Canadian Passive House Institute West guides AEC community to achieve sustainable energy-saving standard A six-level Passive House building containing 95 rental apartment units starting construction September 2015. Cornerstone Architecture, Vancouver BC Canadian Design and Construction Report special feature Incorporated in 2013, the Canadian Passive House In- stitute West (CanPHI West) offers training and events for builders, architects, engineers and trades people, and ad- vocates for building energy efficiency that meets the inter- national Passive House standard. This effort continues this fall as CanPHI West hosts the 2015 North American Passive House Network Conference (NAPHN15), Oct. 1 and 2 in Vancouver. The organizers are expecting more than 400 attendees, including designers, builders, suppliers, government officials and policy ana- lysts. The program includes two days of presentations and panel discussions, and a trade show dedicated to suppliers of Passive House products and services. There will also be a day of pre-conference workshops and post-event project tours in Vancouver and Whistler. CanPHI West president Rob Bernhardt says that more and bigger Passive House projects in North America demonstrate its profile and that interest has grown. “Cor- nell Tech has begun construction of a 26-storey student residence in New York and other high rise projects are being designed. Multi-family low-rise and mid-rise projects are more common and growing in number.” Bernhardt was pleased to see BC Passive House recog- nized recently in the Wood WORKS! awards. “This award showcases the role of Passive House to the future of con- struction. Not only is the plant architecturally beautiful but it is also producing prefabricated Passive House buildings for the market.” He says code development is moving in the right direc- tion not only to achieve the energy efficiency inherent in Passive House buildings but for the collateral benefits of this efficiency. “Passive House creates a simpler building with lower operating costs, improved comfort and superior air quality.” He observes jurisdictions adopting building codes aligned with Passive House. “The European Union has committed to nearly net zero energy building by 2020, which is effectively a Passive House. California has com- mitted to net zero buildings by 2020, B.C. has made a net zero commitment and Vancouver and New York have clearly identified Passive House in their building regula- tions. The debate in several jurisdictions is how to move towards greater energy efficiency, in several small steps, or in one step.” To help building professionals understand how to achieve Passive House energy efficiency, CanPHI West of- fers a variety of courses. These range from a one-day in- troductory course to a new 10-day design and construction program. Bernhardt says these courses are taught in per- Bernhardt Passive House, Victoria, B.C. The Canadian Design and Construction Report — July-August 2015 – 19