BC continues to provide a springboard for homegrown companies to flourish in green innovation. North Vancouver-based BCollective Homes and Invermere-based Collective Carpentry were two of the deserving recipients of the $8-million CleanBC Building Innovation Fund. Both companies foundationally believe in the value of Passive House principles as the pathway to provide superior solutions in construction… Read more »
CEO Letter – June
In mid-May the International Energy Agency (IEA) released an important report called Net-Zero by 2050: A Roadmap for the Global Energy Sector. The report finds that a radical shift toward renewable energy is required to prevent the world from warming beyond 1.5 degrees and that investments in oil and gas need to immediately come to an end. It specifies that governments need to significantly strengthen and successfully… Read more »
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT – Guillaume Fafard, OAQ, AAPPQ, CPHD, QUINZHEE ARCHITECTURE
Meet Guillaume Fafard, the easy-going and effervescent Founder of Quinzhee Architecture, located in the Saint-Saveur district in Quebec City, Quebec. Quinzhee’s practice is built upon their care for the environment, and designing homes based on Passive House principles was a natural fit, aligning with the core values of the firm. So when COVID-19 hit, like… Read more »
BC Subcommittee Passes Motion to Inform Council the Step Code is not on Track to meet Climate Targets
The Energy Step Code Council Part 9 Subcommittee has passed a motion, drafted by Passive House Canada representative Rob Bernhardt, to inform the Step Code Council that the BC Energy Step Code is not on track to achieve the province’s stated goals for Part 9 residential buildings and that it is now out of alignment… Read more »
Keeping Vancouver on Track to Reduce Building Emissions
By Scott Kennedy, Partner, Cornerstone Architecture This past week, a motion went before Vancouver City Council to delay the implementation of a policy requiring the installation of zero emissions heating and hot water systems in news homes beginning January 1, 2022 by one year. The motion was included in a package of amendments for Council… Read more »
CEO Letter – May
There is lots to report at Passive House Canada as we continue to add education courses for the industry, and work with government and industry to help with the transition to a zero carbon building marketplace. We have been critical of the pending national building code removal of air tightness testing. We are concerned that… Read more »
Passive House Canada establishes ground-breaking partnership to advance the Passive House standard throughout the Americas
For Immediate Release: May 11, 2021 VICTORIA,  B.C. – \ Passive House Canada is pleased to announce a five-year partnership with the Instituto Latinoamericano Passivhaus (ILAPH) and Capital Cities of the Americas (CC35), an American-based organization that facilitates collaboration between the public and private sectors to achieve an accelerated impact of the Paris Agreement through the leadership… Read more »
Happy Earth Day!
Happy Earth Day from all of us at Passive House Canada! As many in our community are aware of, buildings consume up to 40 percent of global energy use and contribute up to 30 percent of annual global greenhouse gas emissions. They are a key piece of the puzzle towards a low-carbon future. “Before looking… Read more »
Passive House Canada Response to Federal Budget
This past Monday, the federal government released its first budget in over two years, proposing significant investments to chart Canada’s path back to economic prosperity from Covid-19. It is the largest budget in Canadian history with $101.4 billion in new spending planned over the next three years. Passive House Canada is pleased to see significant… Read more »
Landmark NYC case study confirms PHI projects outperform their peers in reducing energy use and utility costs and yield substantial savings
An exciting multi-family building study out of New York finds the Passive House Institute design standard provides additional, ongoing cash flow to building owners and tenants thanks to its energy efficiency and operational savings. Those of us involved in building to the Passive House Institute building standard know this, and now this study confirms it.… Read more »
