
In this episode of the Passive House Podcast, Michael Ingui talks with Josh Dorfman, co-founder of Plantd and host of the Supercool podcast. Josh and Michael dig into some of the most exciting solutions Josh has covered on Supercool and discuss the growing recognition among lenders and insurers that high-performance buildings are simply lower-risk investments.https://www.plantdmaterials.com/https://getsuper.cool/podcast/Join us on the Reimagine Buildings Collective: https://collective.reimaginebuildings.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.
Sep 29
55 min

In this episode of the Passive House Podcast, Ilka Cassidy talks with Ace McArleton and Jacob Deva Racusin, co-founders of New Frameworks. Ace and Jacob share how their paths through natural building and site-based straw bale construction led them to develop panelized straw wall systems, and reflect on the industry's need to break down silos between design, fabrication, and construction. Ace and Jacob also preview the Reimagine Buildings Collective's month-long bio-based panelization lab, featuring manufacturers from across North America.Podcast with Jay and Ace: https://passivehouseaccelerator.com/podcast/247-natural-materials-and-collective-powerJoin us on the Reimagine Buildings Collective: https://collective.reimaginebuildings.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.
Sep 22
1 hr

In this bonus episode of the Passive House Podcast, Zack Semke talks with Katrin Klingenberg, co-founder and co-executive director of Phius, about the origins of the organization to today's growing national movement. The conversation looks ahead to PhiusCon 2026 in Phoenix, October 8-10.Attend PhiusCon: https://phius1.zohobackstage.com/PhiusCon2026Join us on the Reimagine Buildings Collective: https://collective.reimaginebuildings.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.
Sep 17
46 min

In this episode of the Passive House Podcast, Ilka Cassidy talks with Michael Jemtrud, professor of architecture at McGill University and chair in Architecture, Energy, and Environment, about his interdisciplinary research lab's work bridging design education and offsite construction. Michael discusses McGill's Reconstruct program and the development of tools to close the "over the wall" gap between architects and manufacturers. The conversation explores how teaching students to think like "virtual framers" could give the next generation of architects a real advantage entering the workforce.https://aeechair.research.mcgill.ca/en/Join us on the Reimagine Buildings Collective: https://collective.reimaginebuildings.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.
Sep 15
57 min

In this episode of the Passive House Podcast, Mary James and Jay Fox talk with Tom King, founder and CEO of TKF, about his all-in-one factory-built HVAC and hot water system, the Hydropod. Tom traces the company's origins, highlighting NYSERDA-funded pilot projects at Syracuse University and a low-to-moderate income housing community in Phoenix, New York. The conversation covers the practical realities of retrofitting very different building types and how TKF has redesigned the Hydropod for its commercial launch based on lessons learned from two years of real-world installation and monitoring.www.tkfabricate.comhttps://www.energiesprong.org/https://passivehouseaccelerator.com/articles/comprehensive-pod-solutions-on-the-wayJoin us on the Reimagine Buildings Collective: https://collective.reimaginebuildings.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.
Sep 8
1 hr 8 min

In this episode of the Passive House Podcast, Ilka Cassidy talks with Rob Leonard, a longtime builder and prefabrication specialist who helped develop the BuildSmart panel system and now leads PHIUS's Trades Training Program. Rob traces his path from decades in the field to pioneering panelized construction. Rob also shares what's next for industrialized offsite construction, from micro-factories to AI-assisted quality control, and reflects on workforce development as one of the most urgent challenges facing the building industry.Beeson Acres Resources LLC: https://www.beesonacresresources.com/Phius Trades Training Program to Help Shape the Future of Building: https://www.phius.org/phius-trades-training-program-help-shape-future-buildingVirginia Tech Housing Innovation Challenge: https://arch.vt.edu/experiential-learning/FutureHAUS/housing-innovation-challenge.htmlExpanding Industrialized Offsite Construction in Central Appalachia: https://cece.vt.edu/content/dam/cece_vt_edu/projects/Expanding%20industrialized%20offsite%20construction%20%28IOC%29%20in%20Central%20Appalachia.pdfConnect with Rob: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-leonard-b2873010https://www.phius.org/our-people/rob-leonardJoin us on the Reimagine Buildings Collective: https://collective.reimaginebuildings.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.
Sep 2
1 hr 11 min

