ARCHITECTURAL RECORD features Passive House

By Passive House California , February 12, 2026 - Featured Articles, Member News, News

PHLA+, Certified Passive House Plus, Los Angeles

The January 2026 issue of Architectural Record features an article by Joann Gonchar, FAIA, exploring how the International Passive House standard is shaping fire-resilient rebuilding efforts one year after the devastating Altadena and Pacific Palisades fires. The article highlights the California Rebuild Competition, organized by Passive House Network (PHN) and Passive House California (PHCA). The competition challenged architects to demonstrate how high-performance design, airtight construction, and balanced ventilation can contribute…

The California Passive House Rebuilds Catalog

By Passive House California , February 5, 2026 - Featured Articles, News, Press Release

Last year, the Passive House Network, in collaboration with Passive House California, held the California Rebuilds Design Competition to challenge and inspire the rebuilding efforts in Altadena and the Pacific Palisades. We received dozens of entries from designers around the world, and now we’re thrilled to be able to make those entries accessible to everyone. We’re launching The California Rebuilds Catalog, available for free online, to show what Passive House…

Certified Passive House ADU in Los Angeles

By Passive House California , January 27, 2026 - Member News

A Los Angeles Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) has been certified by the International Passive House Institute (PHI). Congratulations to the entire project team on this achievement. The all-electric, fossil-fuel-free ADU is a two-story, 900-square-foot residence featuring two bedrooms and 1.5 baths. Designed to meet the rigorous Passive House standard, the project incorporates a high-performance building envelope, efficient heat pump systems, and on-site solar photovoltaic generation—demonstrating how compact urban housing can deliver…

Passive House & Carbon-Storing Straw Panels

By Passive House California , January 20, 2026 - Community Meeting, News

Verdant Building Products is introducing a new generation of carbon-storing building materials. In this webinar, Anthony Dente will discuss his work in code and design development of bio-based building systems that have enabled broader adoption of materials such as straw-insulated panels. The presentation will feature a patented structural insulated panel with a straw-based insulation matrix that stores carbon while meeting the cost, thermal performance, and wall-thickness requirements of energy-efficient, conventional wood construction. The use of straw supports local, circular supply…

PHCA Community Meeting | “Fire-Wise Property Hardening: Life Safety, Insurance, and Passive Building Design”

By Passive House California , December 3, 2025 - Community Meeting, Featured Articles

Description Wildfire risk in the built environment is rapidly increasing, bringing serious implications for life safety, property protection, insurance availability, and modern building standards. Architects, designers, and building professionals can’t afford to wing it—evidence-based strategies are essential for reducing vulnerability at both the building and community scale. Learn how to spot and shut down critical ignition pathways. Understand how Predicted Fire Weather conditions and Early Alerts can be used to…

2025 Code Breaker: Multifamily Ventilation

By Passive House California , November 19, 2025 - Webinar

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is an important part of supporting Health & Safety for multifamily dwelling units, and the 2025 Energy Code establishes new Mandatory requirements for IAQ ventilation in multifamily buildings.  Additional prescriptive standards now also apply to multifamily IAQ in support of energy efficiency and Health & Safety. Join us for this 1-hour session in which we will dive into the equipment and testing requirements for multifamily dwelling…

USGBC-CA | California Green Building Conference 2026 | Abstract Submissions are Now Open!

By Passive House California , November 18, 2025 - Conference, News

The Bridge to Innovation, Sustainability, and Community Resilience. USGBC-CA's California Green Building Conference is the state’s premier gathering for sustainability leaders, innovators, and changemakers. More than 1,000 professionals from across industries, including architecture, design, engineering, construction, policy, education, and community leadership, come together under one roof for a dynamic day of networking, learning, and inspiration. In one powerful day, you’ll explore bold ideas, discover breakthrough solutions, and make connections that…

International Passive House Open Days 2025 (November 7–9, 2025)

By Passive House California , October 15, 2025 - News, Passive House Open Days

The 2025 Fall International Passive House Open Days will take place this weekend, from November 7–9, 2025. Organized by the International Passive House Association, Passive House Network (PHN) and Passive House California (PHCA) the International Passive House Open Days offer a unique chance to explore Passive House buildings in California, across the U.S. and around the world. Tour projects, meet current owners, and experience first-hand what it’s like to live…

Greenbuild International Conference + Expo | come visit PHCA

By Passive House California , October 7, 2025 - Conference, News

The Greenbuild International Conference + Expo will take place November 4–7, 2025 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Visit the Passive House California (PHCA) booth in the Expo to connect with us and learn about the high-performance International Passive House Construction Standard (for new construction and retrofits). We look forward to meeting you and discussing the future of energy-efficient, fire-resilient, and smoke-proof buildings that deliver exceptional indoor air quality, superior energy performance, and year-round comfort. FIND OUT…

PHCA Community Meeting | Design the Future: 2025 Passive House Competition Winners Unveiled

By Passive House California , October 5, 2025 - Community Meeting, News

Description With the awards ceremony concluded on November 4th, we’ll take a closer look at the winning submissions, the near misses, and entries that qualify for the competition catalog. We’ll hear from competition participants, jurors, and others who contributed to the competition. The ultimate focus will be on the next steps: how can we leverage these great efforts and make Passive House resilience a reality in the Los Angeles rebuilding…