Passive House Chicago

Scaling Up Passive House in Milwaukee
2024-05-15 17:00 - 18:00 (America/Chicago) | Online – Zoom
Join us for a presentation of the Edison Tower project which is a 32-story mass timber apartment building in downtown Milwaukee also pursing Phius Certification. This presentation will cover how the Phius principles are applied to high-rise residential. We will cover the unique challenges that aren’t present on single family or low/mid-rise residential buildings. The discussion will include perspectives from the Designer, Developer, and CPHC to give a well rounded overview of the project.
Learning Objectives:
1. Load specific Phius challenges associated with high-rise residential
2. WUFI workflow for modeling centralized heating & cooling systems that aren’t air sourced heat pumps
3. A better understanding into hybrid mass timber structures
4. Areas to target for carbon reduction while still pursuing Phius
Presenters:
Scott Farbman, CPHC and MEP
Daniel Glaessl, Developer
Paul Alessandro, Architect
Jordan Komp, Structural Engineer

Slipstream Affordable Housing Pilot Program - Focus on Energy
2024-03-20 17:00 - 18:00 | Online – Zoom
Details

Mary and Connor will discuss how Qualified Allocation Plans (QAP) and utility incentive programs can support high-performance PHIUS outcomes in affordable housing. We will share our findings from the Focus on Energy Passive Building Pathway program (Wisconsin) and ComEd Passive Building Pathway (Northern IL).
Learning Objectives

Identify funding sources to support affordable multifamily passive projects
Understand the process and requirements to leverage financial tools at various stages of project development
Share best practices in team formation, design approaches, construction, and quality control
Combining competitive QAP point structures and utility incentive programs to support market adoption of high performance standards such as Phius.

About the Presenters
Connor Jansen (he/him)
Connor Jansen is a technical services director at Slipstream. He has over fifteen years of experience providing leadership in the development of energy efficient and sustainable buildings. His approach focuses on engagement of stakeholders and integration of technical strategies to achieve high performance outcomes. Passionate about combining his deep knowledge of building design and utility programs, Connor works to develop innovative processes and collaborative partnerships that advance measurable impacts in energy equality and occupant well-being. Connor’s work includes managing the delivery of utility energy efficiency programs and pilots including ComEd’s Passive Building pathway, energy planning, new product design, and consultation to owners and design teams.
Mary Kuhn (she/her)
Mary Kuhn is a Program Manager at Slipstream. She has worked as an urban planner for the past twelve years focusing on equitable development with marginalized communities. At the City of Chicago, she managed grant funds for entrepreneurs in disadvantaged areas with the Neighborhood Opportunity Fund (NOF). At Wright College in Chicago, she oversaw administration, compliance and reporting for the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education (CTE) grant ensuring established metrics were met to increase retention and optimize workforce development outcomes across sixteen CTE Programs. Most recently, she managed a program for the DC-based organization Open Referral that uses data standards and open source tools that make it easier to share, find and use information about health, human, and social services. She believes strongly in the mission of the Affordable Housing New Construction program at Slipstream and is proud to serve as a Program Manager.

Lessons Learned from a Phius Rater
2024-02-21 18:00 - 19:00 | Chicago Public Library – Near North Branch, 310 W Division St, Chicago, IL, 60610, United States
An essential piece to any certified PHIUS building is an experienced Rater. And from experience comes a deep understanding of the processes, procedures, and potential pitfalls of delivering a Passive Building. Please join us as one such expert in energy consulting, Juanita Ellias, shares her perspectives, best practices and guidance for all members of a project team to perform their best.
Learning objectives:

Describe the role of each team member and why they need to be fully engaged for a successful project.
Define the overall tasks a Rater performs throughout a project.
Differentiate between what a Rater, CPHC, Architect, and Builder are responsible for.
Identify the most common oversights made by project teams.
Discuss value of experience, expertise, and training necessary for PH projects and how to mitigate when one or more team members are lacking.