In this bonus episode of the Passive House Podcast, Brent Davidson and Brynn Cooksey discuss what’s changed in the heat-pump world, what architects, engineers, and contractors need to understand, and where the industry still needs to improve. They preview the U.S. Heat Pump Summit and why bringing the right people together could be key to getting heat pumps right at scale. The conversation also sets the stage for Passive House Accelerator’s upcoming Heat Pump Solutions initiative, where collaborative Labs will help shape a public Heat Pump Solutions Symposium this October. https://www.usheatpumpsummit.com/https://www.airdoctorshvacservice.com/Brent Davidson:https://www.linkedin.com/in/brentdavidson/Brynn Cooksey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theairdoctor/Join us on the Reimagine Buildings Collective: https://collective.reimaginebuildings.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.
Aug 31
25 min

In this episode of the Passive House Podcast, Ilka Cassidy talks with Evan Greulich, project architect and manager at Quinn Evans, about his work bringing high-performance building strategies to affordable housing and, increasingly, to schools. Evan and Ilka chat about The Hammond at Greenmount Park, a new 109-unit affordable housing project in Baltimore and John Burroughs Elementary School in Washington, DC. The conversation covers the practical tradeoffs of building near-Passive performance without certification, the challenges of balancing historic preservation with airtightness and insulation strategies, and why Evan believes the biggest opportunity for passive building growth lies beyond housing.The Hammond at Greenmount Park and The Johnston Square Branch of the Enoch Pratt Free LibraryThe Hammond at Greenmount Park – Baltimore, Maryland – Living DesignJohnston Square Branch Library – Baltimore, Maryland – Learning DesignIntegrating Services Within Communities: Libraries as SuperconnectorsJohn Burroughs Elementary School (Modernization)Renewing Historic Schools, Part 1: RenovationBurroughs ES | dcpsGreen Building Advisory Council | doeeJoin us on the Reimagine Buildings Collective: https://collective.reimaginebuildings.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.
Aug 26
59 min

In this episode of the Passive House Podcast, Ilka Cassidy talks with John Loercher, Passive House consultant, architect, and longtime Phius instructor with Northeast Projects. The conversation covers how the Phius standard has evolved since 2015 as well as growing industry attention to embodied carbon, hygrothermal modeling, and materials like straw bale construction. John also reflects on his years building the Phius Alliance New York chapter, the value of regional Passive House communities, and what excites him about expanding into new climates like Colorado's high elevation and PhiusCon's move to Phoenix.www.ne-projects.com https://www.linkedin.com/company/northeast-projectsJoin us on the Reimagine Buildings Collective: https://collective.reimaginebuildings.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.
Aug 19
1 hr 5 min

In this episode of the Passive House Podcast, Mary James is joined by UK-based architects Dominic O'Riordan and Alan Budden, both Passive House designers who opened their homes for the UK's Passive House Open Days during a record-breaking heat wave. Dominic and Alan discuss how their buildings performed under extreme heat, the shading strategies they wish they'd fought harder for at planning stage, and why attitudes toward mechanical cooling in the UK are shifting fast after decades of treating air conditioning as unnecessary. EcoDesign Consultants: https://www.ecodesignconsultants.co.uk/Article mentioned by Zack: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/01/opinion/heat-wave-europe-america.html?unlocked_article_code=1.xlA.5iqJ._hKPg0bjq_M_&smid=url-shareJoin us on the Reimagine Buildings Collective: https://collective.reimaginebuildings.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.
Aug 12
54 min
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