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About NYPH

Our Vision

Our vision is a carbon-neutral built environment for New York, centered around the broad adoption and implementation of Passive House, achieving healthy, resilient, and durable buildings for all.

Our Mission

Our mission is to serve as the New York hub of Passive House through collaborative advocacy, policy initiatives, education, and resources.

Our Values

Our values as an organization are to promote and practice collaboration, transparency, inclusion, diversity, equity, and open-mindedness.

New Member Services & CRM - September 2025

New York Passive House (NYPH) is excited to announce the adoption of GrowthZone, a comprehensive Member Services and CRM platform, to enhance its member engagement and operational efficiency.

For NYPH, this transition represents a commitment to providing a more seamless and supportive experience for its members, who are dedicated to advancing the Passive House standard in New York State. The platform’s capabilities will facilitate better access to resources, events, and networking opportunities, aligning with NYPH’s mission to promote energy-efficient, resilient, and healthy building practices.

Jannuary 2023 - At the Forefront of Learning and Innovation

Through the Cross Learning Alliance, NY Passive House drives cutting-edge education and collaboration for smarter, greener buildings.

December 2022 - New Bylaws & Structure

To better support our growing mission and members, New York Passive House has updated its bylaws — reinforcing transparency, collaboration, and leadership in advancing the Passive House standard across New York.

August 2018 - Policy Achievment

The Manhattan Borough President issued a resolution formally recognizing and supporting the Passive House standard as a critical framework for achieving New York City’s climate, health, and housing objectives.

June 2012 - First Symposium

"A Day of Passivhaus Immersion in New York City” — NYPH hosted this one-day symposium on June 23, 2012 at City College of New York’s Bernard & Anne Spitzer School of Architecture. It included presentations on retrofit & new-build projects, with about 40 in-progress or completed Passive House / retrofit/new construction in New York, Long Island, and upstate.

December 2010 - iPHA Membership

Trailblazers in Passive House: Among the first to join the International Passive House Association (iPHA).

June 2010 - Incorporated

Incorporated in June 2010, NYPH has turned a small gathering of enthusiasts into New York’s leading Passive House movement. Founding Directors: Andreas M. Benzing, Ken Levenson, and Floris Keverling Buisman.

September 2009 - From a small meetup to a movement:

NY Passive House is leading New York toward a smarter, greener, healthier built world.

The Challenge

Climate change is the challenge of our time. In New York City, where the buildings sector is by far the largest contributor to climate change, officials have committed to achieving greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions of 80% by 2050.

  • As a coastal city, NYC is especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change with threats to infrastructure, the economy, and the health and well-being of its residents.
  • Because buildings are a major source of GHG emissions, there is an urgent need for better performance strategies, electrification, and materials with lower embodied carbon.
  • Given NYC’s aging building stock, there is an urgent need to increase the rate of energy retrofits.
  • NYC housing, both in new construction and existing buildings, does not offer consistent fresh air to ensure a healthy living environment.
  • Given the current state of the electric grid and the density of NYC, there is a critical need to expand renewable energy production.

Strategic Business Approach

NYPH promotes change through multiple pathways:

  • Supporting the full spectrum of the Passive House industry, from manufacturers to developers.

  • Deploying technical solutions across building types and scales.

  • Shaping policy that promotes health and equity in the built environment.

  • Tackling NYC-specific challenges in its urban context.

  • Raising awareness of low-carbon materials and performance data.

  • Collaborating with the general public, community organizations, and similar entities to broaden impact.

Affiliations

  • NYPH is an affiliate of the International Passive House Association and our members enjoy access to the rich database of information provided to all iPHA members worldwide.
  • We partner and collaborate with the Passive House Institute (PHI) to advance and support the Passive House methodology and Passive House Planning Package (PHPP) for all buildings in New York State.
  • As an inclusive organization, NYPH also recognizes PHIUS as an alternate approach to high-performance building, supports the work of all energy and carbon reducing building organizations, and collaborates to advance best building practices in New York State.
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