In this episode of The Passive House Podcast, co-host Mary James discuss Passive House practices with James Petersen, founder of Petersen Engineering. The episode focuses on domestic hot water systems and their electrification, particularly in the context of Passive House standards. Petersen explains the challenges with current technologies, options for heat recovery, and the impact of location-specific energy costs. The conversation covers specific techniques such as solar thermal, drain water heat recovery, and the importance of accurate data for system sizing. Despite the cost challenges, clients are moving towards electrification due to regulations and environmental motivations. 

https://www.petersenengineering.com/

Join James on January 14th 2026: https://passivehouseaccelerator.com/events/101-domestic-hot-water-multifamily?date=2026-01-14

James Petersen, PE, is Owner and Principal of Petersen Engineering, an 18-person MEP/FP firm, with over four decades of experience designing integrated building mechanical systems. He brings a holistic approach that combines MEP design, building science, and enclosure coordination, and has served as principal-in-charge on more than 70 large Passive House projects. James currently volunteers as President of Passive House Mass and serves on the HCA Portsmouth Hospital Board of Directors.

Thank you for listening to the Passive House Podcast! To learn more about Passive House and to stay abreast of our latest programming, visit passivehouseaccelerator.com. And please join us at one of our Passive House Accelerator LIVE! zoom gatherings on Wednesdays.

In this episode of The Passive House Podcast, Jay Fox interviews Maggie Ullman, a Councilwoman from Asheville, North Carolina. Maggie shares her multifaceted background as a climate advocate, former sustainability director, and leader of a nonprofit network focused on sustainability in the Southeast. She delves into her experience running for office, the impact of Hurricane Helene on Asheville, and the city's recovery efforts. Maggie emphasizes the importance of building coalitions, understanding local government roles, and adaptable strategies for sustainability. She also discusses the challenges and successes in disaster recovery, highlighting the community's unity and advocacy at the federal level.

Thank you for listening to the Passive House Podcast! To learn more about Passive House and to stay abreast of our latest programming, visit passivehouseaccelerator.com. And please join us at one of our Passive House Accelerator LIVE! zoom gatherings on Wednesdays.

In this episode of the Passive House Podcast, co-hosts Jay Fox and Ilka Cassidy interview Ben Bogie, a third-generation high-performance builder and Director of Outreach and Education at BPC Green Builders. Ben discusses the foundational lessons learned from his family's history in building super-insulated, airtight, thermally broken structures since the 1970s. He shares insights into the evolution of high-performance building methods, the importance of incorporating sound building science techniques, and the challenges of the modern construction industry. Ben also highlights his role in educating builders on high-performance practices through venues like the International Builders Show and expresses concerns about the rapid push towards electrification without comprehensive planning. The conversation covers topics such as the benefits of measuring real-world building performance, changes in insulation materials, the importance of site water management, and the potential impact of AI on the construction industry.

https://www.bpcgreenbuilders.com/

 Thank you for listening to the Passive House Podcast! To learn more about Passive House and to stay abreast of our latest programming, visit passivehouseaccelerator.com. And please join us at one of our Passive House Accelerator LIVE! zoom gatherings on Wednesdays.

In episode fourteen of The Reimagine Edit series of the Passive House Podcast, host Zack Semke shares selected clips of conversations from the Reimagine Collective. Featured speakers in this episode include Beth Campbell, Ryan Abendroth, Mike Fowler, Kevin Brennan, Kara Haggerty Wilson, Nakita Reed, and Michael Ingui. 

In addition to specific deep dives into ventilation systems in hot and humid climates, designing for passive survivability during extreme weather events, and the challenges of marrying historic preservation and high-performance building methods, one theme courses throughout this episode’s collection of snippets: The need for collaboration. Construction is a team sport, and a project’s success depends on the ability of stakeholders with different sets of priorities to put aside their differences and cooperate. As our speakers note, learning to speak the language of different stakeholder helps to bridge the perceived divide between these priorities. 

Unrelated, but still exciting, our episode closes on some exciting news out of Massachusetts, where Passive House is booming. To learn more about what’s happening in the state after listening to this episode, make sure to check out Cost-Efficient Passive House Delivery: Learning from the Massachusetts Experience by Passive House Massachusetts’ Beth Campbell and Alexander Gard-Murray.

The Reimagine Edit is a special series of the Passive House Podcast that shares curated insights from our Experts-In-Residence at the Reimagine Buildings Collective, our membership community of building professionals stepping up to tackle climate change. Learn more about the Reimagine Buildings Collective at https://www.reimaginebuildings.com.

In this episode of the Passive House Podcast Matthew is joined by Caroline Ashe Brady, Ann Marie Fallon, and Nathan Campbell at the Passive House Association of Ireland Conference held in Belfast. They share their insights on the current state and future of Passive House standards in the UK and Ireland. Discover the driving forces behind the shift towards more reliable carbon data, the importance of policy in advancing sustainability, and the impact of Passive House on education and student housing. Also, learn about the latest developments in energy metrics and building standards in Scotland and the need for integrating sustainable practices in retrofitting buildings. This episode provides a comprehensive look into the progressive strides being made in sustainable construction and the optimistic future envisioned by industry leaders.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ann-marie-fallon-a1baa619/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-ashe-brady/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-campbell-a92b85103/

Thank you for listening to the Passive House Podcast! To learn more about Passive House and to stay abreast of our latest programming, visit passivehouseaccelerator.com. And please join us at one of our Passive House Accelerator LIVE! zoom gatherings on Wednesdays.

