PASSIVE RETROFITS ARE ESSENTIAL TO REACHING CARBON EMISSION GOALS
Nearly one third of Massachusetts’ total carbon emissions come from its more than 2 million existing buildings. It is essential that these buildings are retrofitted to be energy efficient, healthy, and resilient. While long used in new construction, the Passive House standard is just as effective for existing buildings and can be the key to reducing their emissions.
To do this, owners, contractors, and financiers all need to understand and prioritize the PH standard, new heating/cooling solutions, electrification, and deep energy retrofits. Throughout 2022, PHMass will be providing resources and presentations to meet this challenge. Join us and ensure that all of our buildings, new and old, are affordable to heat and cool, sustain our health, and become part of the climate solutions we need to meet required emissions targets.
RECENT PRESENTATIONS
EnerPHit: Program Review & Case Studies
May, 2022
This session features a presentation and discussion on the the Passive House Institute's EnerPHit program for certifying existing buildings to the PH Standard. Historic masonry and wood frame renovation case studies diving into the methodology are included.
Watch in Video Library here.
Passive House Retrofit: Oak Bluffs Town Hall
April, 2022
This presentation focus on the high-performance retrofit of a municipal building on Martha’s Vineyard.
Watch in Video Library here.
Passive House Retrofit: Ice House Condos on the Cape
March, 2022
Turn-of-the-century, cast-in-place concrete, industrial building to condo conversion on the Cape, with a multitude of enclosure issues. Learn about the existing conditions, repair methodologies, and opportunities used to improve the air leakage, thermal continuity, and durability of the building. We’ll also explore the additional steps that could have been taken to get this building to Passive House performance levels.
Watch in Video Library here.
Passive House Retrofits: Project Examples
February, 2022
Christina McPike, Director of Energy & Sustainability at WinnCompanies, presents on three ongoing retrofit projects, including the Eva White Apartments in Boston, the Stone Mill on Lawrence, and the adaptive reuse Tyler School project in CT. Come learn from practical experience how to apply the Passive House standard to existing buildings.
Watch in Video Library here.
Retrofit Standards with PHIUS REVIVE
January, 2022
Katrin Klingenberg, Executive Director of PHIUS, joins us to talk about the new PHIUS REVIVE program for existing buildings and retrofits.
Watch in Video Library here.
FUTURE HOUSING: Passive House as the Foundation of All Housing Standards
December, 2021
Colin Booth, Managing Director at Placetailor, discusses the theme of Future Housing and how Passive House can be the foundation of all housing standards.
Watch in Video Library here.
PASSIVE HOUSE + RENEWABLES = NET ZERO ENERGY
This is a Proven Equation for our Net Zero Future
Passive House Massachusetts is conducting a public campaign to highlight the importance of this equation and how Net Zero buildings constructed with the quality control of Passive House certification are assured of performing as modeled and being cost effective, healthy, resilient and durable. Throughout 2021, we will explore this topic in monthly presentations, articles, and policy recommendations. Join us to discover how Passive House is the platform for our net zero energy future.
PASSIVE BUILDINGS ARE HEALTHY, AFFORTABLE, AND RESILIENT
Affordable Housing
The largest affordable housing project in Cambridge in 40 years just opened its doors as a Passive House building. Healthy and low-carbon, it’s good for the neighborhood and good for the environment. Best of all, it’s just a small preview of what’s to come as the state and region sees a boom in affordable Passive projects.
Climate Resilience
From maintaining stable indoor temperature and comfort levels during extreme outdoor weather or power outages to using stronger & longer lasting materials that can withstand the test of time, Passive House buildings are built for the future.
Air Quality & Health
By keeping out pollutants and providing only fresh, filtered air, Passive House buildings see dramatically lower levels of particulate matter, VOC’s, carbon dioxide, and other harmful chemicals - delivering exceptional levels of indoor air quality, improving occupant health and comfort.
Low-Carbon Buildings
Reducing the amount of energy our buildings demand is only the first step in creating true low-carbon buildings. In order to reach carbon-neutrality we must reduce the embodied carbon and energy from the materials we use and the construction process itself.