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 aĀ Construction DiveĀ 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
Plumbing | Mar 13, 2020
Pioneer Industries launches new website
Pioneer Industries launches new website
Sustainability | Mar 12, 2020
Containing CO2 during construction
New tools make it easier to measure embodied carbon in materials before they get used for construction.
Sustainability | Mar 2, 2020
City of Buffalo to launch the largest environmental impact bond in the country
EIBs offer a novel approach to pay for high-impact projects based in part on the environmental, social, and/ or economic outcomes they generate.
Architects | Mar 2, 2020
Two āfirstsā for Sasaki and LEO A DALY
Following an industry trend, the firms hire chiefs of technology and sustainability, respectively.
Sustainability | Feb 26, 2020
Sustainability in a material world
The concepts of embodied carbon, zero waste, and deconstruction and reuse often run on parallel tracks.
Sustainability | Feb 12, 2020
KPF unveils The Pinnacle at Central Wharf, a high-performance, resilient tower
The project will reconnect Downtown Boston to the waterfront.
Sustainability | Feb 6, 2020
Passive House picks up steam
Passive solutions that reduce a buildingās energy consumption could get more viable as cities toughen CO2 emissions limits.
Contractors | Jan 20, 2020
Wellness is for builders, not just for buildings
New research on wellness in the construction sector highlights interventions that could be effective in addressing dehydration, weight management, poor air quality, and stress.Ā
Green | Jan 10, 2020
How the new EC3 tool raises the bar on collective action
Nearly 50 AEC industry organizations partnered to develop the groundbreaking Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator.
Sustainability | Jan 2, 2020
Willis Tower becomes largest U.S. building to earn LEED Platinum
The tower earned the Platinum designation under LEED's latest v4.1 rating system.