Responding to participant questions, we are compiling a list of clarifications for all to reference. We hope these are useful.

Design Parameter Clarifications:

Buildability: The competition has the goals of challenging, informing, and inspiring designers and homeowners to rebuild more resiliently with Passive House. Because all single-family homes, to some extent, are custom homes, the submitted designs should consider their implementation after the competition is complete. We encourage submissions to consider the potential for client-specific needs, toward making the design permit-ready and buildable, including achieving Pre-Approved plans, after the competition is complete.

Location and orientation: The Location and orientation of the building lot are not fixed and are up to the submitter.

Bedroom Count: We will limit the number of bedrooms to 3 or 4 to avoid triggering additional parking requirements.

Shading: The shading condition is not fixed, but should be realistic, likely surrounded by similarly sized homes.

Zoning/Parking: This is single-family construction, so R-1 districts, but the precise zoning context is not fixed. Therefore, depending on the lot orientation of the single-family lot, parking (2 covered spaces) and setback requirements should be considered. See examples from the last three pages of the Altadena Community property-specific standards summary.

Zoning Summary: A summary of R-1 Zoning in Altadena is here. And for Pacific Palisades, it is here.

Rear Yard Set Back: The typical rear yard setback requirement was initially erroneously listed only as 15’. 15’ applies to Pacific Palisades. In Altadena, it is 25’. However, if other lot zoning configurations are used, other allowable dimensions are acceptable.

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs): ADUs are not part of the design mandate. However, the site plan design may include the location of an ADU for future lot development in addressing affordability.

Submission & Modeling Clarifications:

Qualifications of the Submitter: There is no professional qualification for the submitters. Submitters need not be licensed professionals, nor certified Passive House professionals.

Passive House Classic Criteria: While the criteria include a range of requirements for the purposes of the competition, the focus is on those listed on the Verification Tab of the easyPH or PHPP: Space Heating Demand or Load, Space Cooling Demand, and Primary Energy Renewable.

Climate Data Sets: In the PHPP Climate Data location dropdown, several locations appear in the greater Los Angeles area, but none are specifically identified with the Pacific Palisades or Altadena. Users may import data from meteonorm.com. But it is recommended to use a dropdown selection of US0127a-Torrance for Pacific Palisades, and US0122a-Riverside for Altadena, for ease of implementation.

UPDATE: A PHI-verified climate data set for Pasadena is now available and can be used for Altadena as well. The Pasadena set is preferable but not required. Obtain the data file here and copy/paste it into the project PHPP. A CSV file is also available at the link for those using designPH.

Airtightness: For the energy calculations, assume a building airtightness of 0.6 ACH50, the minimum airtightness allowable.

Energy Modeling Outputs: PDF images of the designPH, easyPH, or PHPP verification summaries with the energy file are acceptable. However, because designPH alone does not calculate cooling demand, we recommend exporting the initial designPH (.skp file) model to easyPH (.xls file), a simplified PHPP for quicker single-family results. Then make final adjustments and complete verification of the Passive House Classic criteria in easyPH, providing a PDF image of the verification page and the easyPH Excel file.

Given all the above, if you are not already proficient in designPH, using only easyPH should be the simplest method to complete the needed verification.

Certification of Submission: No certification, nor Design Stage Approval by a Certifier, is required.

Identification of Submission: No identifying names of individuals or companies submitting should be included on the poster. The QR code will be blocked out for jury review and is meant for public use when displayed. Identification is by a separate document upload.

Dragoș Arnăutu is an ar­chi­tect and has been work­ing for the Pass­ive House In­sti­tu­te in Darm­stadt since 2012. His main tasks in­clude con­sult­ing and cer­ti­fic­a­tion of in­ter­na­tion­al Pass­ive House pro­jects as well as train­ing and the de­vel­op­ment of the plan­ning tool design­PH. After study­ing ar­chi­tec­ture at the Tech­nic­al Uni­versity in Cluj-Na­po­ca, Ro­mania, he com­pleted a schol­ar­ship at the Pass­ive House In­sti­tu­te, which he re­ceived from the Ger­man Fed­er­al Found­a­tion for the En­vir­on­ment (DBU). Dra­gos Arnăutu teaches re­spons­ible ar­chi­tec­ture and be­lieves that the Pass­ive House move­ment is the right way to sus­tain­ab­il­ity.

Heidi Erm is a strong advocate for building energy efficiency, with a special affinity for the building envelope, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Her work experience spans residential architecture, product management for building materials, and policy work on Passive House and building efficiency. Currently, Heidi is the Associate Director, Industry and Workforce for the Building Decarbonization Coalition. Heidi is a non-practicing Certified Passive House Tradesperson.

