[smartslider3 slider=2] International Passive Open House Days | July 2024 This summer California has been experiencing a heat dome with temperatures in excess of 100 degrees F in much of the state. Suffering under such extremes makes people wonder what they can do to make their living and working places better. The benefits of Passive House were on display this past June 28-30 with 6 houses participating in the…
Building Electrification: A Passive House Symposium
Zero-emission buildings are the priority for a decarbonized built environment, and electrification powered by clean energy, utilizing batteries and heat pumps, is entering the popular psyche. The call is to “electrify everything!” However, what’s often lost is that electrifying typical buildings is impractical, resulting in overwhelmed utilities and skyrocketing costs while burdening us with the same poor-performing buildings. Passive House can transform the possibilities. Electrification leveraged by Passive House performance…
“17 Mile Haus: A Passive House Design Journey”
Passive House design is receiving heightened interest across the country due to growing awareness of the impact of buildings on carbon emissions. This presentation will look at how Passive House is applicable here in California, using a project located on Pebble Beach’s storied 17 Mile Drive. Join us to learn about the evolution of this design, the details that support how it performs, plus a look at the impact of the…
“17 Mile Haus: A Passive House Design Journey”
Passive House design is receiving heightened interest across the country due to growing awareness of the impact of buildings on carbon emissions. This presentation will look at how Passive House is applicable here in California, using a project located on Pebble Beach's storied 17 Mile Drive. Join us to learn about the evolution of this design, the details that support how it performs, plus a look at the impact of the…
Pebble Beach Passive House & Embodied Carbon Modeling
The Passive House Accelerator features a new Passive House in Pebble Beach, California . Designed and build by Passive House California (PHCA) Members. READ THE ARTICLE
Using Passive House to Fast-Track Building Electrification
NBI - New Buildings Institute. This guest blog was written by Bronwyn Barry, CPHD, board member of the North American Passive House Network and NBI Senior Fellow. CLICK HERE TO READ
Architecture at Zero Competition | 2021-21 Winners | Passive House BB receives Merit Award
Architecture at Zero is a design competition for decarbonization, equity and resilience, open to students and professionals worldwide. It serves to engage the fields of architecture, design, engineering and planning in the pursuit of sustainable design. The 2021-22 competition challenges entrants to develop affordable housing for farmworker families in Visalia, California, one of the world’s most productive farming regions. The 2021-22 Competition award announcement that took place on February 11, 2022. Click…
Energy Efficient Buildings for a Sustainable Future: Transatlantic Exchange
The impending post-COVID era presents a unique opportunity to build less carbon-dependent economies in a way that addresses social, economic, health, and environmental challenges. Looking toward the future, policy makers must implement the plans, incentives, tools, and technologies needed to truly “build back better” and improve day-to-day life for all people. In doing so, the built environment must not be overlooked. Buildings are a critical piece of the transition to a lower-carbon…
Is Cost the Barrier to Passive House Performance
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…
California’s All – Renewable Energy Future
[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…
