We are heartbroken to report that Monte Paulsen passed away on June 22. Monte was a pillar of the Passive House community; an articulate educator; and a brilliant, unique, warm, and loving person. It’s hard to overstate Monte’s influence not only within the Passive House community and for the Accelerator (where he served as one of the first advisors), but the sustainability movement as a whole. He was a leader, a mentor, and an inspiration to us all; and his willingness to share his knowledge, expertise, and humor with others was part of what made him a guiding light.
It should come as no surprise to those who knew Monte that he was one of the driving forces behind the Global Passive House Happy Hour, which began in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. More than just being a place where we could learn from one another and share our experiences on projects, he wanted to create a space where the Passive House community could connect on a personal level. The happy hour would eventually evolve into the Passive House Accelerator LIVE! programming that exists today, but it was far more than just an educational resource during the spring of 2020. For many people, it was a refuge and a source of consistency at a time when the world seemed to be coming apart, and we have Monte to thank for creating that sense of stability and community.