Presenter Bio:
Juanita Ellias, is a PHIUS+ Rater/Verifier, and owner of Rivercity Woodworking LLC in Milwaukee, WI. Rivercity Woodworking opened in 1998, and in 2008 shifted the direction from restoration to energy consulting services, becoming fully certified as a RESNET Rater in 2010. In 2013, she started her Passive journey by being formally trained as a Rater with her first certified house 2016.
From Juanita, “I have too many degrees to think about: art (painting and sculpture); architectural history; historic preservation methods and policies; HVAC and Advanced Refrigeration and Air Condition. Most important and during the first energy crisis in 1970s my husband and I bought an old house (built 1885-1913 in stages) in Milwaukee. This became my New School and Laboratory where I had learned about the aging process in buildings, heat loads and modeling, materials, reticence in the trades, and new industries.
The program I entered in 2013 was PHI and over the next 10 years the PHI became PHIUS+ and I became as a result not just a Rater, but also a Verifier for DOE and EPA programs –Energy Star, the EPA Indoor AirPLUS, Watersense, and RESNET QAD. The paperwork blossomed, the responsibilities blossomed, and the certifications and re-certifications blossomed. Interest in building a Passive House has also blossomed. In watching a project evolve from start to finish makes sense only from the perspective spelled out in the PHIUS+Guidebook (in 3 versions from 2015, 2018, 2022 . . .). The complexity embedded in this document is lost to the public and often to many of the specialists working under the guidelines.”

Phius Alliance Annual Meeting
2024-02-21 17:00 - 17:45 | Chicago Public Library – Near North Branch, 310 W Division St, Chicago, IL, 60610, United States
We are excited to announce that we will be having our first annual members meeting on February 21st, from 5:00-5:45pm!
Details
Date: February 21st, 5:00-5:45pm
Location: Chicago Public Library – Near North Branch
Address: 310 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60610
Come connect with fellow members, learn more about what we’ve been up to and find out ways to get involved in 2024. And in case you haven’t heard, we are currently accepting calls for nominations to join the board. If you’re interested in learning more you can check out the website or send us an email at info@passivehousechicago.org. We’ll also share more info at the meeting.
We will be having our monthly February meeting immediately following the annual meeting and the topic will be Lessons Learned from a Phius Rater.
We really hope you can make it!

RSVP Here

Agenda

Welcome and update on the work we’ve been doing.
Introduction to the Board Committees.
Learn ways to get more involved including joining a committee or the board.

This meeting is for paid members of the Phius Alliance Chicago Chapter. If you would like to learn more about joining our chapter, click here.

RSVP Here

Passive House 101: Introduction to Passive Buildings
2024-01-17 17:00 - 18:00 | Online – Zoom
Details

Our 2024 New Year’s Resolution is to spread our love of Passive Buildings. Learn the basics of the Phius building standard, including Phius requirements, tools used, and unique construction methods. Join us to see why we feel Phius is the best building solution for reduced energy costs, comfort, and durability.
We will share the whys, hows, and examples of Passive House design and building in the United States. This presentation will provide a good baseline for those new to Passive House and will include the latest updates for those wanting a refresher.
This session is a must for architects, builders, real estate professionals, those looking to buy or build, or anyone interested in learning about the Passive House building standard.
Presented by Phius Alliance Chicago board member Kelly Moynihan from HPZS.

About the Presenter
Kelly Moynihan, AIA, NCARB, WELL AP, LFA, CPHC®, LEED Green Associate, serves as a Principal at HPZS, a design leader that pursues the preservation and creation of carbon-free, equitable, high-performance projects. Kelly is a multi-faceted architect with experience in multiple project types and scales including affordable housing, K-12 and higher education, historic preservation/renovation, adaptive reuse, and commercial interiors with an eye toward maximizing energy efficiency within building envelope assemblies and systems while creating beautiful, healthy places for humans.
Kelly is actively involved with the AIA Chicago Board of Directors as Vice President of Membership, Co-Chair of the AIA Chicago Committee on the Environment/2030 Commitment Knowledge Community, Board Member of the PHIUS Alliance Chicago Chapter, and member to both the Living Future Illinois Community and Illinois Green Alliance, developing educational programs/events focused on decarbonizing the built environment. Most recently, Kelly was awarded the 2023 AIA Illinois John Wellborn Root Award, recognizing her service and leadership.

