Climate Action Plans developed by jurisdictions across California generally incorporate strategies and action plans for mitigation (reducing the severity of harmful effects resulting from changing climate) and for adaptation (making adjustments to address fitness or survival under evolving environmental conditions).
- The primary mitigation strategy is to reduce greenhouse gasses (GHGs), carbon in particular, in order to limit the global temperature rise. Key tactics for the built environment are reducing ongoing energy use and shifting to renewable sources.
- Buildings also play a key role in adaptation by providing indoor spaces that are safe and healthy for residents and/or occupants, as we experience the more extreme weather conditions caused by climate change.
Passive House protocols are the gold standard for design, construction, and/or retrofitting buildings — and directly support both mitigation of, and adaptation to, the impacts of climate change.
- Passive House protocols enable extreme energy efficiency and, when combined with electrification, make it far easier to achieve Zero Net Energy (ZNE) and Zero Net Carbon (ZNC). Clearly a Win in the fight for mitigation of climate change.
- Passive House standards also provide indoor spaces that are safer, healthier, and much more resilient to extreme outdoor temperatures, power outages, wildfires, and the smoke from those wildfires. Another clear Win for occupants in adaptation to the impacts of climate change.
Win #1: The extreme energy efficiency of Passive House dramatically reduces GHGs and has a significant impact on slowing and potentially limiting global warming. This benefits virtually everyone on the planet, as well as the Earth itself.
+Win #2: The same factors that enable the extreme energy efficiency also provide occupants of Passive House buildings with substantially healthier indoor air quality, increased comfort, and resilience to severe heat or cold, fires, and power outages. These benefits are particularly important and beneficial to people located in areas where the impacts of climate change are greatest.
Passive House protocols support mitigation of climate change for everyone — and adaptation for those whose risks are most prevalent or severe. A Win+Win provided by Passive House.
Author: Jay Gentry
