On Monday October 1st, CA Governor Newsom signed into law AB368. Authored by Assembly Member Christopher Ward the law directs the California Energy Commission to study the cost effectiveness of the Passive House Standard. This is a first step toward including Passive House standard in the CA building code. The CEC has until July 1st 2028 to complete its study. The major effort to see this bill come to life and…
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This course focuses on prescriptive quality insulation installation (QII) requirements in the 2025 Energy Code for new single-family and low-rise multifamily buildings of any size, and additions greater than 700 ft². This presentation will help Designers create design documents that support QII; Energy consultants clarify the requirements and schedule of inspections needed in the field for QII; Contractors coordinate with ECC/HERS raters and subcontractors on inspection dates and other QII…
Fantastic News about Passive House in California! California Assembly bill AB368 has passed the legislature and is now on the way to the Governor's desk. Another step toward bringing high quality buildings to all Californians. Thanks to the office of Christopher Ward for sponsoring the bill and to Climate Action California for championing it through the process. FIND OUT MORE
Deep retrofits of existing buildings play a key role in meeting greenhouse gas emission reduction goals in North America and beyond. Currently no deep retrofit solution exists in North America that is readily deployable at the scale of the existing building stock. Challenges include structural integrity, contamination, and implementing upgrades without disrupting tenants. This presentation delivers takeaways from the REALIZE-CA projects supported by the California Energy Commission. In these low-rise…
The recent devastation of the Los Angeles wildfires challenges us, not just to rebuild, but also to innovate. Consequently, the Passive House Network with Passive House California is launching a design competition to develop a groundbreaking catalog of high-performance homes to inspire and inform the rebuilding efforts in the Altadena and Pacific Palisades communities. We invite architects and designers to showcase the power of Passive House in creating sustainable, healthy,…
Passive House California (PHCA) is a proud partner of the 2025 Net Zero Conference! Hosted by Verdical Group at the Los Angeles Convention Center on October 1, this event will feature global sustainability experts in Climate, Net Zero, ESG, Equity, Carbon, and Resilience. Join us for zero carbon learning opportunities, exciting keynotes, an in-person Expo, and more! For over a decade, the Net Zero Conference has been convening climate leaders to…
Passive House California member Christian Kienapfel (PARAVANT Architects) and Jed Donaldson (Johnsonfain) are part of this episode of Beneath the Surface. We travel to California to explore how resilient design is shaping the future of our homes, communities, and cities. Join four leading experts as we uncover: How resilient design protects homeowners, society, and the environment The smartest materials and strategies to safeguard your home against climate threats Why investing…
If you missed your Passive House California (PHCA) newsletter in your inbox you can read it here: SIGN-UP FOR FUTURE NEWSLETTER READ THE AUGUST 2025 NEWSLETTER
Designers, enthusiasts, and curious minds—submitters and non-submitters alike—this is for you! With just weeks left to submit to the California Rebuilds Passive House Design Competition, join us for an open Q&A session led by Ken Levenson, Executive Director of the Passive House Network. His extensive expertise in Passive House strategies will help steer the discussion. This is your chance to fine-tune your ideas and tackle any roadblocks head-on. Not submitting?…
Joubert Homes rebuilt several homes in the Denver, Colorado area following the devastating Marshall Fire that occurred on December 30th, 2021. Working with these clients, Joubert discovered that the recent trauma of losing their homes informed an entirely different way of client interaction, and informed best practices that Joubert has brought to rebuilding efforts in Southern California. Applying the latest tools to create the safest and most resilient homes available,…
Exciting news! AB 368, which directs the California Energy Commission to conduct a study on incorporating a Passive House pathway into the state’s Title 24 energy code, passed the Assembly unanimously with a 79–0 vote! Next stop: the Senate — and then on to the Governor’s desk.
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