Building Science Bulletin – September 2026
There’s a lot happening across the high-performance building industry this month. From mold putting construction quality and moisture management under scrutiny, to wildfire smoke testing building resilience, new policies making heat pumps easier to install, and millions in funding moving……
Building Science Breakroom – Episode 2
Blindside Walls, Condensation, and Modular Passive House This episode of the Building Science Breakroom covered three technical topics submitted by our audience: detailing blindside walls in urban infill conditions the limitations of condensation-avoidance assembly strategies best practices for Passive House……
Building Science Bulletin – August 2026
There’s a lot happening across the high-performance building community this month. From buildings being tested by extreme heat and wildfire smoke, to new partnerships expanding access to Passive House education, opportunities to contribute to the international conversation, and upcoming events……
Insulation Thermal Capacity: A Better Metric for Thermal Insulation in Summer
Thermal capacity is the ability of an material to delay and reduce a heat wave as it moves through a building assembly. It works alongside thermal resistance, and it measures a complementary property. R-value quantifies how much an assembly resists……
The Passive House Hotel Amenities You Can’t Photograph
What staying at America’s only Passive House hotel taught me about comfort. From Interstate 95, a massive concrete block quietly emerges above the New Haven skyline. For many people, it probably goes unnoticed. Others might glance at it and wonder……
Wildfire Smoke Filter Isn’t Enough: How to Really Protect Indoor Air
Wildfire smoke is back in the headlines, and it’s not going away. Smoke drifting down from Canadian wildfires has blanketed New York City, New Jersey, Boston, and much of the East Coast, affecting millions of people. Out West, builders in……
Title 24 Multifamily Compartmentalization: What It Means, Who’s at Risk, and How to Pass
California just changed the rules for multifamily construction—and most of the industry hasn’t caught up yet. For the first time, Title 24 requires compartmentalized blower door testing on attached dwelling units. Every unit now has to prove, with a physical……
Building Science Breakroom – Episode 1
The Building Science Breakroom is a monthly LinkedIn Live series hosted by Emu Passive, dedicated to answering building science questions submitted by architects, builders, and construction professionals. Every first Wednesday of the month, we address questions live on LinkedIn with……
Building Science Bulletin – July 2026
High-performance building isn’t standing still—and neither is the conversation around it. This month, we’ve seen Passive House principles show up in places you might not expect: protecting homes from wildfire smoke, reducing dependence on air conditioning during extreme heat, shaping……
Passive House, Warm, Hot, and Humid Climates, and Multi-Family Study.
Passive House strategies are gaining ground across the United States, though adoption remains slower in warm, hot, and humid regions. A significant factor is the persistent misconception that Passive House does not perform well in high-temperature or high-humidity conditions. The……
Building Science Bulletin – June 2026
Between rising energy costs, increasing climate resilience requirements, and growing demand for healthier indoor environments, high-performance construction is moving from “nice to have” to “hard to ignore.” This month, several industry developments reinforced what many building science professionals already know:……
Title 24 Airtightness: Why Compliance Still Misses Performance
The Compliance vs. Performance Gap California likes to present Title 24 as a national leader. On paper, that sounds plausible. The code is long, technical, and full of mandates. But once you read it closely, the picture changes. The newest……