海角视频

Explore Passive House standards in the United States – highlighting new benchmarks for energy efficiency and sustainability in our journey to achieve a zero-carbon future.

We sat down with Esther Van Eeden, an associate in 海角视频’s Boston office, to talk about her contributions to sustainable architecture and insights on the transformative impact of Passive House design. Esther鈥檚 expertise is instrumental in helping design teams achieve their environmental goals. Her work not only enhances building performance but also ensures that projects align seamlessly with stringent energy standards, paving the way for a more sustainable future.

Background on passive house design

Passive House, developed in the 1980s and 1990s, is a performance-driven design standard that takes a whole-systems approach rather than a prescriptive one. This flexibility allows design teams to meet specific energy performance criteria by adjusting various elements such as insulation levels. In the United States, Passive House buildings can be certified by either the (PHI) or its American counterpart, . The 2024 Massachusetts code changes to both the Stretch and Specialized Opt-In code have made Passive House a viable pathway to code compliance for many building typologies.

The Passive House standard can be applied to any building type, of any size, in any climate, and is built on five key principles:

1. Enhanced, continuous insulation
2. High-quality windows
3. Airtight envelope
4. Reduced thermal bridges
5. Certified, high-quality ventilation equipment

Passive House design in the United States: The House at Cornell Tech

海角视频 optimizes form, orientation, scale, and window proportions in architectural design. By adhering to the minimum requirements for Passive House, we can optimize mechanical systems, saving space and operational costs for building owners and operators. The success of a Passive House project relies on strong client engagement and a collaborative design process. Having a Certified Passive House Designer (CPHD) on the team enhances coordination across various design disciplines, ensuring a seamless and efficient project delivery.

This approach was exemplified in our work on The House at Cornell Tech, the tallest and largest residential Passive House building in the world. Our multidisciplinary engineering services helped achieve Passive House standards, resulting in dramatically reduced energy consumption and operational energy savings while providing superior comfort and indoor air quality. The project set a new precedent in high-rise residential design and showcased our commitment to innovative sustainability. By working closely with the owner, design team, and the New York City Department of Buildings, we realized Passive House on an unprecedented scale, demonstrating the value of our process and services.

The certification process

The certification process for Passive House projects, much like submitting a LEED project to the USGBC, involves submitting to a certifier at either Phius or PHI. These certifiers act as auditors, bringing a wealth of knowledge to the team and ensuring multiple reviews of the energy model at important design milestones. Early engagement of the contractor and commissioning agent has proven to result in buildings that operate as designed, with fewer problems onsite during construction and better maintenance practices throughout the building鈥檚 life. This integrated approach not only enhances the building鈥檚 performance but also ensures a smoother, more efficient construction process.

Most green building certifications take a traditional prescriptive approach, mandating adherence to specific targets for individual components like windows, wall-, roof-, and floor assemblies as well as mechanical systems. While this results in some energy savings, it often falls short of optimal performance by failing to consider the building as an integrated system. This is where Passive House (PH) standards excel. Unlike most green standards, Passive House is not a brand but a whole-systems performance approach focused on maximizing operational energy efficiency. PH-certified buildings consistently use 40% to 80% less energy than code-built structures, marking a significant step towards a zero-carbon future. Beyond certification, Passive House serves as a valuable framework for designing high-performance buildings, guiding project teams toward optimized comfort, durability, and resilience while significantly reducing long-term energy costs.

While a Passive House consultant provides specialized guidance, it is best if the entire team has some level of Passive House knowledge to ensure seamless integration of Passive House principles throughout the project. A successful Passive House project requires collaboration among the owner/developer, architect, design team, Passive House consultant, MEP engineers, general contractor, trades, and third-party certifier.

Interested in Passive House and want to learn more?

海角视频 can help clients navigate the Passive House process, ensuring eligibility for various grants and incentives, such as Mass Save Passive House Incentives, federal programs like the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), and Energy-Efficient Commercial Building Tax Deduction (179D).

Our team conducts feasibility studies, energy modeling, and quality assurance tests, guiding projects through all phases from design to certification. We emphasize collaboration among all stakeholders, including owners, architects, engineers, contractors, and certifiers, ensuring seamless integration of PH principles.

With our performance-based approach, we offer customized solutions tailored to each project’s unique needs, making 海角视频 a trusted partner in achieving high-performance, sustainable buildings.