Airtightness in Residential Retrofits | Project of the Month | PHA Live!

In February, we’re showcasing Tom Bassett-Dilley, FAIA CPHC, who is presenting two retrofit projects involving Chicago-area homes from the early 1900s. One of the homes achieved Phius Zero certification, while the other, though not aiming for Phius certification, still saw significant improvements in airtightness. In addition to exploring construction techniques, Tom dives into embodied carbon accounting, focusing on how material choices relate to retrofit goals. This presentation will compare and contrast the two projects, highlighting both similarities and differences. Attendees will: Gain insight into air sealing challenges across different retrofit projects See real-world airtightness results from two distinct sample projects Evaluate retrofit strategies based on historic construction types Learn about the role of embodied carbon accounting in material selection for retrofits Tom Bassett-Dilley is the founder of TBDA, established in 2006 to focus on sustainability in architecture. He became a Certified Passive House Consultant in 2010 to deepen his knowledge of energy modeling, building science, and conservation principles. Since then, he has led the design of numerous projects, including dozens that have achieved Phius, LEED, GreenStar, and DOE certifications across Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, and Kentucky. Watch the video here.