ELLINIKO INSTITOUTO PATHITIKOU KTIRIOU

Their core work

The Hellenic Passive House Institute is a Greek NGO dedicated to promoting the Passive House standard and near-zero energy building (nZEB) practices across Greece and Southern Europe. They specialize in deep energy renovation of existing buildings, training construction professionals in energy-efficient retrofitting techniques, and certifying buildings against Passive House and EnerPHit standards. Their practical work spans developing prefabricated renovation solutions, running mobile training units and roadshows for vocational education, and supporting quality assurance in real-world renovation case studies.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

The Institute entered H2020 in 2017 with a focus on training and capacity-building for nZEB retrofitting (Fit-to-nZEB). By 2020, their portfolio expanded significantly into three parallel directions: hands-on deep renovation technology including prefabrication and IT solutions (RINNO, outPHit), large-scale awareness campaigns with mobile training units and roadshows (The nZEB Roadshow), and quality assurance with certification frameworks. The shift from pure education toward technology-driven renovation delivery and scalable outreach signals a maturing organization moving from advocacy to implementation.

They are moving from teaching people about energy-efficient buildings toward providing the tools, prefabricated systems, and quality frameworks needed to renovate buildings at scale — a strong fit for Europe's Renovation Wave priorities.

How they like to work

The Institute operates exclusively as a participant, never as coordinator, which is typical for a specialized NGO contributing domain expertise to larger consortia. With 39 unique partners across 16 countries from just 4 projects, they engage in broad European networks rather than small bilateral efforts. Their role likely centers on providing Passive House expertise, training content, and Southern European climate zone validation within larger multi-partner innovation actions.

Despite only four projects, they have built a network of 39 partners across 16 countries, indicating participation in large, well-connected consortia spanning most of the EU. Their Greek base likely positions them as a gateway for Mediterranean and South-East European building renovation contexts.

What sets them apart

As Greece's Passive House Institute, they occupy a unique niche: the authoritative national body for Passive House and EnerPHit certification in a Mediterranean climate zone where cooling and overheating are as critical as heating. This makes them an essential partner for any consortium that needs to validate energy renovation approaches in warm Southern European climates, not just Northern European heating-dominated contexts. Their combination of certification authority, VET training capability, and renovation project experience is rare for an SME-sized NGO.

Highlights from their portfolio

• outPHit
  Largest funded project (EUR 218,989) combining EnerPHit certification, prefabrication, and quality assurance — represents their most complete technical contribution to deep renovation at scale.
• The nZEB Roadshow
  Ambitious outreach project deploying mobile training units and roadshows across Europe to build sustainable energy skills in the construction workforce.
• RINNO
  Their longest-running project (2020-2025) and the one introducing augmented intelligence into building renovation, signaling a move toward digital tools.