We Can’t Wait:
The 2023 PHN Conference Bolsters
Passive House as a Rapid Climate Solution.
The 2023 Passive House Network Conference, held in Denver, encourages swift adoption of proven climate mitigation building standards across the U.S. and beyond.
As world leaders gather for the Climate Ambition Summit in New York, Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the UN says “This is not a time for indifference or indecision…This is a time to come together for real, practical solutions.”
Answering Guterres’s call, the 2023 Passive House Network Conference will bring together leading building industry stakeholders to demonstrate the power of Passive House and make our buildings part of the climate solution.
“The UN is calling for global action, and this is exactly that,” says Jessica Grove-Smith, a Managing Director of the Passive House Institute. “By applying the Passive House methodology to individual climate zones, we can create comfortable, energy-efficient, climate resilient spaces using a global approach that meets local and regional needs.”
The conference, September 28 online-only and live-streaming in-person sessions October 4 & 5 in Denver Colorado, will showcase cutting edge buildings and building components and include presentations from professionals and policymakers that are leading rapid climate action.
Sessions will feature discussions on retrofits and new builds, with a look towards recently built or in-progress all-electric buildings with renewables. Schools, a police station, a YWCA, and multiple apartment buildings across the US and worldwide will be presented.
There is a particular focus on raising awareness of multifamily all-electric Passive House buildings as an accessible solution that centers inclusivity and climate resilient comfort. Safe at Home, an accompanying report by The Passive House Network, demonstrates that this is a cost effective and growing strategy in climate mitigation and resilience, as demonstrated in regions like the Northeast. The conference will encourage these solutions to take root across the country.
“We are already experiencing the effects of climate change with severe droughts, limited access to drinking water, and devastating wildfires affecting our air and health. The list goes on,” says Ryan Lobello, Director of Handel Architects, who will be presenting on Go West, Passive House Multifamily. This panel will show how large multifamily Passive House buildings can be effective in Denver and San Francisco climates. “There is no time to lose. Passive House is one of our best strategies for mitigating climate change, and we can’t wait to bring Passive House’s significant energy savings and wellness benefits to people in the West who care deeply about their environment and personal health.”
Driving the action that the Secretary General is calling for will require new policies and codes. The conference will highlight the leading Passive House code work in Massachusetts and Scotland, while making the case for Passive House code adoption across the US.
“Come to Denver and share your ambitions for a better world,” says Bronwyn Barry, Policy Committee Chair of The Passive House Network. “Too many are trying to do too little to mitigate the harm that climate change has already caused. We need to aim higher and see Passive House not as the ceiling of our efforts, but as the foundation of the meaningful difference we can make. We need to think big and ensure our policies reflect that.”
There’s still time to register and join in the conversation. Register now and learn how you can help mitigate the climate crisis. Architects, Tradespeople, policymakers, and advocates are welcome.
