Passive survivability is changing the conversation about what a high-performance home should actually do.
Most homes work just fine when everything else works. The grid is up. The HVAC system is running. The air outside is safe to breathe.
But what happens when those things fail?
In the latest episode of The Valuation Metric, Green Builder Media CEO Sara Gutterman talks with Lisa White, co-executive director of Phius (Passive House Institute US), about a concept that is becoming increasingly relevant as extreme heat, wildfire smoke, and power outages intensify: passive survivability.
Passive buildings are designed to need less energy in the first place, using airtight envelopes, insulation, high-performance windows, and controlled ventilation to maintain safe, comfortable indoor conditions. White says that during an outage, they can remain habitable two to 10 times longer than conventional buildings, depending on the climate and conditions.
But the conversation goes beyond resilience. Gutterman and White explore what buildings really cost the electric grid, why the timing of energy use matters, whether passive construction actually costs substantially more, and why judging a home primarily by its upfront price leaves out much of its true value.
Cati O’Keefe is the editorial director of Green Builder Media. She has 25 years of experience reporting and writing on all aspects of residential housing, building and energy codes, green building, and sustainability.
When the Grid Goes Down, Will Your Home Still Protect You?
Passive survivability is changing the conversation about what a high-performance home should actually do.
Most homes work just fine when everything else works. The grid is up. The HVAC system is running. The air outside is safe to breathe.
But what happens when those things fail?
In the latest episode of The Valuation Metric, Green Builder Media CEO Sara Gutterman talks with Lisa White, co-executive director of Phius (Passive House Institute US), about a concept that is becoming increasingly relevant as extreme heat, wildfire smoke, and power outages intensify: passive survivability.
Passive buildings are designed to need less energy in the first place, using airtight envelopes, insulation, high-performance windows, and controlled ventilation to maintain safe, comfortable indoor conditions. White says that during an outage, they can remain habitable two to 10 times longer than conventional buildings, depending on the climate and conditions.
But the conversation goes beyond resilience. Gutterman and White explore what buildings really cost the electric grid, why the timing of energy use matters, whether passive construction actually costs substantially more, and why judging a home primarily by its upfront price leaves out much of its true value.
Watch the full conversation on The Valuation Metric.
By Cati O'Keefe
Cati O’Keefe is the editorial director of Green Builder Media. She has 25 years of experience reporting and writing on all aspects of residential housing, building and energy codes, green building, and sustainability.Also Read