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……
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……
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……
2025 NYCECC: Why Passive House is Your Cheat Code
If you work in the New York City AEC industry, you have likely felt the ground shifting beneath your feet. On March 30, 2026, the 2025 New York City Energy Conservation Code (NYCECC) officially becomes the law of the land.……
Passive House Retrofitting Strategies: Longevity and Efficiency
High Performance and Passive House Retrofitting Strategies for Healthy, Resilient, and Sustainable Buildings. How long should a building last? This question has shifted over time. Do we build for the length of a 30-year mortgage, 50 years, or a century?……
Are You Ignoring the Biggest Thermal Bridge in Your Building?
American construction is currently undergoing a massive and necessary transformation. Builders, architects, and developers are rapidly adopting continuous exterior insulation to meet stricter energy codes and higher performance standards. We insulate our walls better than ever before, wrap our buildings……
Underperformance Of Tilted Glass Units
This is one of those cases where the label performance should not be taken at face value: U-value of glass units – if the glass is meant to be installed horizontal or with a tilt angle. The analysis shown here……