This year’s UK Passivhaus conference, which will be held at the University of Oxford, is coming right up on September 19th. The conference’s program is packed with inspiring net-zero case studies, big-picture policy, and nitty-gritty technical details. And, fortunately, all of the shared expertise can be experienced in person or viewed virtually—but the tickets for on-site attendance are going quickly, so don’t delay. Whether you are just starting your Passive House journey or are a seasoned pro, are involved in single-family projects or large-scale developments, there's captivating content for all.
Oxford is not only the setting for the conference, but also the main focus of one of the many exciting presentations, as well as a masterclass on September 18th. Oxford has set a target to halve its carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve net zero carbon emissions and net biodiversity gain by 2035. The university’s ambitious carbon reduction strategy covers four key elements across its extensive estate: energy efficiency; decarbonizing heat sources; creating best practice standards for new constructions and retrofits; and offsetting for any remaining emissions after maximum reductions. Already, several innovative Passive House projects have sprung up across the campus.
One of these, the 23,000-m2 Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities, will be the main focus of that masterclass, which is almost sold out. The Schwarzman Centre, slated to be completed in 2025, will be setting a new standard of sustainability for the university and will undoubtedly serve as a precedent for other large-scale construction projects. The huge complex, designed by Passivhaus Trust member Hopkins Architects, features a 500-seat concert hall—potentially the first Passive House certified concert hall in the UK—a 250-seat theatre and a 100-seat ‘black box’ lab for experimental performances; a schools and public engagement center; a new library; a café; and other meeting spaces. The scale of the project is truly unprecedented, bringing together seven faculties, two institutes, 600 members of staff, as well as 140,000 books and other items from core Oxford collections.
For those involved in smaller scale projects, have no fear, as there will be plenty of talks for these attendees as well. From a church retrofit to Passive House Plus homes, the presentations will include invaluable expertise on how to deliver these types of projects. The full program is available here.