THE Holiday Party 2023
2023-12-14 17:30 - 21:00 | IL
THE Holiday Party of the season is back! Find all of your favorite people at ONE awesome holiday party this year. Join members and friends of the Illinois Living Future Regional Community, Phius Alliance Chicago, Illinois Green Alliance, AIA Chicago COTE, Carbon Leadership Forum – Chicago Hub, Chicago Sustainable Construction Leaders, Chicago Association of Realtors, Climate Action Museum, and the International Building Performance Simulation Association Chicago Chapter (CHIBPSA) for an evening of food, drinks, music and good times.
Learn a little about each organization, find ways to collaborate, and learn about how to get more involved in 2024 projects and initiatives!
**Tickets Required – RSVP HERE**
Heavy appetizers and drinks (beer, wine, and soda) are included in your ticket price.

Getting to Zero Illinois Summit + Limelight 2023 (Illinois Green)
2023-11-14 12:00 - 20:30 | The Old Post Office, 433 W Van Buren St, Chicago, IL, 60607, United States
Join us on November 14, 2023 at the Old Post Office for Illinois Green’s second annual Getting to Zero Illinois Summit, followed by the annual Limelight Gala & Emerald Awards Ceremony!
Purchase Tickets + Learn More
If you are a Phius Alliance Member, watch your email for a $20 off discount code to this event! Click here to become a member now.
The Summit
Join Illinois Green from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM for a half-day summit exploring the path to net zero buildings in Illinois! This event includes a catered lunch, panel discussions and inspiring speakers, and opportunity to network with professionals working in the net zero design space. Attendees will learn how to make the business case for net zero buildings in Illinois, lessons learned from case studies, and discuss opportunities to bring net zero to the front of the building industry conversation.
The Summit welcomes policymakers, designers, building owners, systems manufacturers, and commercial real estate professionals to share best practices and collaborate on opportunities to scale zero energy and zero carbon projects in the region.
Continuing Education: This program is eligible for self-reporting to GBCI for 4.0 CE hours.
Summit Agenda:
12:00 PM Registration, Lunch + Project Gallery
12:30 PM Opening Remarks
12:45 PM Retrofitting to Zero: Prairie Trails School
1:45 PM Taking Action: Making the Pitch for Zero
2:00 PM Architect Exchange: Campus Path to Zero
2:30 PM Networking Break + Project Gallery
3:00 PM Taking Action: Advancing the Workforce
3:15 PM Building Beyond Code: Developer Panel Discussion
4:15 PM Architect Exchange: Multifamily Path to Zero
4:45 PM Taking Action: Building on Policy & Progress
5:00 PM Closing Remarks + Transition to Limelight
Read more about the Summit sessions descriptions and speakers.
Limelight:
Join Illinois Green from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM to share a fun evening with members, friends, sponsors and many other professionals from the sustainability industry. Enjoy drinks, hors d’oeuvres, a grand prize raffle, and networking.
The awards reception and fundraiser bring together an amazing mix of the region’s top industry leaders working in the sustainability field and is an important opportunity to recognize the latest achievements in green building design, technology, and innovation in Illinois. This year’s event supports Illinois mission to bring all buildings on the path to net zero in Illinois.
Learn more about Limelight.
Purchase Tickets + Learn More

Homeowner's Perspective: Living in a Passive House (Tour of Acorn Glade)
2023-10-17 17:00 - 18:00 | Acorn Glade, 4737 Puffer Rd, Downers Grove, IL, 60515, United States
Join us at the Acorn Glade Phius Source Zero house for a project tour and homeowner’s perspective. Jen and Tom Smith will provide insights into their 6 years in this Phius certified Net Zero house, and architect and CPHC Tom Bassett-Dilley will discuss the design concepts, and how this house advanced best practices in design, particularly for mechanical systems.
See this video for a description of the design process and a tour preview (from GreenBuilt Home Tour 2021).
Note on parking: parking is NOT available on site for general attendees, but the driveway can hold a few cars for those who are mobility impaired. The site is a short walk across a grassy field from Puffer School, where there is ample parking. The house address is 4737 Puffer Road, Downers Grove.

