Following a slew of national natural disasters — most recently the Southern California wildfires and the historic winter storm that hit Southern states — interest in durable and sustainable architectural designs resurged.
Leading the pack, passive house designs have existed for decades and are gaining popularity again, as their construction can help mitigate damages when disaster strikes.
Just recently, a house in Pacific Palisades, CA, which was built in 2024, survived while neighboring homes burned down in the devastating wildfires.
The house on Iliff Street was the “single one” to remain “intact,” Mansion Global reported, thanks to its specific features, many of which follow the principles of passive home design.
Now, the first passive house-certified school in New York has opened, and it may just be a sign of things to come.
A passive house school grows in Brooklyn
Architecture Research Office (ARO), in conjunction with Brooklyn-based architect-developers Alloy, designed the “146,000-square-foot public primary school and high school” at the intersection of Flatbush Avenue and State Street in Brooklyn, according to Bloomberg.
The two “ultra-low-energy-use building houses” boast several passive house standards, including a green roof and thick walls for insulation. In fact, the facility consumes less than a third of the energy of a typical NYC public school.
“Education and environmental stewardship go hand in hand, and we’re thrilled to see New York City leading the way forward,” ARO Principal Stephen Cassell told 6sqft.com. “This building is more than a place of learning; it’s a model of what is possible when we prioritize energy efficiency, comfort, and resilience in our public spaces.”
The building is expected to pass the final tests for passive house certification before the end of the year.
Zachary Semke, director at Passive House Accelerator, tells Realtor.com® that the U.S. is still in the early days of implementing passive house design, with only 10 passive house schools being in the country, including the Maine Coast Waldorf High School and The Bush School in Seattle.
However, while Semke explains that Scotland is the leader in schools and passive houses, “there is some momentum [in the U.S.], and the more examples and proofs of concept, the more we see a ripple effect.
“Applying the passive house approach to schools is super exciting because it will help keep our kids safe and healthy even in the face of climate impacts,” he says, adding that the clean, fresh air inside passive house schools creates the conditions for better learning.
Passive house construction 101
Passive house designs follow five principles needed for certification.
“Nothing about passive house construction is weird or foreign to builders,” says Semke.
He explains that it involves making straightforward improvements to conventional construction practice and optimizing those improvements to make efficient, comfortable, healthy, and durable buildings.
According to Passive House Accelerator, these principles are:
Superinsulated envelopes
“A continuous layer of insulation wraps passive house buildings, keeping them warm in the winter and cool in the summer,” explains Semke.
Airtight construction
“A passive house building’s airtight layer is like a windbreaker, stopping air from penetrating to the inside,” he says.
High-performance windows and doors
“With each window and door opening we make in a passive house building, we are essentially punching a hole through an advanced wall assembly and its airtight, weather-resistant, and insulative layers,” Semke says.
“So, the performance of the windows and doors that go into those holes, and how well we tie them into the surrounding wall assembly, is mission-critical to maintaining the integrity of the passive house building envelope.”
Thermal-bridge-free detailing
As Semke explains, a thermal bridge is any building element that allows heat or cool to bypass a building’s thermal barrier.
“It’s like a hidden thief of thermal energy, undermining performance and durability,” he said. “For example: a concrete floor that continues from inside to outside; a poor window frame; or a steel beam that penetrates an exterior wall.”
Heat recovery ventilation
The delivery of filtered fresh air with heat recovery helps make passive house buildings havens of clean air and energy efficiency, adds Semke.
Costs
The construction costs for passive houses can be higher upfront compared to traditional homes due to the high-performance materials and systems needed, such as triple-glazed windows and custom insulation, says Todd Harmon, principal interior designer and CEO of California-based Aura Modern Home.
Harmon adds that according to industry estimates, building a passive house can cost anywhere from 10-30% more than conventional homes.
“However, the long-term savings in energy bills make it worthwhile,” he says. “Studies show that passive houses can save homeowners up to $1,000 per year in energy costs. The total cost often balances out due to the efficiency and minimal need for heating or cooling. When considering the longevity and durability, it proves to be a solid investment.”
Passive house design benefits include resistance to major weather events
One of the most common materials used in both passive fire protection and passive house construction is mineral wool, according to Passive House Accelerator.
In addition to the aforementioned Pacific Palisades’ house, which survived the devastating wildfires, there have been other instances in which similar structures have also withstood catastrophic weather events.
For instance, in December 2021, “Mark Attard’s home survived the Marshall Fire—the most destructive forest fire in Colorado’s history—virtually unscathed, even as neighbors’ homes were rendered uninhabitable,” according to The Wall Street Journal.
Attard had retrofitted his house with energy-efficient upgrades, which happened to follow passive house standards and helped him save his home.
“Its airtight construction and use of non-combustible materials saved it,” says Adrian Andronachi, interior designer and founder of Aga Builders.
Semke notes, however, that implementing a passive house design alone “is no silver bullet when it comes to fire.
“A full suite of fire-hardening measures is important to pursue, and even then, a lot of it comes down to luck,” he adds.
How to find a passive house builder?
You can contact groups such as the Passive House Institute U.S. and the Passive House Network to locate qualified builders.
“These groups have lists of qualified professionals and tools for working through your project,” says Andronachi.
As for architects and sustainability consultants, that would be a certified passive house designer or consultant, says Semke.
“Ideally, look for experienced professionals and make sure that everyone on the project team is ready to step up their game,” he advises.
In terms of questions you could ask, you can inquire about their experience with energy modeling and how they plan to ensure airtightness throughout the construction process, suggests Harmon.
“Another important question is about the insulation materials they plan to use and whether they adhere to passive house requirements for minimizing heat loss,” he says. “With the average cost of building a passive house ranging between $300,000 and $600,000, ensuring that your contractor is fully qualified is key to getting the best value for your investment.”
