Which Passive House Windows Should You Choose?
Passive house windows don’t have to cost a premium. If you’re building to passive standards in the UK, Germany or the Netherlands, sourcing from Poland can cut your window budget by 2× — while meeting the strict requirements of the Passive House Institute in Germany.
This article compares real Uw-values, certified profiles and price ranges, helping you choose the right system without overspending or compromising compliance.
What matters for passive house windows
To meet passive house requirements, windows must deliver:
- high insulation performance,
- airtightness,
- and minimal thermal bridging.
These standards were first defined by the Passive House Institute (PHI) in Germany – and they remain the strictest benchmarks used in European projects.
That’s why PHI-certified windows are often the safest bet for developers who need reliable thermal data, proven performance, and no surprises during compliance checks.
Polish manufacturers now offer many window systems that meet PHI certification, combining German-level performance with 30% lower prices. If you’re building in the UK, Germany or the Netherlands, sourcing from Poland can give you full compliance – without overstretching your budget.
What to look for in passive window specs
In passive-standard projects across Europe, the key thermal parameter is the Uw-value (heat transfer coefficient for the whole window). To meet Passive House Institute (PHI) criteria, Uw should be 0.80 W/m²K or lower.
That usually means:
- triple glazing with Ug around 0.5–0.7 W/m²K,
- low-e coatings to reflect heat back inside,
- insulated frames with Uf ≤ 0.9 W/m²K,
- no thermal bridges around glazing or spacers.
In practice, this translates to uPVC or aluminium frames with integrated thermal breaks, and detailed attention to installation.
A well-selected window can reduce heat loss – and allow thinner wall insulation, saving material and labour costs.
Cortizo COR 80 windows are one of the aluminium thermally broken passive windows
Passive house windows without overspending
As with all window types, you can buy locally – or import certified passive windows from Poland, where prices can be up to 2× lower compared to some Western European suppliers.
To compare prices from your local vendor with Polish-certified options, check the available price lists.
Passive windows from Poland
If your project requires certified windows, it’s best to choose models already approved by the German Passive House Institute (PHI).
These products meet strict standards for thermal insulation and airtightness – and are widely accepted across European markets.
By sourcing passive windows from certified Polish suppliers, you avoid the need for additional testing or compliance issues, while benefiting from lower prices and reliable lead times.
Salamander bluEvolution 82 windows are certified for passive house
The price is around 190 EUR per sqm
List of passive windows certified in German PHI
Below is a list of window profiles certified by the Passive House Institute in Germany. They’re grouped by frame material and include their Uw-values for reference.
Aluminium Profiles
- Aluprof MB104 Passive SI (Certified since May 14, 2014) – Uw: 0,76 W/m²K
- Aliplast Genesis 90 (Certified since August 8, 2020) – Uw: 0,80 W/m²K
- Reynaers Masterline 10 (Certified since January 19, 2022) – Uw: 0,80 W/m²K
uPVC Profiles
- Salamander bluEvolution 82 (Certified since June 30, 2024) – Uw: 0,80 W/m²K
- Gealan Kubus (Certified since July 16, 2018) – Uw: 1,00 W/m²K
- Gealan S9000 (Certified since July 2, 2018) – Uw: 0,99 W/m²K
- Aluplast Ideal 8000 (Certified since April 1, 2020) – Uw: 1,00 W/m²K
- Gealan Linear (Certified since December 13, 2020) – Uw: 1,00 W/m²K
- Rehau Synego (Certified since July 5, 2017) – Uw: 1,00 W/m²K
- Gealan S8000 (Certified since July 6, 2018) – Uw: 1,19 W/m²K
Key Takeaways
If you’re working on a passive-standard project, window choice is one of the key cost drivers. Certified uPVC systems like Salamander bluEvolution 82 offer strong thermal performance with Uw around 0.80 W/m²K – and are priced well below many Western European brands.
Sourcing from Poland gives you access to passive-level quality, reduced costs, and predictable lead times – without compromising compliance.
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