Power Failure?
Reboot the Grid with Passive House
Last week, much of the country saw the first extreme heat wave of the summer. We’ve written before to explain how extreme heat is the most dangerous type of extreme weather, killing more Americans each year than hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes combined. And every year, the danger gets worse. Thanks to global warming, records of high temperatures are being broken at breakneck speed, and our buildings and energy grids aren’t keeping up.
Among last week’s casualties:
- Buckled Roads in South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Iowa
- Cancelled trains because of the extreme heat risks warping tracks
- Bridges in Massachusetts and Virginia closed due to heat-related malfunctions
- Broken air conditioning in Hospitals in Chicago and Massachusetts
- At least three deaths, and millions at risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke
Adding to both the misery and danger were power outages in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Michigan, and elsewhere, leaving the sick and elderly particularly vulnerable. Even outside of these areas, blackout risks were a major concern. With the rise in demand from air conditioning and refrigeration units operating at full capacity, the risk of overtaxing our grids also increased.
Meanwhile, energy prices soared with demand. At one point, electricity prices in Boston reached more than $400 per megawatt-hour, up from $50 earlier that day. In New York City, prices topped out at $600 per megawatt-hour. These short-term, demand-driven price increases are exacerbating prices that have already risen dramatically in the last few years. A recent New York Times article reported that the cost of electricity for residents in states like Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia has increased between 23 and 40% in the last five years. The increase is attributed, in part, to the lack of upgrades and preparation for intense natural disasters linked to climate change, like the recent heatwave.
While some elected officials are approaching the problem by urging utilities leadership to add new sources of green energy–solar, wind, and battery projects–to expand grid capacity, it is clear that the status quo of our electric infrastructure needs to change, and quickly. To deliver an affordable, resilient, all-renewable electric power supply, we must invest in grid-friendly buildings that sip energy and can avoid even sipping during peak demand, all while keeping occupants comfortable and safe.
We need to reduce our demand. We can do that with Passive House.
Passive House can help to flatten summer cooling demand and shift demand to off-peak periods because a Passive House uses up to 80% less energy compared to a standard building. With just a few simple design principles, expertly applied, we can design entire neighborhoods to minimize energy usage and maximize safety and comfort. We can build communities that are grid-friendly and mitigate demand-driven power outages. If the power does go out, a Passive House will ensure you’ll stay safer for longer during extreme weather, giving you the option to shelter in place while you wait for the power to return. Passive House buildings also protect rate payers from energy price volatility. For all these reasons, investing in Passive House is an investment in future-proofing the building and the grid that serves it.
Designing with Passive House means building towards a better future, where communities are better protected from extreme weather and devastating energy bills. Today, more than 40 people are beginning their Passive House journey. You can still join them. Register for our Certified Passive House Designer Training and help your neighborhood beat the heat. Learn more here.