Passive House Goes Mainstream · Dec 28, 11:27 PM
Passive House is going mainstream! With yesterday’s piece in the New York Times, this program for energy-efficient design will get a completely new audience. And it is about time!
Here’s why: If we are to avoid the climatalogical tipping points now fast approaching, we have to drastically reduce our use of fossil fuels. It is impossible for us to replace those fossil fuels in the timeframe we have left if we rely primarily on the development of new alternative energy sources. We simply no longer have that luxury; it will take too long to bring these resources online. Our only remaining option is to cut energy usage. Buildings in this country account for 40% of our greenhouse gas emissions. If we cut those emissions by 90%, as the Passive House approach does using available low-tech construction techniques, we will have cut total carbon emissions by 36%.
Then add to that the fact that the Passive House is quite easy to take off the grid entirely. When you are using a total of 11kwh/square foot per year, that translates into a very small array of photovoltaics. Suddenly, with such low demand, photovoltaics can become an affordable option for the average homeowner, not just movie stars.
And designing to the Passive House standard works with retrofits as well as it does with new houses. Given that most of the buildings standing today will be here in 2050, we can’t afford not to think in terms of retrofitting existing buildings. As a society, we cannot be serious about climate change if we don’t tackle our infrastructure. Luckily, the incoming administration understands this, and is looking at infrastructure projects as one of the building blocks of a green jobs economy.
But right now, all most government officials know about is LEED. But the LEED standard is not enough. A LEED Platinum rating (its highest) doesn’t even come close to the verified Passive House reductions of 90% over a 2008 code-built home. That is why it is so important to spread the word about Passive House. And why it is particularly important to let our legislative officials know that there is a much better, and affordable, alternative to the LEED rating system. You can learn more about the Passive House program at the US Passive House website and at our website, where we’ve posted a Passive House prototype design.
In January I will be completing the third of the three training sessions required for certification in the Passive House program. We are now working with a local developer and contractor to get our first Passive House under construction in 2009. Stay tuned!
— David Peabody
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