PHIUS (Passive House Institute US) launched the new PHIUS+ 2015 passive building standard on March 25.
PHIUS says the building energy performance target is in the “sweet spot” where cost effectiveness overlaps with aggressive energy and carbon reduction. It promises to ignite tremendous growth in the application of passive building principles, the organization says.
Formally known as PHIUS+ 2015 Passive Building Standard: North America, the standard is the product of nearly three years of research conducted by PHIUS in partnership with Building Science Corporation under a U.S. Department of Energy Building America grant.
The effort employed the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s BEopt tool (for cost-optimizing) to develop optimized design guidelines for use in North America’s wide-ranging climate zones.
Passive building has gained great attention in recent years, but the adoption of passive principles—superinsulation, airtight envelope, energy recovery ventilation—has been slower than hoped because of cost and other disincentives. The new formula and standards remove those obstacles, PHIUS says.
Related Stories
Movers+Shapers | Jun 17, 2016
Hantz Woodlands brings thousands of trees to hard-pressed Detroit neighborhoods
One of the city's richest residents, John Hantz, is buying hundreds of acres of vacant property, tearing down dilapidated structures, and planting trees in the space.
Movers+Shapers | Jun 15, 2016
GREEN GIANT: Jerry Yudelson is revamping the green building movement
The author and former president of the Green Building Initiative is critical of current green building rating systems, including the LEED rating program.
Green | Jun 9, 2016
SmithGroupJJR’s Brock Environmental Center converts rain into drinkable water
The education building generated 83% more energy than it consumed over the last year en route to earning Living Building Challenge (LBC) certification.
Sustainability | Jun 8, 2016
New program certifies the performance of existing buildings in the U.S.
BREEAM USA, an offshoot of a program already in place in Europe, aims to ease the point of entry.
Green | Jun 8, 2016
TD Bank Group's renovated Toronto office is first WELL-Certified project under WELL v1
The newly renovated 25,000-sf space achieved gold-level status.
Shopping Centers | Jun 3, 2016
Developer Robinsons Land adds powerful PV arrays to 10 malls in the Philippines
The Robinsons Starmills mall in San Fernando recently turned on a 2.9 megawatt rooftop PV plant.
Green | Jun 2, 2016
USGBC offers new LEED pilot credit: Building Material Human Hazard and Exposure Assessment
For assessing human health-related exposure scenarios for construction products.
Green | May 31, 2016
Miami Beach requires developers to meet green standards or pay a fee
Applies to structures larger than 7,000 sf.
Codes and Standards | May 25, 2016
LEED Dynamic is worth the effort, says commercial real estate executive
San Diego office tower is California’s first office building to receive LEED Dynamic plaque in recertification.
Green | May 23, 2016
Perkins+Will achieves first Living Building Challenge Certification with Vancouver visitors center
The VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Centre was recognized for its use of healthy building materials, on-site renewable resources, and filtered rainwater to meet greywater requirements.
