Search Results
1. Passive House Retrofit: A Systematic Approach
/articles/passive-retrofit-a-systematic-approach
If we’ve learned anything through our experience with Passive House it is that the details and installation approach are constantly evolving.
2. Breaking the Norm: Influencing the Design Process and Emerging Markets for PH
/articles/breaking-the-norm-influencing-the-design-process-and-emerging-markets-for-ph
Kate Bren and M Walker of Positive Energy join Construction Tech to explore three case studies where they redefined consultant roles and used deep performance analysis early in design for better project outcomes.
3. Insights from Vancouver: Decarbonising our Built Environment
/articles/insights-from-vancouver-decarbonising-our-built-environment
Earlier this year, I embarked on a research trip which was awarded by the Byera Hadley Trust on behalf of the New South Wales Architects Registration Board in Australia.
4. Putting the Punk into Passive House, Part 2
/articles/putting-the-punk-into-passive-house-part-2
In this second video of a four-part series, Zack Semke shares stories of the origins of chess and the power of arithmetic, the provinces of Mediocristan and Extremistan and the rules governing the clean energy transition, and the role of positive feedback loops in both the climate crisis and climate solutions.
5. Boston Releases Zero Emission Buildings Handbook
/articles/boston-releases-zero-emissions-buildings-guidebook
Earlier this week, Boston’s Department of Neighborhood Development (DND) released the first-ever guidebook for Zero Emissions Buildings (ZEBs).
6. Tips for Designing Commercial Kitchens in Passive House Buildings
/articles/tips-for-designing-commercial-kitchens-in-passive-house-buildings
We look at the strategies teams used to dramatically reduce energy use within two commercial kitchens at the University of Victoria and the University of Toronto Scarborough.
7. Building Our Solarpunk Future
/articles/building-our-solarpunk-future
Zack Semke discusses how Passive House design aligns with the outrage and optimism of the Solarpunk movement.
8. Broadway Lofts
/projects/broadway-lofts
Broadway Lofts is a 3-story, 40,000 square foot building with 38 residential units, a tenant space for an outpatient healthcare facility, and residential amenities spaces on the first floor. The project is part of the Moving Forward program in Indiana which provides funding for high-performance affordable housing.
9. Waymark Architecture
/partners/waymark-architecture
Waymark Architecture is a collaborative, expertise-driven firm that delivers sustainable design that works for each and every client.
10. Adam Romano: PH Domestic Hot Water
/articles/adam-romano-ph-domestic-hot-water
Adam Romano, of Steven Winter Associates, joins the Construction Tech crew to answer your questions about Passive House domestic hot water
11. Passive House Weekly December 26, 2022
/articles/passive-house-weekly-deember-26-2022
Announcing TWO New LIVE! Programs, Our Year Ahead, and More! 🎉
12. Changing The Conversation: Passive House In Humid Climates (May 2-3)
/articles/changing-the-conversation-passive-house-in-humid-climates
Passive House Austin is thrilled to invite you back to Texas May 2-3, 2022 to learn and network with industry thought leaders and a fantastic mix of manufacturer sponsors at The Humid Climate Conference.
13. How New Federal Policy Raises the Bar for Energy-Efficient Housing
/articles/shares-how-new-federal-policy-raises-the-bar-for-energy-efficient-housing
"Between the HUD-USDA standard and a potential FHFA decision soon," Erin Sherman of RMI writes, "Updated energy standards are poised to make a big impact on higher density housing."
14. Interview with Eric Corey Freed, Keynote at Passive House Canada Conference
/articles/interview-with-eric-corey-freed-keynote-for-passive-house-canada-conference-next-week
Passive House Canada Conference coverage sponsored by Glavel
15. Multifamily Moisture Control
/articles/multifamily-moisture-control
Most of us are familiar with the feeling of a humid apartment after taking a hot shower.
16. Off-Grid Strawbale Home Marries Sustainability with Self-Sufficiency
/articles/off-grid-strawbale-home-marries-sustainability-with-self-sufficiency
Designed by Talina Edwards of Envirotecture, the Huff'n'Puff Haus uses an assortment of natural materials, including strawbale, to reduce its embodied carbon.