High Performance Building Tour: Academy for Global Citizenship
2023-09-20 16:30 - 18:30 | Academy for Global Citizenship, 4647 W 47th St, Chicago, IL, 60632, United States
Join Phius Alliance Chicago and Illinois Green Alliance for a guided tour of one of the first targeted Living Building Challenge projects in the Midwest – the first phase of the Cultivate Collective Campus, anchored by the Academy for Global Citizenship (AGC). The facility, opening this fall, includes AGC, an early childhood education center, a fresh food market and café, an urban farm operated by Urban Growers Collective, multiple solar arrays, as well as a federally qualified healthcare facility operated by Esperanza Health Centers.
Also targeting Phius ZERO certification, the project is designed by SMNGA Ltd. (Architect of Record), Farr Associates (Associate Architects) and dbHMS (MEPFP Engineers), among others and was constructed by General Contractor Power and Sergeant Construction (MBE Section 3). This six-acre campus will total nearly 90,000 built square feet upon completion of this and future phases of development which are intended to include future educational, farming and workforce development programming.
The facility is aiming to achieve Net-Positive Energy (105% of annual needs) and Net-Positive Water. High energy efficiency will be achieved through the pairing of highly efficient envelope design and sequencing, energy efficient mechanical systems featuring a geothermal well field and photovoltaic panels. Net-Positive Water will use the integrated set of water collection, conservation, reuse and treatment strategies. The phased occupancy begins in September and will begin monitoring to prove out commissioning and verifications over the coming year as led by Bauman Consultants (CxA).
Join the tour to learn how the project team worked together to create a net-positive project, learn future plans for the campus, and also how this team is continuing to engage and positively impact the surrounding community.
RSVP Required on Eventbrite
Wednesday, Sep 20th
4:30pm – 6:30pm
Doors open at 4:30, presentation/tours will begin around 5pm.
$10 – Tickets Required
4647 West 47th Street Chicago, IL 60632
***This event will sell out so make sure to get your ticket early.***
Speakers/Tour Guides:

Sarah Elizabeth Ippel, Academy for Global Citizenship Charter School
Erin Lavin Cabonargi, URBAN ReSOLVE, Development Advisor
SMNGA – Design Architect & Architect of Record
Farr Associates – Associate Architect and SME Sustainability
dbHMS Engineers – MEPFP Engineer and SME Sustainability
V3 Engineers – Civil Engineer and SME Stormwater Capture & Reuse
Power Construction – General Contractor
Baumann Consulting – Commissioning Agent

Evanston Green Home Tour: Mid-Construction Passive House Project
2023-07-23 14:30 - 16:30 | 1210 Maple Ave, Evanston IL 60202, 1210 Maple Ave, Evanston, IL, 60202, United States
Join Illinois Green & Phius Alliance Chicago for a mid-construction tour of a unique passive home in Evanston!
This modern home, located in one of Evanston’s historic districts, is on track to be Evanston’s first certified Passive House, one of the most rigorous building certifications for comfortable, energy efficient, and resilient homes. With tight construction and a highly insulated envelope, Passive House buildings operate on just one tenth the energy of an average home.
Arrive at 2:30 PM or 3:30PM for a tour of this mid-construction project, lead by Homeowner, founding CEO of the 2021 Championship Chicago Sky Women’s Professional Basketball team**, Margaret Stender**, and architect, Nate Kipnis of Kipnis Architecture + Planning.
RSVP Required on Eventbrite
Learn more about the project:
The design was carefully reviewed and approved by the Evanston Preservation Commission. It had to relate to the existing neighboring homes, which ranged from 100 to 130 years old. This was accomplished by carefully aligning the design’s various design elements, heights and proportions to its neighbors (see the diagram of the alignment’s, attached below).
The home is all-electric, which means there is no gas line and no combustion appliances in the house. The HVAC system, heat pump water heater, heat pump dryer and the induction cooktop are all electric. The home has a 12.6 kW solar array, which makes the home and electric vehicle charging ‘Net Zero Energy’ on an annual basis. A large battery backup is powered by the solar array, providing power at night and during any power outage.

