Zero Emissions Buildings as the Framework for our Future

By Passive House California , June 11, 2024 - Decarbonization, News, Press Release

What do Zero Emissions Buildings look like? The Department of Energy has just finalized an official definition. The new guidance outlines three pillars of a Zero Emissions Building: energy efficient, free of onsite emissions from energy use, and powered solely from clean energy. The definition includes different compliance options for new and existing buildings, but in either case requires zero onsite emissions (with an exception for emergency backup in case…

How Buildings Are Key To Fighting Climate Change

By Passive House California , October 16, 2023 - Decarbonization, Member News

In this video, we dive into the pivotal role buildings play in the battle against climate change. Buildings, as they stand, are both victims and culprits in the climate crisis, being poorly equipped to handle climate impacts and also being massive contributors to carbon emissions. Provided by The Passive House Accelerator. The four steps are sequential in the actual construction or renovation of a building, but the reality is that…

Passive House Modeling Incentives Available in California

By Passive House California , September 12, 2023 - Carbon Emissions, Decarbonization

The California Energy Design Assistance Program (CEDA) offers incentives to encourage Passive House modeling using the Passive House Planning Package (PHPP). The California Energy Design Assistance is the new construction decarbonization resource for commercial, multifamily, public, agricultural, and Industrial customers and their design teams across the state. FIND OUT MORE AND START YOU APPLICATION

The Keys to Successful Passive House Implementation

By Passive House California , April 23, 2022 - Carbon Emissions, Decarbonization, News, Press Release

Imagine buildings so well constructed they need virtually no heating or cooling and can cut normal utility bills by 50%–80%. Now imagine these buildings are also so airtight there is almost no air leakage or outside street noise, yet they provide healthy, fresh, filtered air throughout the day whether windows or doors are open or not. Moreover, these buildings are not dark boxes with tiny windows, but light, bright, spacious…

The Switch is on Campaign is live!

By Passive House California , January 5, 2022 - Decarbonization, News

The Switch Is On will support people in swapping out their gas-powered appliances for cleaner, safer, and more resilient electric appliances. As someone who has already begun electrifying my home, I know that this is one of the most effective and impactful ways we can build a better energy future. Most homes in California burn natural gas or propane for space heating, water heating, and cooking. These gases—like crude oil or…

Passive House California at COP26

By Passive House California , November 15, 2021 - Conference, Decarbonization, News

It should not be a surprise that the International Passive House Association (iPHA) was well represented at the recent COP26 in Glasgow. Four years earlier at the 2017 North American Passive House Network conference, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammad described Passive House as “a model for the developing… and the developed world.” (Originally published on the EcoReport 2017) iPHA was involved in COP26 in several ways, including a tour…

Is Cost the Barrier to Passive House Performance

By Passive House California , May 20, 2021 - Decarbonization, News, Passive House 101, Research

A new NAPHN report by Bronwyn Barry, NAPHN Board Chair, looks at cost assumptions, barriers, and the reality of cost in achieving Passive House buildings. “Most non-profit developers we work with are all passionately seeking ways to build better for less. In our advocacy work at NAPHN, we’ve found that these developers are most concerned with two things: first cost to build, and operating costs for their occupants. Of these…

How SMUD Re-Engineered itself to Focus on Decarbonization through Flexibility and Electrification

By Passive House California , October 10, 2020 - Decarbonization

How SMUD (Sacramento Municipal Utility District) Re-Engineered Itself to Focus On Decarbonization Through Flexibility and Electrification. WATCH THE SEMINAR Summary of the Key Points Recently, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) became the first electric utility in the nation to begin evaluating all of its demand-side manage management programs in terms of avoided carbon emissions rather than average savings. In this Building Decarbonization Coalition webinar, Scott Blunk, Strategic Business Planner…

The “Duck Curve” – What it is – Why You Care

By Passive House California , May 28, 2020 - Decarbonization, News, Passive House 101

The intent here is a simplified explanation of how and why our patterns of electrical usage create issues for utilities, how rooftop solar impacts those issues, and how energy storage helps solve them. Think “Duck Curve for Dummies”. Two important facts about electricity are important to the explanation. First, electricity must be used as it is generated. A limited amount can be stored in batteries but it cannot be compressed…

California’s All – Renewable Energy Future

By Passive House California , May 25, 2020 - Decarbonization

[caption id="attachment_552" align="alignleft" width="480"] Figure 1. Renewable energy sources are incentivized with PER factors (Logo use with permission, PHI. Original Illustration by author.)[/caption] Introducing Passive House Plus and Premium If you’ve been puzzled by the proliferation of ‘net,’ ‘nearly’ and ‘almost ready’ Zero Energy definitions and standards and have wondered just how net or nearly they truly are, take heart.  The Passive House Institute (PHI) has introduced an equitable assessment…