17. Standout Passive Office Takes Shape in Boston
/articles/standout-passive-office-takes-shape-in-boston
Developer MP Boston anticipates that Winthrop Center will be recognized not only as a new peak along the city’s skyline, but as a beacon of building excellence and environmental sustainability.
18. Phius Certified Trades Professional Training
/events/phius-certified-trades-professional-training
19. The Increasing Impact of Passive House
/articles/the-increasing-impact-of-passive-house
How big of an impact can Passive House have?
20. Fox Hall
/projects/fox-hall
Fox Hall House represents an evolution of the building typology that Alan Barlis developed in the Hudson Passive Project where a high-performance skin is draped over a timber frame structure. Because the shell exists independent of the structure, Barlis was able to investigate the formal expression of the structure by making reference to historic, hand-built barn structures.
21. Phius Certified Consultant Training & Certification Exam
/events/phius-certified-consultant-training-certification-exam
22. Reclaiming the Rooftop – Rooftop Terraces
/articles/reclaiming-the-rooftop
A rooftop terrace offers more than just great views and an escape from the indoors. The added space can also increase the value of any property, even for buildings with flat roofs and no bulkhead structures.
23. Sheri Koones’ book, “Downsize,” features Madison Passive House
/articles/sheri-koones-book-downsize-features-madison-passive-house
Sheri Koones’ new book features a profile of Madison Passive House, designed and built by the Artisans Group.
24. QueenMary in Fort Langley
/articles/queenmary-in-fort-langley
Karel Jonker is working on his third Passive House in British Columbia, and he’s set an extremely ambitious airtightness goal of 0.15 or even 0.1 ACH50.
25. Phius Intro to THERM | March 2025
/events/phius-intro-to-therm-march-2025
26. No Regret Moves - Proving Building Performance
/articles/no-regret-moves-proving-building-performance
The greatest trend we see today in constructing or renovating sustainable buildings is the movement toward evidence-based performance.
27. Phius Certified Builder Training Austin, TX
/events/phius-certified-builder-training-austin-tx
28. Phius Certified Verifier Training Boston
/events/phius-certified-verifier-training-boston
29. Adaptive Solutions: Retrofitting Buildings with Sustainable Systems
/articles/adaptive-solutions-retrofitting-buildings-with-sustainable-systems
Commercial buildings can be adapted for new uses through deep energy retrofits. In addition to giving old buildings new life, they can also make the buildings more energy efficient.
30. Ambitious Development in Pittsburgh Reimagines Performance
/articles/ambitious-development-in-pittsburgh-reimagines-performance
Bridging the Gap’s newest development, Fifth & Dinwiddie, straddles two sides of a street in the Uptown section of Pittsburgh, PA and will offer market rate and affordable housing along with 10,000 square feet of retail space on the first floor on the west side of the street.
31. Timber Panelized Approach Supports Flexible Housing Solutions
/articles/timber-panelized-approach-supports-flexible-housing-solutions
Andrew Michler describes the CABIN_ph project, a modular, mass timber home that performs up to Passive House standards and can serve as an off-grid sanctuary or a cozy ADU.
32. Funding Opportunities for Building Decarbonization
/articles/funding-opportunities-for-building-decarbonization-2024
Find out which federal, state, and local government agencies are providing eligible teams with funding and support to make the building stock of the U.S. more efficient, resilient, and sustainable.
33. Harvest Thermal: Delivering on the Promise of Decarbonization
/articles/harvest-thermal-delivering-on-the-promise-of-decarbonization
Harvest Thermal's Harvest Pod transforms an ordinary hot water tank into a thermal battery to reduce emissions and improve resilience and comfort.
34. The Reframed Initiative
/articles/the-reframed-initiative
Pembina Institute
35. Reflections on the New Year
/articles/reflections-on-the-new-year
With the hectic pace of Christmas behind me, I now have the time to look forward to what lies ahead. It’s the time of year when we evaluate ourselves and our lives and we decide to be better.
36. Spire Landing
/projects/spire-landing
The project location is a site on the east side of the Fraser Street between 57th and 58th Avenues.
