The term ‘passive house’ may seem cut-and-dry to some–a structure that uses passive or renewable energy to function or, more generally, buildings that are designed and built to increase efficiency and limit energy consumption. Strictly, the term refers to a set of building standards and structures that meet those standards.
But our Fall Forum gold sponsor 475 High Performance Building Supply looks at the world a little different. It’s easy to see when listening to them describe what they do: “When people ask what we do, one abbreviated response is: ‘We sell tape.'” But in point of fact, their operations involve using ” e-commerce in rebellion against the construction industry status quo. Standing at the crossroads in the climate fight… building the Passive House market through grassroots organizing, and by advocating for building code and public policy changes.”
So it’s little wonder that they would have a more fundamental, a more all-encompassing view of ‘passive house.’ As they write…
Human comfort is the heart of Passive House. It’s so simple it’s practically a revelation. By focusing building science intensively on providing comfort, perhaps surprisingly, the side effects are unparalleled energy efficiency, durability and resiliency. Passive House reveals that comfort is not a luxury, but is inextricably tied to providing fundamental building performance.
For the crew at 475 High Performance Building Supply, ‘passive house’ isn’t an inconvenient–if necessary–standard for which we must pay in comfort and amenity. It’s the end result of focusing on comfort and convenience in the building industry.
…Passive House delivers comfort not in spite of energy efficiency, but in support of energy efficiency. Like our computers or phones, that provide much more computing power while using a faction of the energy they did a few years ago, our buildings can decouple energy and performance.
We couldn’t agree more. It’s that sort of unique thinking that will be necessary to create a green energy and green building revolution. As we get ready for our Fall Forum themed, Maine Won’t Wait, we’re also thinking about the rest of the country and the world. From 475’s headquarters in Brooklyn, they’re making an incredible impact not just by “selling tape” but by bringing new thinking into the building landscape. Maybe that’s part of why they came on as a sponsor of our upcoming event.
Their commitment both to sustainability (they’re slogan, after all, is “Build like the future depends on it”) but also to the collaboration needed to solve the climate crisis is clear. Thanks for your support!
Our Fall Forum is taking place online and at passive house sites in Maine on Friday, September 17 and Saturday, September 18. To learn more and register for live seminars and building site tours, visit https://phmeforum.org.
Fun fact, the name of the company comes from the heat demand requirement in the Passive House Standard, 4.75 kilo BTUs, per square foot, per year. They write that the “idea of 475 began with its founders: architects and building scientists, alarmed by the climate crisis, who recognized Passive House technology was an urgently necessary response.