Given the stark awareness of environmental issues and the benefits of energy-efficient technologies, why is the uptake of passive builds and deep-energy retrofits so low?

Homeowners Tracy Johnson and Kevin McKenny were looking for a home to retire in. Allergic to many toxic building materials, they wanted a home with good air quality, a home with reduced energy demands and a home that displayed their mindfulness of limited resources for future generations.

Without applied knowledge of both certifications, it can be really difficult to know which [passive house] standard is better suited for a given team or project and that’s exactly the predicament Toronto Community Housing (TCHC) found themselves in with the development of their Passive House pilot project at Alexandra Park.

If the Passive House movement is based on energy reduction, can it survive in the burning gas and oil industry hub of the nation?

Nova Scotia has outlined one of the most aggressive energy reduction goals in the country, designating 2050 as the year they hope to achieve net zero emissions.

In 2018, Indwell made the commitment to build to the Passive House standard and that choice has coincidentally led to them becoming the leading Passive House developer in Ontario

Hygiene ventilation focuses on using 100% fresh air to ensure that viruses are not recirculated in enclosed areas, whether commercial buildings or homes.

More than an exercise in certification, Mike is proud to have pushed himself as a builder to be mindful of future generations.

The Harmony Sutton Triplex is the fourth project under the team’s belt, but the first to aim for LEED and PHIUS certification.

Creating a passive house kitchen is a balancing act. Designers must maintain airtightness, while not compromising air quality; keep energy down, while ensuring proper ventilation. There are different ways to build passive house kitchens and strong opinions on what is the best way to do it.

Indigenous peoples in Canada are experiencing a full-blown housing crisis. For many who live on-reservation, overcrowding, rampant mould, pest infestations, and crumbling homes have become the norm. I spoke with individuals from three First Nations that are building homes that seek to reduce environmental impact and improve community wellbeing to learn more about their work.

I came into this work with PBC as a passive house neophyte. My background had been in climate change, food systems, and higher education; my knowledge of the technical aspects of building an airtight, energy efficient home was limited, but I was eager to learn.

It turns out I learned a whole lot.

Le Québec est un leader au pays quand il s’agit de certains principes environnementaux ; cependant, le mouvement des maisons passives doit quant à lui surmonter des obstacles uniques afin de croître et prendre sa place au Québec.

Quebec leads the country in many environmental metrics; however, it has encountered some unique challenges in growing the passive house movement.

Coast to coast, a growing list of Canadian companies are manufacturing high-performance wall panels for passive house buildings.

For many years, cities around the world, from Vancouver to Brussels, have chosen to include Passive House standards in local regulations to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improve local wellbeing. Now, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, has joined their ranks.

Approximately 700-800 people have been in the passive model home over the course of a one and a half year span. Xerri claims that the visitors were amazed particularly during the winter when there was no heat on and the house remained comfortable at 16 degrees Celsius.

Indwell's intention was to renovate and create much-needed affordable apartments.

Passive Houses are carefully designed, affordable, and energy-efficient. They contribute to lowering collective carbon footprint for today and future generations to come

Natalie Leonard describes how Passive House construction competes with mainstream home construction.