37. Canadian Take on Energiesprong
/articles/canadian-take-on-energiesprong
In Canada, buildings are responsible for about 18% of the nation’s carbon emissions, with residential buildings making up 10% of that total.
38. Your Guide to the Spring 2025 Conference Season
/articles/your-guide-to-the-spring-2025-conference-season
High-performance building conferences are everywhere this spring! See if any of these major events are coming to a city near you.
39. Growing ReCover Retrofits
/articles/growing-recover-retrofits
In a case study involving the townhouse portfolio of the Toronto Community Housing Corporation, ReCover, a nonprofit based in Nova Scotia, describes the significant role that retrofits play in helping jurisdictions meet climate goals.
40. Mass Timber Supports Mid-Rise Housing
/articles/mass-timber-supports-mid-rise-housing
How Monte French, principal of Monte French Design Studio (MFDS), and Alex Yoon, project manager, came upon the idea to use mass timber for a multifamily building in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston
41. RDH Building Science Becomes a Founding Sponsor of Passive House Accelerator
/articles/rdh-building-science-becomes-a-founding-sponsor-of-passive-house-accelerator
Welcoming RDH Building Science to the Accelerator family!
42. Passive House Certification Anticipated For 8-Story Affordable Housing Development in Queens
/articles/passive-house-certification-anticipated-for-8-story-affordable-housing-development-in-queens
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio cut the ribbon yesterday for Beach Green Dunes II
43. Vancouver's Zero Emissions Buildings: Accelerating Passive House Uptake
/articles/vancouver-s-zero-emissions-buildings-accelerating-passive-house-uptake
In 2015 the City of Vancouver started with one certified Passive House home and now boasts more than 2,200 residential units
44. HEXAGON STUDIO ARCHITECTS
/partners/hexagon-studio-architects
To do more with less is the tenant that inspired the name of our practice. Hexagons appear everywhere in nature because they organize space with minimal material.
45. Fifth & Dinwiddie East
/projects/fifth-and-dinwiddie-east
Fifth & Dinwiddie East is one of three buildings by developer, Derrick Tillman, that is part of Pittsburgh's Eco-Innovation District in the Uptown neighborhood.
46. Amethyst Passive House
/projects/amethyst-passive-house
Steamboat Springs, CO
47. B Public Case Study Contemporary Home Amid Majestic Views
/articles/b-public-case-study-contemporary-home-amid-majestic-views
Nestled into the resort mountain community of Taos Ski Valley in northern New Mexico sits a contemporary passive structure in the final stages of completion.
48. NYT: 19th Century Home in Brooklyn Gets a 21st Century Makeover
/articles/nyt-a-19th-century-home-in-brooklyn-gets-a-21st-century-makeover
Architects Bobby Johnston and Ruth Mandl (principals of the firm CO Adaptive) purchased an 1889 townhouse in Brooklyn’s Bed-Stuy neighborhood
49. A Just-Right Passive Home
/articles/a-just-right-passive-home
How an Ottawa homeowner overcame multiple challenges to build an infill Passive House that is comfortable, efficient, and PHantastic.
50. Four Big Questions Every Prefab Straw Panel Manufacturer Answers Every Day
/articles/four-big-questions-every-prefab-straw-panel-manufacture-answers-every-day
Learning about the science and economics of straw panel construction with Savick Founder Sam Kondratski.
51. Winthrop Center: Leading an Evolution in Office Space
/articles/winthrop-center-leading-an-evolution-in-office-space
Kathy MacNeil (principal at MP Boston) joins the Project Showcase to discuss leading construction and design implementation for Boston's Winthrop Center.
52. Rising Towers in Vancouver
/articles/rising-towers-in-vancouver
The latest entry in the world’s tallest Passive House competition will be a standout—and not just because of its height.
53. Craig Stevenson, Derrick Tillman & James Curry: Fifth & Dinwiddie
/articles/craig-stevenson-derrick-tillman-and-james-curry-fifth-and-dinwiddie
Craig Stevenson, Derrick Tillman & James Curry talk about the Fifth & Dinwiddie project in Pittsburgh, as well as the technique, technology, and technical aspects of high-performance building on a budget.
