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……
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……
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……
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……
What if buildings could make us healthier?
What if buildings could make us healthier? We track steps, calories, heart rates—so why not architecture? When we talk about improving buildings, the conversation is usually cosmetic or mechanical: add a plant here, throw in some double glazing, maybe upgrade the……
Beat the Pennsylvania 2021 IECC Update Deadlines
The construction landscape across Pennsylvania is undergoing a massive shift. As of January 1, 2026, the entire state officially adopted the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). However, project teams are currently operating in a temporary grace period. That leniency……
Building Form Factor: The Most Overlooked Driver of Cost and Efficiency
When addressing the energy efficiency of a building, one of the most important players in the game is the compactness of its thermal envelope. Is there a way to measure the compactness of a building? Yes: it’s the compactness ratio.