Every building project begins with a vision. Architects and owners imagine how the structure will look, how it will function, and how it will perform over decades of use. Translating that vision into reality requires navigating a complex set of technical decisions, especially when it comes to the building enclosure. The enclosure must manage air, […]
The built environment accounts for a significant share of global carbon emissions, making it one of the most important sectors to address in the fight against climate change. Cities around the world are searching for practical, scalable strategies to reduce the carbon footprint of their buildings. Among them, Brussels stands out as a remarkable success
Nestled in the White Mountain National Forest near Gorham, New Hampshire, the Clay Brook Passive House is more than an elegant two-story residence. It is the first Phius-certified single-family home in the state and holds the lowest HERS score (without renewables) ever recorded in the United States at just 17. These are not minor achievements
The Winthrop Center in Boston stands as a landmark achievement in sustainable urban construction. Rising 691 feet above the Financial District, this mixed-use tower is poised to become the world’s largest Passive House office building, a designation that signals a fundamental shift in how developers approach skyscraper design. By integrating a high-performance building envelope, energy
The transformation of a historic Philadelphia rowhouse into a super efficient Passive House shows how older urban buildings can meet modern energy performance standards without sacrificing their character. Owners Laura and Paul of BluPath Design took on the challenge of retrofitting this aging structure, proving that deep energy retrofits are achievable even in dense city
When Jonathan Kaplan first met architect Graham Irwin, he had never heard of Passive House. What began as a simple renovation consultation quickly became something far more ambitious. Kaplan was so captivated by the Passive House concept that he spent an entire year teaching himself CAD software, not to become a professional designer but to
Brooklyn Heights stands as one of New York City’s most cherished historic districts, where tree-lined streets and 19th-century architecture create a neighborhood rich in character. When homeowners Victor and Cara purchased an aging carriage house in this coveted area, they faced a familiar dilemma: how to restore the property’s historic charm while making it healthy,
Deep energy retrofits represent one of the most effective strategies for reducing carbon emissions from existing building stock, yet cost-effective implementation remains a significant challenge. The Passive House Institute recognized this difficulty by creating EnerPHit certification specifically for phased retrofit projects. In response, NYSERDA has been pioneering industrialized retrofit approaches modeled on the Dutch Energiesprong
Massachusetts has emerged as a national leader in Passive House design and construction, driven by two state-level incentive programs that reshaped the economics of high-performance multifamily building. Since 2018, targeted grants from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center and performance-based incentives from Mass Save have spurred developers to embrace Passive House certification for affordable and market-rate
The drive toward sustainable construction has pushed architects and engineers to rethink traditional mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems. Rather than treating building services as an afterthought, forward-looking project teams are embedding circular economy principles directly into MEP design from the earliest planning stages. This approach not only reduces environmental impact but also lowers operational
