Passive House A-Z with Energy Designer Liz Hauver

How can we make our habitats more sustainable? Architectural and energy designer, Liz Hauver dives into the world of energy-efficient design. She shares her journey into the field, breaks down the fundamentals of Passive House architecture, and highlights why energy modeling should be a core part of architectural education. Liz explores the cost and challenges of Passive House certification, the complexities of retrofitting, and what’s next for sustainable design in Massachusetts. Liz on LinkedIn Keywords Passive House, Energy Design, Sustainable Architecture, Building Science, Massachusetts Energy Code, Architectural Education, Energy Modeling, Climate Adaptation, Retrofit Challenges, Funding for Sustainability Chapters 00:00 Introduction 02:15 Personal Journey into Sustainable Design 05:07 Designing with Energy in Mind as a Student 07:21 Using Energy Modeling Software in Design 09:35 Certification and Cost Considerations 11:24 Choosing Passive House as a Specialization 14:24 Feasibility Studies and Design Recommendations 16:08 Key Features of Passive House Construction 19:03 Lessons Learned and New Building Practices 20:59 Adapting Passive House Principles to Different Climate Zones 22:53 Introduction to Passive House Design 25:14 The Role of New Technologies 27:32 Applying Passive House Principles to Buildings of Any Scale 29:07 The Cost and Benefits of Passive House Construction 30:50 Predicting Building Performance and Accounting for Occupant Behavior 32:29 Promoting Passive House Design through Education and Outreach 35:50 Challenges and Opportunities in Retrofitting Buildings to Passive House Standards 38:06 Fee Structuring and Educating Developers in Passive House Design 41:18 The Future of Passive House: Accessibility, Affordability, and Beyond Energy Efficiency