• 204: How Rapid Housing Can Be Better Housing
    Sep 17 2024

    In this episode of the Passive House Podcast, Co-host Ilka Cassidy and Mary James talk with Christina Boyer, architect, and Matt Bolin, Managing Principal architect at McCallum Sather. They discuss their work in advancing high-performance housing in Ontario, particularly in the Kitchener-Waterloo region. With a focus on sustainable design, they share insights into using mass timber and Passive House certification to address the housing crisis. Learn about their innovative projects, challenges in balancing cost and efficiency, and how they are redefining mid-rise construction with faster, eco-friendly solutions.

    https://www.mccallumsather.com/projects/city-housing-hamilton-affordable-housing/
    https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/
    https://www.hamilton.ca/people-programs/cityhousing-hamilton
    https://www.phius.org/browse-all-events/phius-pro-forum-2024
    https://www.phius.org/phius-bring-passive-building-greenbuild-2024
    https://nesea.org/conference/buildingenergy-nyc-2024

    Thank you for listening to the Passive House Podcast! To learn more about Passive House and to stay abreast of our latest programming, visit passivehouseaccelerator.com. And please join us at one of our Passive House Accelerator LIVE! zoom gatherings on Wednesdays.

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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • 203: Buildings Can Take Care of Us
    Sep 10 2024

    In this episode of the Passive House Accelerator Podcast, Nathan St. Germain, founder of Studio St. Germain discusses his firm’s philosophy of “building to give back." Nathan explores the concept of aging in place and how Passive House design can create a therapeutic, livable environment for people as they age. He highlights his work on the Wilkinsburg Passive House project, where the focus on air quality, energy efficiency, and livability supports the health and dignity of the occupants. The episode delves into the fusion of universal design with Passive House principles and how data-driven design can improve indoor environments for everyone.

    Links:

    https://www.studiostgermain.com/work#/wilkinsburg-passive-house

    https://www.studiostgermain.com/wilkinsburg-passive-house-high-performance

    https://www.studiostgermain.com/studio-stgermain-pursues-milestone-passive-house-enerphit-certification-in-pennsylvania

    https://www.pittsburghmagazine.com/how-this-wilkinsburg-home-is-achieving-milestone-sustainability/

    Thank you for listening to the Passive House Podcast! To learn more about Passive House and to stay abreast of our latest programming, visit passivehouseaccelerator.com. And please join us at one of our Passive House Accelerator LIVE! zoom gatherings on Wednesdays.

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    48 mins
  • 202: Cool Hacks: Listeners’ DIY Tips for the Heat
    Sep 3 2024

    In our final episode of our Cooling and Summer Resiliency series we asked you our audience "What's your DIY cooling/summer resilience solution?". Co-Hosts Zack, Mary, Matthew and Ilka discuss your responses and dive into their own DIY solutions. From running bathroom fans all night to strategic shading solutions, hear practical advice from Passive House enthusiasts across North America. Plus, discover insights on the impact of internal gains and the importance of monitoring and adapting your home for optimal comfort.

    Check out the full series here: https://passivehouseaccelerator.com/podcast

    Thank you for listening to the Passive House Podcast! To learn more about Passive House and to stay abreast of our latest programming, visit passivehouseaccelerator.com. And please join us at one of our Passive House Accelerator LIVE! zoom gatherings on Wednesdays.

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    43 mins
  • 201: Cooling & Resilience: The In's and Out's of Energy Modeling
    Aug 27 2024

    In this fourth episode of our Cooling and Sumer Resiliency series, co-host Ilka Cassidy delves into the intricacies of cooling and resilience in building design with some of North America's leading energy modelers. Join us as Prudence Ferreira, Ryan Abendroth, and Christina Snyder share their experiences, challenges, and strategies for predicting and mitigating overheating in buildings. From the basics of energy modeling to advanced techniques for optimizing building performance. Tune in to explore how these experts ensure comfort and sustainability in Passive House projects across varied climates.

    https://www.thorntontomasetti.com/
    https://www.passiveenergydesigns.com/
    https://www.certiphiers.com/

    Thank you for listening to the Passive House Podcast! To learn more about Passive House and to stay abreast of our latest programming, visit passivehouseaccelerator.com. And please join us at one of our Passive House Accelerator LIVE! zoom gatherings on Wednesdays.

