As buildings continue to account for more than 40% of global carbon emissions, one of the most powerful pathways to impact is through existing housing. In this 101 session, Architect and Certified Passive House Designer Kara Haggerty Wilson of Onion Flats Architecture will explore how deep energy exterior retrofits in affordable housing can improve health, safety, and climate resilience while cutting operational emissions. Drawing from real projects in the greater Boston area, Kara will share lessons learned from retrofit strategies across different building types, policy requirements, and funding structures.
What You’ll Learn:
Health: How better envelopes and ventilation improve indoor air quality and thermal comfort.
Safety: Retrofit strategies that increase resilience to extreme weather and grid disruptions.
Welfare: Approaches for lowering energy burdens and advancing equitable access to safe housing. Carbon Reduction: Practical methods for electrification and reducing operational emissions.
Kara joined Onion Flats in 2017 as a registered architect and Certified Passive House Designer. Her work in affordable housing, institutional design, and deep retrofits has helped guide the firm’s transition into a high-performance architectural consultancy. She currently leads planning and coordination on Onion Flats’ most ambitious retrofit projects.
Attendees will gain practical strategies for integrating envelope upgrades, electrification, and ventilation improvements while navigating technical challenges and stakeholder coordination. Ideal for architects, housing providers, sustainability professionals, and anyone preparing for stricter energy codes and increasing climate-related risks.
This free presentation will take place on Wednesday, November 5th at 9am PT / 12pm ET and will be followed by a lively Q+A session. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from an industry leader and engage with the PHA community. See you there!