54. Critical Mass: Scaling Passive House at Bunker Hill
/articles/critical-mass-scaling-passive-house-at-bunker-hill
Andrew describes how a team that includes developer Leggat McCall Properties and RDH, as enclosure consultant and Phius Certified verifier, are working to bring almost 2,700 units of Passive House apartments to Boston.
55. NYU to Retrofit Historic Rubin Hall
/articles/nyu-to-retrofit-historic-rubin-hall
The team behind the retrofit of the 1920s dorm will follow the component path to achieve EnerPHit certification.
56. Farr Associates to break Ground on Affordable and Passive House Development Next Month in Gary, Indiana
/articles/farr-associates-to-break-ground-on-affordable-and-passive-house-development-next-month-in-gary-indiana
The Broadway Lofts project in Gary, Indiana is expected to break ground September 1.
57. Passive Mobile Office
/articles/passive-mobile-office
In 2019, the [bundle] team built an office-on-a-trailer on Lummi Nation land, which provided a trailer and warehouse space in exchange for workforce training in sustainable construction.
58. Big Developments in the Northwest
/articles/big-developments-in-the-northwest
Tessa Bradley and Roussa Cassel of the Artisans Group talk about their new office, Cassel's new home, and a new neighborhood, which are all passive projects.
59. A Blueprint to Decarbonize Affordable Housing
/articles/a-blueprint-to-decarbonize-affordable-housing
With three projects underway, Allston Brighton Community Development Corporation offers a model to fund retrofits in Massachusetts
60. An Historic Renovation: ReBuilding Inward
/articles/an-historic-renovation-rebuilding-inward
Finally, we became determined to undertake a Passive House retrofit. We knew the retrofit would be full of unusual challenges, and we haven’t been disappointed in that regard.
61. Terms & Conditions
/about/terms
Passive House Accelerator is a catalyst for zero carbon building. We are a hub for sharing innovation and thought leadership in Passive House design and construction.
62. Update on an Ambitious Pittsburgh Passive House Development
/articles/update-on-an-ambitious-pittsburgh-development
This Passive House retrofit by Bridging the Gap Development incorporates deep energy retrofit and new Passive House build.
63. Urban Passive House, Episode 3: Rubin Hall Retrofit
/articles/urban-passive-house-episode-3-rubin-hall-retrofit
Michael Syracuse, Partner at FXCollaborative Architects will share the design challenges of and solutions for the renovation of Rubin Hall, a landmarked residence for New York University students. Once completed, it will be one of the largest EnerPHit certified residential buildings in the world.
64. Climate Change: It's Not a Technology Problem... It's a Behavior Problem
/articles/climate-change-it-s-not-a-technology-problem-it-s-a-behavior-problem
I was sitting at my desk when the familiar ping notified me of an incoming email. I opened it right away, seeing it was from a dear friend who is also an architect. When I absorbed the contents, I fell back into my chair. No single piece of news had rendered useless all that I had been working for, so quickly. The statistics read…
65. Reaching Net Zero on the Sea
/articles/reaching-net-zero-on-the-sea
A design activist firm that believes Architecture is a tool for Equity, Change & Activism championing Healthy space. Recipient of 40 Under 40 Award by Building Design+Construction. Branded as a High Performance Building Activist and thought leader because of her passion to implement cutting edge technologies that merges Building Science and environmental justice in architecture.
66. Applying EnerPHit Lessons to Social Housing in Mexico
/articles/applying-enerphit-lessons-to-social-housing-in-mexico
A pilot project in Mexico aims to boost home resilience to extreme heat by developing energy retrofits, assessing feasibility, and finding the best large-scale mix of efficiency and renewable energy solutions.
67. Boston Approves Net Zero Carbon Zoning
/articles/boston-approves-net-zero-carbon-zoning
The amendment will affect new projects larger than 20,000 square feet or with 15 units or more, as well as large-scale additions to existing buildings. The new policy will go into effect in July.
68. Monadnock Construction: Multifamily Passive House
/articles/monadnock-construction-multifamily-passive-house
Aleksandr Yelizarov, Sherzod Ziyakhanov, and Cheyenne Xu of the New York City-based Monadnock Construction talk about multifamily Passive House construction with a focus on the PHIUS pre-certified 425 Grand Concourse.
