The growth of the Passive House standard in the U.S. has been slow, but it could still produce significant influence, according to a recent panel of industry experts.
That group is looking to expand the standard beyond single-family houses to projects like schools, hospitals and high-rise towers, according to a Construction Dive report. Today, there is roughly 475,000 sf of certified Passive House project square footage in the U.S., including 16 multifamily projects, seven commercial buildings, and one school, in addition to 111 single-family homes.
Passive House Institute U.S. (PHIUS) wants to expand acceptance of the standard in the commercial and institutional markets. As more buildings achieve certification, they provide proof-of-concept and data that can inform design decisions and influence new codes and regulations, and thereby create momentum for the standard.
Local governments will be able to collect the data from new Passive House buildings and help inform decision-makers in the built community about how the standard achieves results in sustainability. Optimistically, Passive House could thus have a larger influence than might be expected from just looking at the number of certifications.
Related Stories
Resiliency | Mar 2, 2021
Elizabeth River Project's Resilience Lab set to break ground this year
Work Program Architects is designing the project.
Building Owners | Feb 4, 2021
The Weekly show, Feb 4, 2021: The rise of healthy buildings and human performance
This week on The Weekly show, BD+C editors speak with AEC industry leaders from Brookfield Properties, NBBJ, and UL about healthy buildings certification and improving human performance through research-based design.
Sustainability | Jan 19, 2021
Buildings as carbon banks
Leveraging design to reduce our carbon impact.
Sustainability | Dec 17, 2020
McDonald’s Disney-Flagship positions itself to be world’s first net-zero quick-service restaurant
Ross Barney Architects designed the project.
Sustainable Design and Construction | Nov 17, 2020
A digital catalog offers mass timber solutions for greener urban construction
Hybrid designs reconcile metropolitan growth and lower CO2 emissions.
Sustainability | Nov 11, 2020
Passive house design: A key to sustainable community building
Passive House is a high-performance building standard that emphasizes tightly insulated enclosures, heat recovery, and monitors airflow to reduce energy consumption.
Sustainability | Sep 30, 2020
U.S. Green Building Council, Green Business Certification Inc. expand resilience resources to support the green building industry
LEED and GBCI rating systems drive resilience-enhancing strategies to help businesses and governments mitigate climate risks.
Sustainability | Sep 29, 2020
Heatherwick Studio creates a new concept for San Francisco’s Piers 30-32
The new vision is dubbed The Cove.
Sustainability | Aug 13, 2020
The largest single sloped solar array in the country completes
The installation sits atop Pittsburgh’s Mill 19.
Sustainability | Aug 11, 2020
Sustainability is key for Denver Water’s modernized campus and distribution system
The utility is showcasing a new admin building and a water reuse plan that’s a first for the state.
