Building energy use comparisons

As part of our IoT development work, MCCI and NY Passive House have been partnering to reduce the cost of monitoring buildings (both high performance buildings and conventional construction). This low-cost study identified eight-fold differences in energy intensity across a variety of buildings. By choosing buildings at the same altitude and in the same microclimate, we are able to focus on differences in construction. We started monitoring electricity use and…


BENCHMARKING RESULT FOR PASSIVE HOUSE RETROFITS RATED TOP 5%

We are pleased to share our benchmarked data that puts our retrofit building’s energy performance within the top 5% in the city for its energy use. We present three of our completed retrofit projects, two-six story affordable co-op multifamily buildings on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, and a historic row-house in the Sunnyside Gardens Historic District. The benchmarked data also validates Passive House (PH) strategies as cost-effective to retrofit homes. Our…


This will be the world’s largest Passive House-certified office building

Boston’s Financial District will soon welcome the groundbreaking Winthrop Center, a year-round, mixed-use gathering space with a suite of impressive eco-friendly credentials. Designed by Handel Architects in partnership with MIT professors, Winthrop Center will not only target LEED certifications and a WELL certification but is also expected to become the largest Passive House-certified office building in the world. The project takes COVID-19-era concerns into account with its emphasis on healthier…



The inside story of New York’s greenest condo

The Upper West Side hums with nostalgia—from the Museum of Natural History to the mason facades of the Central Park West Historic District, the neighborhood is a treasure trove of storied buildings. Now, it welcomes a new piece of history: Manhattan’s greenest condo, dubbed Charlotte of the Upper West Side. Under the leadership of the Roe Corporation, a real estate development company helmed by John Roe, a number of beloved…


Four Seven Five becomes Sponsor of NYPH

Masonry Retrofit A great number of historic masonry buildings exist across North America, and today they are being re-imagined with an endless variety of uses. Renovating and reoccupying these old buildings is rightly considered an act of sustainability in itself. Using the existing structure can mean 50% to 75% less embodied carbon, on day one of occupancy, than a new building would generate. In the 21st century, our existing masonry…


Coming soon will be a major designPH update that will provide a full conversion to imperial (IP) units

Good news from the designPH development team. The new year brings two fresh updates which will be available for free to existing designPH 2.0 Pro users. Maintenance update This brings compatibility with SketchUp 2021 and also a number of bug fixes. Available from February 2021 (* registered users will be notified by email when the download is available) Full IP conversion Also coming soon will be a major designPH update…


Zakrzewski + Hyde Architects becomes Sponsor of NYPH

Flow Chelsea located at 211 West 29th Street is a new 24 story passive house rental project that will be a mixed use, mixed income rental building in the heart of Manhattan. To reflect the changing needs of this neighbor, which is a mix of students, creative professions and longtime garment and fur distributors, the building will provide a variety of apartment layouts ranging from studio to three bedroom units.…


Magnusson Architecture and Planning (MAP) becomes Sponsor of NYPH

Magnusson Architecture and Planning (MAP) becomes Sponsor of NYPH. For over three decades, Magnusson Architecture and Planning (MAP) has pioneered outstanding building design and urban revitalization projects as the foundation for vibrant and sustainable communities. Our top priority is to assist non-profit groups, municipalities, and developers to reshape neighborhoods to improve their residents’ quality of life. Decades after our firm was founded in 1986, we continue to reinvent the design…


Bushwick retrofit project provides blueprint for greening buildings

New York City’s sustainability goals for the next decade are ambitious: The Climate Mobilization Act of 2019 mandates that the city must cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2030. And a good chunk of that must come from buildings, which contribute close to 70 percent of the city’s total carbon output. Landlords have been fretting over how to make their buildings more green since the legislation passed…


NAPHN 2021 Conference: PASSIVE HOUSE FOR ALL

Passive House for All is a call to action. Our existential environmental, health, and social crises demand that we look beyond isolated symptoms and tackle interlocking systemic causes; across disciplines, from buildings to communities. The event will take on the full range of specialized technical, process, and policy aspects of Passive House one expects from a NAPHN conference – and it will challenge us to make Passive House benefits, tools, and…


Renderings Revealed for ‘The Oasis’ Passive House Office Building at 38-42 12th Street in Long Island City

Aerial rendering illustrates The Oasis and the surrounding neighborhood - Archimæra By: Sebastian Morris 7:00 am on December 9, 2020 JNY Capital and United Housing Company are working in collaboration on The Oasis, the country’s largest-ever Passive House office building at 38-42 12th Street, near the northern boundary of Long Island City. From Brooklyn-based design studio Archimæra, the building’s Passive House standard construction will incorporate extremely efficient mechanical and electrical systems, a…