In this Episode of the Passive House Podcast Matthew interviews representatives of Ecological Building Systems, including Niall Crosson, the Group Technical Director, and Neil Turner, the UK Technical Manager. They discuss the company's inception 25 years ago, its growth, and its innovations in bio-based construction and air-tightness solutions. The narrative also details their training programs and market challenges, particularly regarding the advances in air-tightness and mechanical ventilation systems in the UK and Ireland. The episode highlights various sustainable products such as vapor control layers, natural insulation materials like wood fiber and hemp, and decentralized ventilation systems. Emphasis is placed on the educational aspect of their business, targeting both industry professionals and the general public through roadshows and training centers. Lastly, they underscores the importance of sustainable and energy-efficient building practices, reflecting the company's mission and the broader movement towards eco-friendly construction.

https://www.ecologicalbuildingsystems.com/
https://ukphc.org.uk/

Thank you for listening to the Passive House Podcast! To learn more about Passive House and to stay abreast of our latest programming, visit passivehouseaccelerator.com. And please join us at one of our Passive House Accelerator LIVE! zoom gatherings on Wednesdays.

In episode thirteen of The Reimagine Edit series of the Passive House Podcast, host Zack Semke shares selected clips of insights from Al Mitchell, Kimberly Llewellyn, Greta Tjeltveit, Ya’el Santopinto, Wolfgang Feist, and Lisa White.

This episode is split between two topics. The first addresses one of the most common questions veteran members of the high-performance building community hear from those who are new to the industry: How do you get your start? For some, that route may be through the trades. For others, it may be through design. There are also less orthodox pathways, particularly for folks with backgrounds in modeling, data management, or consulting. No matter what your background is, this episode provides some practical advice on beginning a career in high-performance building.

The second topic is retrofits, particularly the new Phius REVIVE standard. Guests Lisa White and Al Mitchell, both of Phius, describe the basics of REVIVE and how resilience became the driving rationale behind the standard.

The Reimagine Edit is a special series of the Passive House Podcast that shares curated insights from our Experts-In-Residence at the Reimagine Buildings Collective, our membership community of building professionals stepping up to tackle climate change. Learn more about the Reimagine Buildings Collective at https://www.reimaginebuildings.com

In this episode of The Passive House Podcast, Mary James interviews James Hartford and Juhee Lee Hartford of River Architects in Hudson Valley. The discussion covers the firm's focus on Passive House projects, mostly single-family homes with a mix of new constructions and retrofits. They touch on their first retrofit project affected by Hurricane Sandy, the evolving client interest in Passive House standards, and the firm’s growth from two to ten employees. They discuss the financial and practical challenges of Passive House projects, including material and energy considerations, involvement in advocacy through Passive House Hudson Valley, and the growing demand for such homes. They also highlight the benefits of prefab construction in difficult climates and the importance of builder experience. 

https://www.riverarchitects.com/

Video of River Architects' Bank Lofts retrofit project: https://youtu.be/GHLC2xGM-yk

Best of Retrofit: https://events.ringcentral.com/events/reimagine-buildings-retrofit/registration

Thank you for listening to the Passive House Podcast! To learn more about Passive House and to stay abreast of our latest programming, visit passivehouseaccelerator.com. And please join us at one of our Passive House Accelerator LIVE! zoom gatherings on Wednesdays.

In this episode of the Passive House Podcast co-host's Jay and Mary chat with Emily Mottram, founder of Mottram Architecture, about her architectural firm and her passion for building science and low-carbon residential architecture. Emily discusses her firm's focus on retrofits and new builds, explaining their approach to sustainable architecture using eco-friendly, bio-based materials. She shares insights on the complexity and importance of retrofitting existing structures, the challenges and benefits of panelized construction, and the holistic methods she employs to ensure the health and safety of building occupants. 

https://www.mottramarch.com/

Best of Retrofit: https://events.ringcentral.com/events/reimagine-buildings-retrofit/registration

Thank you for listening to the Passive House Podcast! To learn more about Passive House and to stay abreast of our latest programming, visit passivehouseaccelerator.com. And please join us at one of our Passive House Accelerator LIVE! zoom gatherings on Wednesdays.

In this episode of The Passive House Podcast host Mary James meets with Katie Schwamb, Managing Director at Building Energy Exchange (BE-Ex) to  discuss emissions reduction and compliance with Local Law 97 in New York City.  Local Law 97, sets carbon emissions limits for buildings over 25,000 square feet to help achieve near-zero emissions by 2050. Mary and Katie cover the importance of strategic planning, financial incentives, and challenges building owners face in complying with the law. Katie highlights Building Energy Exchange’s array of resources aimed at advancing energy-efficient, decarbonized buildings, including case studies, retrofit playbooks, and their Local Law 97 calculator.

https://be-exchange.org/

Best of Retrofit: https://events.ringcentral.com/events/reimagine-buildings-retrofit/registration

Thank you for listening to the Passive House Podcast! To learn more about Passive House and to stay abreast of our latest programming, visit passivehouseaccelerator.com. And please join us at one of our Passive House Accelerator LIVE! zoom gatherings on Wednesdays.