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……
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:……
Emu Passive House Training is Now AIA Accredited
We are thrilled to announce that Emu’s comprehensive training programs are now officially accredited by the American Institute of Architects (AIA). This milestone means that design professionals can now earn valuable Passive House AIA CEU credits while mastering high-performance construction.……
Passive House Training Funding for Architects and Builders in Massachusetts
If you are running an architecture firm or construction company, you likely need Massachusetts Specialized Energy Code training now that Passive House standards are a mandate for many buildings within the state. With the new rules requiring Passive House for……
Passive House Education in Colorado Just Became More Accessible
The building industry is shifting toward high performance building standards, and Passive House is leading the forefront. For Colorado builders and architects operating within the Colorado Xcel Energy grid, things just got a lot easier to attend our Passive House……
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.
The Building Time Constant: Your Key to Thermal Resilience
Among the many parameters than play a role in the thermal behavior of a building, whether or not it is built to be a Passive House, the time constant is one of the least known ones. Nontheless, this parameter influences…