Prescription for Better Buildings: 2021 Phius CORE Prescriptive Path from Start to Plaque
2023-05-17 17:00 - 18:00 | Online – Zoom
Details

This course presents the new Phius 2021 core prescriptive path and prepares Passive House practitioners to certify their buildings with it. It covers background context, origin of the prescriptive checklist, provides step by step instruction and offers case study examples.
Course Objectives

Learn about the origins of the Phius 2021 prescriptive path
Learn how to use the prescriptive checklist
Learn about submission requirements and process for certifying a building through the prescriptive path
See case study examples that demonstrate the use of the prescriptive checklist

About the Presenter
John Loercher joined the Phius certification team in 2021. He provides design review, updates the existing Certified Passive House Consultant (CPHC®) training curriculum and helps expand the advanced training offerings at Phius. Prior to joining the certification team, John has been an active CPHC since 2016 and has certified all building types ranging from single-family and multifamily residential, commercial, new construction and retrofits. He is a Certified Passive House Consultant and holds a masters of architecture from Parsons the New School for Design.
He is currently on the advisory board of the Phius Alliance – Hudson Valley chapter and serves as the Secretary and Northeast Regional Representative for the national Phius Alliance chapter.

Phius Retrofit Summit Recap & Revive Program Update
2023-04-19 17:00 - 18:00 | Online – Zoom
Tom Bassett-Dilley of TBDArchitects and Al Mitchell of Phius will recap the Phius Retrofit Summit and provide an update on the Phius Revive program. Tom will also present his 25-minute portion from the Summit.
Register to attend the Phius Retrofit Summit on Mar 21st & 23rd.
About the Presenters
Tom Bassett-Dilley
Tom Bassett Dilley’s passion for architecture was kindled in high school when he found a book in the school library on Frank Lloyd Wright: those exuberant buildings harmonized with their sites were endlessly fascinating and inspiring. Shortly after he found Edward Mazria’s Passive Solar Energy Book, whose practical techniques showed how to tune a building to climate. Tom spent a year at Taliesin West, the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture, continuing to Ball State University for undergrad and Columbia University for graduate work. He became a Certified Passive House Consultant in 2010 to learn advanced energy modeling, building science, and principles of conservation exemplified by the Passive House standard. He is a founding member and past President of the Chicago Phius Alliance Chicago Chapter, and has presented numerous times for local audiences and at national conferences. Tom is an avid guitarist, gardener, and painter. He lives in Oak Park with his wife and their two children, cats, and dog.
Al Mitchell
Al Mitchell joined the Phius team in July 2020 to aid in technical capacities, ranging from research to project certification. He holds degrees in architectural engineering and architecture from Illinois Tech and Ball State University respectively.

