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.

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

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

Cleaning of photovoltaic panels at Passive House Los Angeles (PHLA+)

The Icebox Challenge is a contest and It will be comprised of two small structures (5’x5’ – h: 11’), one built to the Title-24 California Building Code, and the other, built to the PASSIVE HOUSE Standard optimized for the local climate. Each Ice Box contains 500 pounds of ice. The Ice Boxes will be left outside for 7 days (between September 6th & September 13th), and then opened, measuring the amount of ice left in each box. How much ice is left will indicate how well each Ice Box keeps out the summer heat. High-performance buildings are reliable, affordable, comfortable buildings that keep the indoors in and the outdoors out. They stay comfortable and quiet throughout the year, including through summer heat waves, winter storms and power outages.