69. Longboard Architectural Products Collaborates with New Montana Museum
/articles/longboard-architectural-products-collaborates-with-new-montana-museum
The Montana Museum of Art & Culture in Missoula used Longboard’s HITCH™ system, as well as their smooth plank and Link & Lock™ systems to create an elegant, thermally broken, and high-performance façade.
70. Embodied Carbon Roundtable
/articles/embodied-carbon-roundtable
Tim Lock recounts his experience at the Embodied Carbon Roundtable, which was held at the White House.
71. Generate and Placetailor to Build First Passive House Apartment Block in Boston
/articles/generate-and-placetailor-to-build-first-passive-house-apartment-block-in-boston
The design, known as Model‑C, will comply with the Passive House standard and use CLT
72. Brooklyn Heights Passive House Retrofit
/articles/brooklyn-heights-passive-house-retrofit
Michael Ingui and John Mitchell present on the Passive House retrofit
73. Experiences in large-scale retrofits
/articles/experiences-in-large-scale-retrofits
The Sinfonia project was initiated in 2014 to implement large-scale, integrated, and scalable energy solutions in mid-sized European cities over a six-year period.
74. Euroline Component Spotlight | Architectural Marvel: Inside the Thermoplus 4700 Series
/articles/euroline-component-spotlight-or-architectural-marvel-inside-the-thermoplus-4700-series
Join Davyd Funk and Alfred Jury of EuroLine Windows for an insightful reintroduction to the 4700 ThermoPlus Series in the “Architectural Marvel: Inside the ThermoPlus 4700 Series”
75. Passive House Pilots Completed in Mexico
/articles/passive-house-pilots-completed-in-mexico
Thirty low-income Passive House pilots have been completed due to funding from the European Union’s LAIF Component of the EcoCasa Program.
76. Colonnade Row Revival
/projects/colonnade-row-revival
We were extremely excited when the Owners of this historic Colonnade rowhome, one of the last such homes in Brooklyn, approached us.
77. Washington Heights Multifamily Passive Building
/articles/washington-heights-multifamily-passive-building
It is said that there are no coincidences. Such is the case with 577 West 161st Street in Washington Heights, New York.
78. Sunflower Social Housing Project
/articles/sunflower-social-housing-project
Natalie Leonard, a return speaker at the Passive House Accelerator’s weekly Happy Hour talk, presented this time on the Net-Zero Passive House Sunflower Social Housing Project.
79. Practical Retrofit Support in New York
/articles/practical-retrofit-support-in-new-york
For many years, New York State has been a strong advocate for programs that decarbonize its existing energy grid
80. A Deep Energy Retrofit: Our Experiment + Experience
/articles/a-deep-energy-retrofit-our-experiment-experience
Carri Beer—owner of CommONEcology Radical Architecture + Design—details the experience of retrofitting her home, which she describes as "an architect’s dream and a Passive House consultant’s worst nightmare."
81. Enhancing Energy Efficiency in Passive House Design: Exploring the Importance of Airtight Grommets
/articles/enhancing-energy-efficiency-in-passive-house-design-exploring-the-importance-of-airtight-grommets
Airtight grommets are vital to Passive House construction. This post explores the many reasons why.
82. Industrializing Deep Energy Retrofits
/articles/industrializing-deep-energy-retrofits
Not all retrofits can be accomplished in one go, as the PHI recognized when it created a certification for phased retrofits, or EnerPHit projects.
83. Passive House Weekly October 31, 2022
/articles/passive-house-weekly-october-31-2022
Winthrop Center: Leading an Evolution in Office Space (WED), Kim Dupont-Madinier on the podcast, and more!