Greg D. Fisher is the founder of Greg D. Fisher, Architect, an award-winning firm established in 1993. His practice focuses on simple, progressive, authentic, and responsible designs. Greg’s commitment to sustainability has led him to be the architect for many sustainable-oriented buildings and developments. As well, he has served numerous green educational causes and on numerous green and sustainability organized boards. He was named the Colorado Green Building Guild’s Green Champion of the year in 2020 and the Colorado USGBC’s volunteer of the year in 2009. Greg has also led an educational series provided to the victims of the High Park Fire in 2012/2013. In 2019, Greg took a sabbatical to design and personally build one of the first Passive House Institute certified homes in Northern Colorado, where he and his wife now live and work.

Lisa Gralnek is a driving force in strategy and brand building and an influential business leader with a career spanning senior roles at adidas, Chobani, moo.com, The Boston Consulting Group, and Walmart. Currently, Lisa is the US Managing Director and Global Head of Sustainability & Impact at iF Design—host of the annual cross-disciplinary iF DESIGN AWARD that has been hosted continuously since 1953. Prior to pivoting into business innovation and transformation, Lisa spent nearly a decade in the global world of high fashion as a Photo Editor and Talent Agent. She is a speaker, author, and thought leader on values-driven leadership, and her work has been published in Fast Company, Fortune, The New York Times, and elsewhere. Her award-winning interview series, FUTRE OF XYZ, is now in its 7th season. Lisa holds a BA in Political Science and French from Bates College and an MBA in International Business from INSEAD.

Avideh Haghighi is an award-winning green Architect located in Los Angeles, with a passion for transforming the built environment towards a net positive impact. She has 14 years of experience and a diverse portfolio of work, including the May Lee State Office Complex, the largest all-electric Net Zero Carbon facility in the nation. Recently, she has turned her attention to the single-family housing market, recognizing the need for resources and innovation to decarbonize the existing housing stock. She is applying her knowledge from designing and constructing high-performance commercial buildings to transform ordinary homes into extraordinary spaces that are beautiful, healthy, and sustainable. ZEROHOUZ aspires to challenge the status quo of American housing, one house at a time. Avideh is a member of the USGBC California Board of Directors.

Megumi Hironaka is a licensed architect and an associate principal at HED, Los Angeles Office. She has over 20 years of experience in planning, designing, and constructing higher education, civic, and mixed-use developments throughout California. She focuses on designing and developing highly sustainable and healthy buildings that emphasize both energy efficiency and enrichment of local communities. She is passionate about understanding how building materials impact the environment, human health, and waste. As a WELL and Living Future Accredited Professional, Megumi is dedicated to improving working and living environments through designing solutions that promote creativity, well-being, and community.

Chinmaya Misra is the founder of CHINCHIN Design and Co-Principal of CHA:COL, where she has shaped projects that range for intimate interiors to large-scale international developments for nearly two decades. Trained at SCI-Arc and seasoned through leadership roles at firms like Gensler and The Jerde Partnership, her work blends architecture, interiors, custom furniture, and art into spaces that feel both timeless and alive. Alongside practice, Chinmaya has taught design for over 15 years at Cal Poly Pomona and UCLA Extension, mentoring the next generation with a focus on creativity, leadership, and collaboration. She has been recognized by publications including The New York Times and Architectural Record, and named one of Luxe Magazine’s “Influential Women of Design” in 2025. Her projects have earned awards including the AIA LA Residential Design Award and the Shaw Contract Global Design Award. She believes design has the power to transform not just spaces, but also communities.

Cyril Petit is a multidisciplinary engineer and a graduate of a French engineering school, with experience in several sectors of activity. He is the Founder and CEO of CPHBA LLC, a California-based consulting firm established in 2014, specializing in smart exterior solar shading systems and advanced building automation technologies. Through CPHBA, Cyril supports environmentally conscious builders, engineers, architects, and homeowners with technical expertise and strategic insight. In 2021, he was elected by Passive House California (PHCA) members to serve on its Board of Directors, where he organizes monthly virtual Community Meetings and represents PHCA at events throughout Southern California.

Eddy Voltaire is a sustainability consultant with Design Construction & Sustainability Inc. (DCS), a New York City-based firm, and a Passive House Network Board Member. He is an experienced project and construction manager with a background in real estate, communications, and business development. While very diverse in experience, his approach often involves a distinct sense of play, aiming to bring fun to functional design. His work is guided by a strong belief in design as a problem-solving tool and means of recognizing and forming relationships between ideas and reality. Establishing a method for improving spatial equality, connecting people, community, and environment. DCS’s work exists at the intersection of art and technology. Eddy holds a degree in architecture and energy management from New York Institute of Technology, is a PHI Certified Tradesperson, and a Passive House Network Board Member.

This design competition is part of a larger effort by The Passive House Network, its chapters, and members and supporters. We are also creating resources to support community rebuilding efforts across the country. Find them on our Climate Disaster Support webpage.