvement Option Evaluation, required for funding for social housing projects in the UK. Every measure must be added as a single measure to the unimproved house before evaluating in a combined package. PHribbon automates the entire process and guides the user through. |
Worksheets and tools from WARM
WARM is an independent consultancy and has developed a range of tools that can be integrated into, or used alongside PHPP. Below is a selection of the key additional worksheets and tools. Download here
| Tools | Description |
| Additional Shading Sheet | An add-in sheet for PHPP 9 and 10 which allows you to easily model shading objects that are discontinuous and/or which have transparency. These include trees, tower blocks, brise-soleils, juliet balconies and plant-on glazing bars. |
| WARM PHPP Results Sheet | A graphical results sheet that can be added to any v9 or v10 PHPP. Also includes a revision history, so you can record the impact of changes to the PHPP. |
| WARM U-Value Corrections Calculator | - insulation moisture uptake in inverted roofs - AAC conductivity when used below DP - corrects for moisture uptake and for mortar fraction - screws passing through the insulation layer (only for screws) |
| Ducted hot water heat pump cold duct TB calculator | Tool which calculates Psi-values for the intake and exhaust ducts to hot water heat pumps. Note: this release is for testing purposes only. |
MEPS Heat pump to PHPP tool for New Zealand and Australia (MEPS tool)
The tool converts heat pump performance data measured in accordance with the New Zealand standard into input values suitable for use in PHPP. It provides a practical basis for deriving compatible parameters, as the standard PHI heat pump tool does not work with results from NZ-based datasets. The tool is publicly available via the developer’s website here
Meteonorm
Meteonorm is a professional climate data platform developed by the Swiss company Meteotest. In a nutshell, it generates weather data sets in various different formats for different uses for almost any location on Earth, including historical data, typical meteorologcal years or future climate scenarios. Through longstanding collaboration with the Passive House Institute, Meteonorm includes an export option of climate data directly in the format needed for use in the PHPP, which enables designers to model their buildings using customised climate data. Meteonorm is commercial software and generally requires a paid licence, although limited demo and educational versions are available. Note: Meteonorm data is well suited for energy modelling and design optimisation in the PHPP. For certification purposes, however, official PHI climate data sets must be used.
Meteonorm Official Website
See also
PHPP – Passive House Planning Package
Tools developed by the Passive House Institute
Please note that PHI has neither quality-checked nor approved any of these tools. The developers of these tools are solely responsible for the correctness of the calculations and data transfers. If you have any further questions or suggestions, please contact the developers of the respective tool.