84. Prof. Chuck Kutscher: Our Disastrous Response to Climate Change Mirrors Our Disastrous Response to The Coronavirus
/articles/prof-chuck-kutscher-our-disastrous-response-to-climate-change-mirrors-our-disastrous-response-to-the-coronavirus
PROF. CHUCK KUTSCHER: OUR DISASTROUS RESPONSE TO CLIMATE CHANGE MIRRORS OUR DISASTROUS RESPONSE TO THE CORONAVIRUS
85. Grow House Benefits
/articles/grow-house-benefits
Legalization is coming. Once a central battleground in the United States’ decades-long culture war, cannabis advocates seem to have won the battle over public opinion.
86. Rezoning Application for Worlds Tallest Passive House Building Approved by Vancouver City Council
/articles/rezoning-application-for-worlds-tallest-passive-house-building-approved-by-vancouver-city-council
A 60-story Passive House tower in Vancouver is set to become the fourth tallest building in the city and the tallest Passive House building in the world.
87. Rob Hosken: Protecting Passive Building Performance
/articles/rob-hosken-protecting-passive-building-performance
Rob Hosken of Building Performance Architecture talked about quality assurance and control (QA/QC) in Passive House construction and beyond.
88. Panel Solutions for Student Housing
/articles/panel-solutions-for-student-housing
Prefabricated insulated wall panel solutions are lightweight, energy efficient, durable, cost-effective, require only a fraction of field personnel for installation, even when building to Passive House standards.
89. Massachusetts’ Embodied Carbon Challenge: A Template for Other States?
/articles/massachusetts-embodied-carbon-challenge-a-template-for-other-states
MassCEC is launching the Embodied Carbon Reduction Challenge, which will award a total of $320,000 in prizes to up to 10 projects.
90. To Live and Certify in Somerville
/articles/to-live-and-certify-in-somerville
Vlad Pezel describes the process of designing, building and certifying Park Passivhaus in Somerville, MA. Construction on the two-story house began in 2012 and ended in 2013. Certification followed seven years later.
91. Bethany Terraces Takes Modular to New Levels
/articles/bethany-terraces-takes-modular-to-new-levels
Paul A. Castrucci Architects' Bethany Terraces is a blue-ribbon award-winner from the second round of the Buildings of Excellence competition that will bring 58 units of affordable independent housing for seniors to Brooklyn.
92. 2025 Hot Water & Hot Air Forums
/events/2025-hot-water-hot-air-forums
93. Vancouver Fire Hall is First Zero Carbon Design Certified Building in BC
/articles/vancouver-fire-hall-is-first-zero-carbon-design-certified-building-in-bc
British Columbia celebrates green building milestones
94. Kohta Ueno, Building Science Corporation: Low Carbon Retrofit Case Study
/articles/kohta-ueno-building-science-corporation-low-carbon-retrofit-case-study
Moran Square is a three-in-one project consisting of two historic buildings flanking a vacant lot that is being filled in with a new bridge building.
95. Aaron McCormack & Kevin Brennan: Fluid Applied Air Barriers
/articles/aaron-mccormack-and-kevin-brennan-fluid-applied-air-barriers
The world of fluid-applied air barriers for Passive House
96. History Meets Energy Efficiency
/articles/history-meets-energy-efficiency
The House of Bavarian History in southern Germany is now the largest certified Passive House museum in the world.
97. Award-Winning Owl Woods Project Blends Biophilic Design with Passive House Standards to Make a Beautifully Unique Home
/articles/award-winning-owl-woods-project-blends-biophilic-design-with-passive-house-standards-to-make-a-beautifully-unique-home
The Owl Woods Passive House is just one of 20 certified Passive House projects in Australia
98. Bensonwood
/articles/bensonwood
Tedd Benson founded Bensonwood in 1973 after a stint in woodworking. Initially sparked by his attraction to New England-style timber frame homes that had lasted centuries, he started the company as an antidote to the poor quality of home construction that had become status quo throughout the country.
99. Millennium Partners Becomes Accelerator Partner
/articles/mp-boston-becomes-accelerator-partner
The developer is known for creating large-scale and sustainable buildings. Their latest project, Winthrop Center, is the largest Passive House office in the world.
100. Carroll Center Passive House Retrofit
/articles/carroll-center-passive-house-retrofit
Tom Bassett-Dilley Architects completed a Source Zero addition and renovation project for the Park District of Oak Park. The result? A deep energy Passive House retrofit for the community.