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 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…
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,…
Join Passive House Network (PHN), Passive House California (PHCA) and the AIA Los Angeles on November 4th at 5:30 PM at the AIA Los Angeles Center for Communities for an evening of exceptional buildings. We'll be announcing the winners of our California Rebuilds Design Competition hosting a panel on fire-resilient design, and sharing our ideas for a better built environment over drinks and light food. Location: AIA Los Angeles Center…
AB368 (Passive House Bill) passed through the appropriations committee. The goal is to consider adopting the International Passive House Construction Standard standards, as an alternative compliance pathway within California's Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Title 24). This initiative aims to promote the construction of high-performance, energy-efficient buildings that contribute to the state's climate goals. Passing the Appropriations Committee indicates that the bill has been reviewed for its fiscal impact and deemed viable…
Explore a small-scale urban infill single-family residence in West Los Angeles, designed under California’s SB9 regulation—a recent law aimed at increasing residential density to help address the housing shortage in Los Angeles. Designed by PARAVANT Architects, this home was recently certified as a Passive House Classic by the International Passive House Institute (PHI). You’ll also have the opportunity to observe the ongoing renovation of an existing home, which is being…
The net energy savings realized in a properly insulated building are well understood. However, as design professionals strive to maximize thermal resistance, yet reduce mass in the wall assembly, insulation is increasingly being positioned in both the stud wall and the exterior side of the building envelope. This split insulation concept has introduced a number of design issues and concerns; particularly as relates to fire resistance, moisture management, and wall…
Passive House California (PHCA) was attending with a booth as community partner the “My Green Building Conference + Expo”. The largest and longest-running gathering for green building and sustainability advocates in Southern California organized by the U.S. Green Building Council - Los Angeles (USGLB LA). We had many good conversations and reached outreach out to stakeholders informing them about the international Passive House construction standard and building certification. MyGBCE 2023 Website
Target Audience: Building owners, developers, code reviewers, planning officials and design professionals interested in learning about the benefits of integrating passive house principles into larger multi-family or mixed-use projects. In this session, the link between occupant satisfaction and owner satisfaction will be established. Given the importance of occupant satisfaction, particularly in the multi-family residential sector, Owners should consider how they can design their buildings to achieve occupant satisfaction. A survey…
Passive House California (PHCA) attended the 21st Annual My Green Building Conference & Expo (MyGBCE) organized by the USGBC Los Angeles at Los Angeles Trade Technical College (LATTC). It was a community-focused and in-person featuring educational demonstrations, informative speakers, committee showcases, workshops, interactive presentations, a live musical performance, and art! Video | Passive House 101
Even though it seems intuitively obvious that the logical answer is NO, a surprisingly high percentage of decisions regarding the design and construction of new homes are made on a Pass/Fail basis. “Building to code”, means complying with at least the minimum acceptable requirements in the large number of specific areas where compliance is required. Code is a Pass/Fail system and if a building does not meet one or more…
The International Passive House Association (iPHA) has created a new blog series aiming to introduce our international partner associations and the great work they are doing to the wider, global audience. The International Passive House Association (iPHA) was founded in 2010 to support the growing global Passive House community, disseminate information on the Passive House Standard and foster a greater public understanding of its significance. iPHA partners with independent Passive…
