The push for better energy performance in buildings across North America has brought the Passive House standard into the mainstream. For design and construction professionals unfamiliar with this rigorous benchmark, the process can seem daunting, particularly when integrating manufactured components such as windows. The reality is that understanding window specification and energy modeling for Passive […]
The Passive House standard has reshaped how the building industry thinks about energy performance, thermal comfort, and air quality. For more than three decades, it has provided a rigorous framework for constructing buildings that use up to 90 percent less heating and cooling energy than conventional stock. Yet as the standard matures and the climate
The push for healthier, more energy-efficient homes has never been stronger, yet separating proven strategies from passing trends remains a genuine challenge for builders and homeowners alike. Few perspectives are as valuable as those forged over decades of field experience. Drawing from lessons that span historic restorations and cutting-edge low-carbon construction, this article explores what
In the pursuit of energy-efficient buildings, few components matter as much as the building envelope. An interview between Matthew Cutler-Welsh of the Passive House Podcast and Adam White of Intelligent Membranes sheds light on how liquid-applied membrane technology is reshaping the way engineers and contractors approach airtightness. For construction professionals seeking to stay current with
In multifamily building construction, achieving energy efficiency and occupant comfort depends heavily on how well each individual unit is isolated from adjacent spaces. This concept, known as compartmentalization, treats each dwelling unit as a discrete pressure boundary rather than relying on the entire building enclosure to manage air movement. Jon Jensen, Director of Sustainability at
The construction industry has witnessed remarkable changes in building performance standards over the past half decade. What began as a niche approach to energy-efficient design has evolved into a movement reshaping how developers, architects, and contractors approach every new project. The numbers speak for themselves, with certification rates climbing faster than most industry analysts predicted
Buildings account for a substantial share of global carbon emissions, yet energy efficiency remains an underappreciated tool in climate discussions. The Passive House Institute, based in Darmstadt, Germany, has spent over 25 years researching how highly efficient building construction and renovation can dramatically reduce emissions. Their proposed framework rests on three building blocks: a substantially
The building industry stands at a pivotal moment where experienced professionals and emerging leaders must collaborate to solve the twin challenges of carbon reduction and housing affordability. Passive House, the rigorous voluntary building standard focused on energy efficiency, comfort, and durability, has long been championed by dedicated practitioners who pushed the envelope of what buildings
The growth of the Passive House movement in Canada represents one of the most significant shifts in the country’s building industry over the past decade. Since its founding in 2013, Passive House Canada has guided the development of high-performance building standards from a niche concept into a recognized policy framework for national decarbonization. This article
When Tomas O’Leary built one of the first certified Passive Houses outside the German-speaking world in 2004, the concept of ultra-efficient building design was still niche in most parts of the globe. Fifteen years later, O’Leary, Managing Director of Passive House Academy and MosArt, finds himself at the center of a building revolution that has
