Beating the Heat at the State Fair –
Results of the Ice Box Challenge
to be Revealed on Labor Day
Passive House Minnesota takes on the summer heat in a demonstration to prove the efficiency of Passive House building standards.
MINNEAPOLIS—On August 13th, local high-performance building advocacy group Passive House Minnesota filled two boxes with more than 1500 pounds of ice before leaving them outside to weather the late summer heat for three weeks. On September 2nd, they’ll open the boxes to see what’s left.
The demonstration, known as the Ice Box Challenge, places Passive House building standards and local building code against each other in a summertime test to see how well each standard can keep a block of ice from melting. The more ice kept from melting, the better the building standard performs.
Along with the final results, the reveal event will feature climate and energy policy expert J. Drake Hamilton, Senior Director of Science Policy at Fresh Energy, a Minnesota-based nonprofit working to shape and drive bold policy solutions to achieve equitable carbon-neutral economies. Hamilton was recently appointed by Governor Walz to be a part of the Climate Action Framework 2.0 group, which will revise and update policy action in Minnesota. Her scientific analysis and experience in policy development of clean energy solutions to global warming combined with her skills in science and policy communication will ensure an engaging presentation that will place the Ice Box Challenge results within the larger context of Minnesota State Policy.
“Already the difference in melted ice in the Code Box vs the Passive House Box is massive, and we are excited to see the final result on Labor Day,” said Marcy Conrad Nutt, Certified Passive House Designer and architect. “When you think about the heat dome we just had, or the cold temperatures we always have in winter, constructing quality, resilient structures that can handle extreme temperatures and power outages is important. Not to mention the energy savings and increased comfort we see with Passive House buildings. This demonstration really illustrates how far behind our energy code is for new buildings.”
The Ice Box Challenge Reveal will take place on September 2nd at 2:30PM, right after the State Fair parade. All are welcome to attend or stay after the event, where Passive House experts will be available to answer questions on how Passive House standards can provide safe, efficient buildings for everyone in Minnesota.
The Minnesota Ice Box Challenge is sponsored by Xcel Energy.
