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
When Gunter Lang built the first certified Passive House in Austria back in 2001, he had no idea he was launching a family legacy. Nearly two decades later, he and his son Markus Lang run LANG consulting, a firm dedicated exclusively to the Passive House standard. Their work has shaped Austria’s approach to energy-efficient building,
Dr. Wolfgang Feist, the founder of the Passive House Institute, has spent decades developing and advocating for a building standard that drastically reduces energy consumption while improving occupant comfort. In a revealing interview with the Passive House Accelerator, Dr. Feist shared his insights on the current state of the Passive House movement, the obstacles it
The journey toward high performance buildings in North America has been shaped by the collaboration of pioneering professionals who refuse to accept limitations. Few partnerships illustrate this better than the engineer architect duo of Lois Arena from Steven Winter Associates and Deborah Moelis from Handel Architects. Their work on some of the continent’s most ambitious
The global push for zero-carbon buildings has found some of its strongest champions in the women leading the Passive House design and construction movement. From architects and engineers to policymakers and educators, women have shaped the principles and practice of Passive House at every level. The Passive House Accelerator highlighted this extraordinary influence through its
