New Single-Family Residence in Los Angeles Achieves Official Passive House Institute Certification! Congratulations to the team for successfully completing certification!

This SB-9 project embraces California's forward-thinking regulations to combat the housing shortage in Los Angeles by introducing additional residential units. Designed to meet the rigorous International Passive House Standard, it ensures superior energy efficiency, exceptional comfort, and outstanding indoor air quality.

The International Passive House Standard represents a globally recognized benchmark for energy-efficient building design. It focuses on principles like airtight construction, high-performance insulation, thermal bridge-free design, optimized ventilation with heat recovery, and the use of high-quality windows. These elements combine to create homes that are not only energy-efficient but also provide unparalleled comfort, reduced utility costs, a smaller environmental footprint, and enhanced acoustic performance.

With each wildfire, lives are uprooted, and homes are lost, leaving communities across the affected regions to rebuild amidst unimaginable destruction. The recent Los Angeles wildfires caused devastating damage, destroying thousands of homes and displacing countless people, leaving entire communities struggling to recover. According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection(CAL FIRE), the Palisades Fire destroyed 6,833 structures and claimed 12 lives, while the Eaton Fire led to the loss of 9,418 structures and 17 lives. Though the cause remains under investigation, the destruction has sparked an urgent conversation about how we can better protect our communities from such devastation.

As the region begins to rebuild, many are turning to innovative solutions for long-term fire protection. One such solution gaining attention is Passive House Design, known for its energy-efficient features and its potential to enhance resilience against future wildfires. But what exactly makes it ‘passive’? And how does it measure up as a viable solution to wildfire risks? With the memory of these fires still fresh, the need for sustainable, protective design has never been more urgent.

I am writing to express my support for AB 368 and its recognition of certified Passive House standards as a key tool in reducing California’s building-related carbon emissions.

Buildings generate 25% of the state’s greenhouse gas emissions. Without stronger efficiency measures, we risk locking in high emissions for decades. Incorporating Passive House as an alternative compliance pathway to Title 24 will accelerate California’s shift to clean, all-electric buildings while easing grid strain.

Passive House standards cut heating and cooling energy use by up to 90%, reducing fossil fuel reliance and ensuring long-term affordability. They also improve air quality, enhance resilience to extreme weather, and lower fire risk—critical benefits for vulnerable communities and economies statewide.

We have the expertise to build safer, healthier, and more efficient buildings. AB 368 will make high-performance buildings more affordable and accessible while helping California meet climate goals faster.

Assemblymember Ward Introduces AB 368 to Advance Passive House Standards for More Cost-Effective Energy Efficiency

Growing wildfire devastation demands better-protected buildings – better protected by building design and better design of their surrounding landscape. Yet, after fire events, like in Los Angeles, there is a need to rebuild quickly. Just build it back, the thinking goes, but we can do better. Let’s build forward with fire-safe strategies integrated with Passive House building design to drive down our dependence on fossil fuels, protect people’s health, and adapt to the ever-growing threats of extreme weather. Join us as we investigate integrated approaches with Passive House, how they’ve been implemented following other wildfires, and the possibilities they demonstrate for building forward.

Rocky Mountain PBS | Building Back Better After the Marshall Fire.
Wild Fires and Climate Changes | A Challenge for California

California can fast-track a guideline that reliably reduces heating and cooling energy demand up to 70% below the current Title-24 baseline: Passive House. Together, we can put this climate resilience standard onto builders’ and owners’ radar, simply by adding a voluntary Passive House alternate pathway into California’s Title-24. Without this extension, few will know that Passive House even exists.

Passive House Progress: U.S. Certification Data as of July 2024

"The Passive House Certification Gossip" reveals that we now have an impressive 2,152,780 square feet of certified Passive House space in the USA! That's a lot of comfortable living and working the eco-friendly, efficient way.

[published by the Passive House Institute]

Lloyd Alter and The Story of Upfront Carbon

Passive House for warm climates explained in 90 seconds, adopted from Hans-Joern Eich

Blow Away Inefficiency: Blower Door for Passive Homes

Are you in the process of building a new Passive House or renovating for EnerPHit certification? We're here to support you. Whether you require a single, one-time blower door test during your Passive House project or need help identifying air leaks after completing the building envelope, we're at your service. We can also assist with the final certification test for Passive House Institute (PHI).

Comfort First, Efficiency Always - Test, Seal & Save

Passive House SB9 & ADUs in CA's Milder Climates. Christian Kienapfel, architect and Certfied Passive House Design presented during the Passive House California Community meeting a single-family home per SB9 and an ADU in Los Angeles.

Passive House Accelerator Magazine | Spring 2024 features Passive House project from PARAVANT Architects in Los Angeles.

A Passive House designer and contractor in California is sharing insights from his experience constructing Passive House single-family homes. His detailed report and analysis, comparing Passive House construction to standard methods, were published in 2021 by the Passive House network.

Two ADUs designed by PARAVANT Architects and built to Passive House standards exemplify how evolving policies, and tastes, are reshaping the urban landscape of Los Angeles. Read the article written by Mary James on the Passive House Accelerator.

New analysis finds Passive House designs for single-family homes will best protect Californians’ health, safety, and comfort from worsening impacts of climate change

Well-sealed, highly energy efficient green building design is barely scratching the surface of its potential in California

How Buildings Are Key To Fighting Climate Change.

In this video, Zack Semke dives into the pivotal role buildings play in the battle against climate change. Buildings, as they stand, are both victims and culprits in the climate crisis, being poorly equipped to handle climate impacts and also being massive contributors to carbon emissions.

More steel framing at passive LA house

Installation of Stego Vapor Barrier at Passive House and ADU

Caught on camera touring my new buildings like a pro! Little did I know, my architect turned me into a YouTube sensation. If only I'd dressed for that shot and prepared a script!