PHCA Community Meeting | Passive House x Fire Hardened

By Passive House California , May 4, 2026 - Community Meeting, Featured Articles

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…

Passive House & Carbon-Storing Straw Panels

By Passive House California , November 18, 2025 -

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 | Liquid Applied Intelligent Membranes: The Latest for High Performing Buildings

By Passive House California , February 20, 2025 -

Intelligent Membranes joins us to provide an overview of the role of liquid-applied solutions in enhancing airtightness and sustainability in construction. This session will examine their product range, including the airtight membrane "Passive Purple," the flexible waterproof membrane "THE GOAT," and the A2-rated intumescent fire-retardant paint "FRED." We'll discuss how these materials support easier application, improve building performance, and meet the requirements of Passivhaus standards. Presenter: Adam White is the…