Session · Enclosures · Designers and consultants · Builders and trades

Bio- and Mineral-Based Enclosures for Cold-Climates

Lindsey Love, Regenerative Building Solutions; Lisa Morey, Nova Terra · June 23, 2026 · Chapter · PHMN (Passive House Minnesota)

Passive House performance in cold climates with natural materials such as cellulose, wood fiber, hemp, straw, and earth: airtightness and superinsulation first, thermal mass as a tuning layer, and vapor-open assemblies detailed for moisture control.

Key points

• Embodied carbon of natural systems compared with CMU and concrete.
• Airtightness and continuous insulation in bio- and mineral-based assemblies.
• Bio-based insulation in Climate Zone 6 and 7 assemblies.
• Thermal mass for temperature stability and lower peak loads.
• Using the DOE REScheck tool to assess enclosure efficiency for code.

Learning objectives

• Compare embodied carbon of natural vs. CMU and concrete systems.
• Understand how airtightness and continuous insulation are primary drivers of Passive House performance in cold climates and how these principles can be applied to bio-based and mineral-based assemblies.
• Evaluate bio-based insulation (cellulose, wood fiber, hemp, straw) in Climate Zone 6/7 assemblies.
• Assess thermal mass as a dynamic modifier of temperature stability and peak load reduction.
• Learn to navigate the DOE REScheck Tool for assessing whole-building enclosure efficiency in alignment with energy code mandates.

Topics: Embodied carbon, Insulation and assemblies, Vapor control