Keeping cool with less environmental damage

This summer’s heatwaves have triggered a significant increase in demand for air conditioning units, but Andrew Warren, chair of the British Energy Efficiency Federation, argues in a column in the September issue of Energy in Buildings & Industry (EIBI) that there could be more healthy and less environmentally damaging ways of reducing indoor temperatures. … Continue reading Keeping cool with less environmental damage →

Blog by Ellie Gabel – Passive cooling strategies: designing buildings for natural temperature regulation

With global temperatures rising and many facing rising energy costs, you may have noticed an increasing demand for buildings featuring passive cooling capabilities. What are some of the essential considerations and tips for creating them? Understand the Effects of the Surrounding Environment Experts know something as seemingly insignificant as a large tree limiting the sunlight … Continue reading Blog by Ellie Gabel – Passive cooling strategies: designing buildings for natural temperature regulation →

Passive houses gaining in popularity in the US

Hannah Seo writes on the Washington Post website about the growing popularity of passive homes in the US. These green homes are designed to be as energy efficient as possible. New incentives aim to make them more budget-friendly. The passive house trend is booming On the morning of June 7, 2023, New York City … Continue reading Passive houses gaining in popularity in the US →

Arguably the world’s largest residential building retrofitted to the Passive House standard in Canada

The project team for the 18-story high-rise for seniors slashed the building’s greenhouse gas emissions by 94 percent and its heating energy demand by 91 percent. Robert Cassidy discusses the retrofit in an article on the Building Design + Construction website. Ken Soble Tower becomes world’s largest residential Passive House retrofit Ken Soble Tower, … Continue reading Arguably the world’s largest residential building retrofitted to the Passive House standard in Canada →

The International Passive House Institute has a new campaign to promote energy efficient buildings

Lloyd Alter writes on the Treehugger website about the new campaign by iPHA to promote energy-efficient buildings. What are your views? Efficiency: The First Renewable Energy The International Passive House Association (iPHA) launched a campaign—"Efficiency: The First Renewable Energy"—with the goal "to raise awareness for the vital role energy efficiency in buildings plays in … Continue reading The International Passive House Institute has a new campaign to promote energy efficient buildings →

“Building a passive house was the best decision we ever made”

Arlene Harris writes on the Irish section of The Times website about the positive aspects of having a passive house. What is your experience? Passivhaus concept isn’t a load of hot air Parents of teenagers will recognise how irritating it can be when their children take long showers and use up all the hot … Continue reading “Building a passive house was the best decision we ever made” →

Two main methodologies for assessing the energy performance of new homes find much in common

It seems that a long-running dispute between the Passivhaus community and other green homes experts here has been resolved through a detailed piece of technical research which has compared the two main methodologies for assessing the energy performance of new homes. It would appear that the two sides are not as far apart as they … Continue reading Two main methodologies for assessing the energy performance of new homes find much in common →

North America needs to give priority to net zero passive houses

Natalie Leonard gives a good argument on the Bloomberg Environment website why North America needs to move towards net zero passive houses. This is a good read for everyone. INSIGHT: Net Zero Passive Houses Are Answer to Housing Energy Efficiency The building sector accounts for 50% of all energy used in North America but … Continue reading North America needs to give priority to net zero passive houses →

Passive houses can be “affordable”

In the 1980s, Canada was one of the pioneers in ambitiously efficient housing, with its R-2000 programme that was showcased globally. It certainly got a lot of attention at the International Energy Agency and in countries such as Russia, after the demise of the Soviet Union. After some lea years, it is good to see … Continue reading Passive houses can be “affordable” →

London planning first school built on Passivhaus design principles

Plans are underway for a school in London to be build following the Passivhaus approach. Jess Staufenberg explains about recent developments on the Schoolsweek website. Passivhaus schools claim to reduce energy costs by 80 per cent The first secondary school to use energy-saving Passivhaus design principles is set to be built for the Harris … Continue reading London planning first school built on Passivhaus design principles →