Orinda Concrete ADU This presentation focuses on an 800 ft2, concrete-shell ADU built in the Northern California town of Orinda, which is located just over the ridge to the east of the San Francisco Bay. It is currently being evaluated for PHI Low-Energy certification. Architect Alex Jermyn will discuss design challenges, including site, space, and budget challenges. Passive House consultant Steve Mann will discuss certification challenges, including climate, shading, and…
This presentation will explore how Passive House (PH) residential projects perform relative to California’s 2025 Title 24 Energy Code by comparing the Passive House Planning Package (PHPP), WUFI Passive, and California’s CBECC compliance software across all 16 California climate zones for illustrative single-family and multi-family prototypes. It encompasses a structured comparison of how the same Passive House-related design strategies are represented across modeling platforms, where assumptions can be aligned, and…
With the growing occurrence of devastating wildfires, there’s an imperative to make buildings fire-safe and resilient. Passive House can support a clear pathway to achieve these goals. The class will review the latest science on wildfires and building safety, including the interplay among building structure, the surrounding landscape, community, and the Passive House methodology. We will dive into a toolkit with specific steps for analyzing and implementing fire-resilient Passive House…
Submit and showcase your California Passive House project ! USGBC California's Green Building Awards recognize your project team’s commitment and leadership in creating a more sustainable built environment for all! The Awards are merit-based, selecting projects that demonstrate innovation, sustainable strategies, and exemplary performance in the field of sustainability, occupant health, and community engagement. The California Green Building Awards are open to both built and planned (unbuilt) projects that showcase…
“This session will address common misconceptions surrounding building and transportation electrification. We will explore life cycle costs associated with transitioning to electrified buildings, discuss the evolving electric grid, highlight efficient technologies such as heat pumps and electric vehicles, and evaluate environmental impacts relative to fossil-based technologies. Through interactive discussions and evidence-based insights, participants will gain a deeper understanding of the benefits associated with building electrification, enabling them to make better…
June 2026 (Los Angeles, CA) — The American Institute of Architects Los Angeles (AIA|LA) proudly announced the winners of the 2026 Residential Architecture Awards, celebrating the program's 10th anniversary and recognizing excellence in residential design. More than 110 submissions were reviewed by an esteemed jury representing architecture, sustainability, and design leadership. "Residential architecture is where innovation becomes deeply personal. Every home represents an opportunity to improve quality of life, strengthen…
The building industry is conducting two parallel conversations—Passive House and fire hardening, using different vocabularies to describe a fundamentally shared ethos. This talk argues that airtight envelopes, sealed penetrations, and continuous insulation architects have long detailed for Passive House performance are simultaneously accomplishing the work of fire hardening. Drawing on a retrofit underway in Pacific Palisades during the January 2025 fires and on new-construction prototypes developed for Altadena rebuilds, Marcos…
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…
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Passive House California , December 9, 2025 -
Have you ever encountered confusion when discussing PassivHaus? Or is it Passive House? And what about Passive Solar – what does that have to do with it? What does a German Standard have to do with building in California? Let’s look back in history at the ideas and case studies that influenced the creation of the first Passive House standard. Considering the American and Canadian context, we’ll untangle trends and…