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    1 hr and 11 mins
  • 200: Designing for Extremes In Australia's Changing Climate
    Aug 20 2024

    In this third episode of our Cooling and Sumer Resiliency series, we welcome back Andy Marlow to discuss the unique challenges of designing Passive Houses in Australia's increasingly hot and varied climate. We dive into the nuances of maintaining comfort in the face of rising temperatures, the importance of shading, and the evolving role of mechanical cooling. Andy shares insights on the balance between traditional Passive House principles and the need for innovative solutions in warmer regions. Whether you're a designer, builder, or just curious about sustainable housing, this episode offers valuable perspectives on adapting to climate extremes.

    https://www.envirotecture.com.au/

    Mary's 10 Steps to Hardening Your Home Against Wildfire: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=626NQeQGH7s

    Thank you for listening to the Passive House Podcast! To learn more about Passive House and to stay abreast of our latest programming, visit passivehouseaccelerator.com. And please join us at one of our Passive House Accelerator LIVE! zoom gatherings on Wednesdays.

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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • 199: Breathing Easier: Indoor Air Quality vs. Wildfire Smoke
    Aug 13 2024

    In this episode of the Passive House Podcast we revisit a previous episode with John Semmelhack, co-owner of the Comfort Squad based in Charlottesville, Virginia, and a member of the Phius Technical Committee. In their conversation Zack and John discuss the increasing impact of wildfire smoke on indoor air quality across North America. They explore both immediate and long-term strategies to protect your home, from DIY air filter solutions like the Corsi-Rosenthal Box to integrating high-performance filtration systems in your building's design. Learn how to make your indoor space a safer haven during these challenging air quality events.

    Share how you are keeping cool and be featured in an upcoming episode: https://www.speakpipe.com/Passive_House_Podcast

    Checkout the video version of the interview on Reimagine Buildings:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oO_nnTASOAE

    Comfort Squad:
    https://www.comfortsquad.us/

    Corsi-Rosenthal Fan Resources:
    https://corsirosenthalfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/Build-a-Box-Eng-1.pdf

    Original episode https://passivehouseaccelerator.com/podcast/passive-house-podcast-ep-147-john-semmelhack-iaq-and-wil...

    https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/diy-box-fan-air-cleaner-update/
    https://aqicn.org/map/northamerica/
    https://cleanaircrew.org/box-fan-filters/

    Thank you for listening to the Passive House Podcast! To learn more about Passive House and to stay abreast of our latest programming, visit passivehouseaccelerator.com. And please join us at one of our Passive House Accelerator LIVE! zoom gatherings on Wednesdays.

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    37 mins
  • 198: Keeping Cool: Strategies for Summer Resiliency
    Aug 6 2024

    In this episode of the Passive House Accelerator podcast, we're kicking off a special summer mini-series on cooling and summer resiliency. Host Mary James is joined by mechanical engineer, Galen Staengl and Tad Everhart of CertiPHIers Cooperative. Galen shares insights from his extensive experience in energy-efficient green building and Passive House design, emphasizing the importance of holistic, cost-effective approaches to cooling. Tad discusses his journey from climate crisis awareness to Passive House certification and his practical experiences managing cooling in an urban heat island. The conversation explores various cooling techniques, including night cooling, evaporative cooling, and dehumidification, along with strategies to optimize air movement and distribute cool air in Passive Houses.

    Share how you are keeping cool and be featured in an upcoming episode: https://www.speakpipe.com/Passive_House_Podcast

    https://www.staenglengineering.com/

    https://www.certiphiers.com/

    Thank you for listening to the Passive House Podcast! To learn more about Passive House and to stay abreast of our latest programming, visit passivehouseaccelerator.com. And please join us at one of our Passive House Accelerator LIVE! zoom gatherings on Wednesdays.

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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • 197: California Building—High Performance and Low Carbon
    Jul 30 2024

    In this episode of Passive House Podcast, co-host Mary James reconnects Bronwyn Barry in her new project in Sacramento, California during a Passive House Open House Days. Bronwyn emphasizes the importance of both operational energy efficiency and embodied carbon reduction. The episode highlights innovative building materials, such as dense pack cellulose and rigid exterior hemp insulation, and touches on the challenges and successes in obtaining permitting and ensuring fire resilience. Additionally, the conversation explores the exciting progress towards recognizing Passive House standards in California’s Title 24 energy code.

    https://www.passivehousebb.com/
    https://www.passivehouseprojects.org/projects/sacramento-passive-house/

    Thank you for listening to the Passive House Podcast! To learn more about Passive House and to stay abreast of our latest programming, visit passivehouseaccelerator.com. And please join us at one of our Passive House Accelerator LIVE! zoom gatherings on Wednesdays.

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    37 mins