General

Passive House is one of the most rigorous performance-based building standards for reducing energy demand while improving occupant comfort and indoor environmental quality. This course introduces the core principles of Passive House design, including high-performance insulation, airtight construction, thermal bridge elimination, optimized glazing, and balanced heat recovery ventilation. Through real-world case studies and building science […]

This article course explores how Passive House design can support urban decarbonization while improving indoor environmental quality in public schools. Using a Brooklyn Passive House school as a case study, participants will examine envelope-first strategies, balanced ventilation systems, policy alignment with New York City’s Local Laws, and the relationship between building performance and student health

Electrification is rapidly emerging as a key strategy for reducing operational carbon emissions in buildings. This course explores how electrified systems, high-performance building envelopes, and integrated design strategies can support the transition toward low-carbon buildings. Through technical explanations and a real-world case study, participants will examine how high-rise buildings can transition from fossil-fuel-based systems to

Affordable housing plays a critical role in addressing both social equity and climate challenges. This course explores how sustainability frameworks such as Passive House and LEED are being applied to affordable housing developments to improve energy performance, reduce operating costs, and create healthier living environments for residents. Through a series of case studies from the

The House at Cornell Tech in New York City is one of the tallest and largest Passive House residential buildings in the world. This case study explores how the project team successfully adapted Passive House principles to a 26-story high-rise, demonstrating how envelope-first design, airtight construction, and energy recovery ventilation can dramatically reduce operational energy

Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) is central to the mission of high-performance schools. The Collaborative for High-Performance Schools (CHPS) emphasizes healthy, efficient, and durable learning environments — goals that closely align with Passive House design principles. Passive House is a rigorous building performance standard that prioritizes energy efficiency, thermal comfort, airtight construction, and high-quality ventilation. When

What would a school look like if it were intentionally designed to support mental health? While many public schools are built with security and efficiency in mind, research shows that nurturing, thoughtfully designed environments are far more conducive to student well-being and academic success. Studies consistently demonstrate that access to nature, generous daylighting, open and