The Passive Rowhouse Manual: Current Trends in Passive Rowhouse Design
2023-03-15 17:00 - 18:00 | Online – Zoom
Rowhouses are a ubiquitous building type in old cities such as Philadelphia (and also Chicago), in part because they are space-efficient and cost effective, with inherent energy efficiency. They also support beautiful walkable urbanism. People love them and can afford to live in them. But almost all do not perform like they could.
Rowhouses can be renovated to the most energy efficient standard – Passive House – creating fossil-fuel free, low-carbon, comfortable and healthy housing with great indoor air quality.
The presentation will describe The Passive Rowhouse Manual, prepared by the Passive House Community of Green Building United. GBU, founded in 2001 as Delaware Valley Green Building Council, is a member-driven, mission-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to foster transformative impact in our communities through green building education and advocacy.
The Manual addresses the many challenges and opportunities to achieve low-carbon performance in rowhouses. It is a working guide for developers, contractors and designers to renovate a rowhouse to the most rigorous energy performance certification, Passive House. Each of the nine chapters is focused on a topic specific to Passive House design and construction, from determining whether Passive House is feasible for your project all the way through testing and verifying for Passive House certification. The manual examines the building science behind the techniques, materials and products that make Passive House possible in all types of buildings, and especially rowhouses.
The Manual developed from a series of demonstration projects (‘charrettes’) that GBU’s Passive House Community planned and hosted in Philadelphia during 2018 and 2019. The Passive House Community is a volunteer organization composed of engineers, architects, designers, planners, consultants, students, and interested persons with the common goal of making Passive House design and construction mainstream.
About the Presenter
Paul Thompson AIA, LEED BD+C, CPHC (Certified Passive House Consultant) is a principal at BluPath, a Philadelphia architecture firm focusing on simple, elegant and environmentally sensitive spaces for mission-driven clients. He is a founding member of the Passive House Community of Green Building United. He has a BS in mechanical engineering from the University of Utah and a MArch from the University of Virginia. Paul and partner Laura Blau AIA, CPHC, renovated a 4-story, 4-apartment historic Philadelphia rowhouse to EnerPHit standard, the Passive House certification for retrofit projects.

More Than a Blower Door: Top Lessons Learned from Phius Raters and Verifiers
2023-02-15 17:00 - 18:00 | Online – Zoom
Are you wrapping up Pre-Cert and want a better idea of what’s next? Curious on what’s really in store with Phius projects? Prepare Thyself!

Join us as we discuss the inspections, additional certifications (yes, it’s a bundle!), and testing needs required for Single Family, Multifamily, and Commercial Phius projects.
Participants will receive certification strategies for Phius and concrete examples of what to include and what to avoid in their upcoming projects.
Learning Objectives

Learning Objective #1: Understanding the additional programs for phius certification: ENERGY STAR, ZERH, and IAP.
Learning Objective #2: Identifying key team members required for certification.
Learning Objective #3: Discussion of all testing and inspections, along with helpful hints.
Learning Objective #4: Lessons learned from a variety of phius projects.

About the Presenters

Presented by the team from Eco Achievers.
Lindsey Elton
Lindsey is certified in advanced building science and building diagnostic testing. Her company, Eco Achievers, helps project teams throughout the country to construct high-performance multi-family and mixed-use buildings that meet everything from NGBS to LEED, ENERGY STAR, EGC, and Phius standards. Lindsey has been fortunate to work on many firsts as a Phius professional – from the first certified multi-family projects in IL, MN, WI, and Chicago, to the first commercial projects in IL. In current times, Lindsey runs Eco Achievers’ Detroit office and is working to support the region’s advancement of high-performance market rate and affordable housing projects. Lindsey serves on the RESNET Board of Directors and is Vice President of the Passive House Alliance – Chicago.
Graham Giovagnoli
Since 2010, Graham has been involved in the energy efficiency industry through multiple roles: green building rater/verifier, residential and commercial energy auditor, weatherization contractor and trainer, BPI proctor, and solar system designer. He has completed hundreds of energy audits, performed countless energy diagnostic tests and personally certified about 100 BPI Building Analysts through the Illinois funded Urban Weatherization Initiative. He currently works on multifamily PHIUS, NGBS and ENERGY STAR projects of every size and shape.

Passive House 101: Introduction to Passive Buildings
2023-01-18 17:00 - 18:00 | Online – Zoom
Our 2023 New Year’s Resolution is to spread our love of Passive Buildings. Learn the basics of the Phius building standard, including Phius requirements, tools used, and unique construction methods. Join us to see why we feel Phius is the best building solution for reduced energy costs, comfort, and durability.
We will share the whys, hows, and examples of Passive House design and building in the United States. This presentation will provide a good baseline for those new to Passive House and will include the latest updates for those wanting a refresher.
This session is a must for architects, builders, real estate professionals, those looking to buy or build, or anyone interested in learning about the Passive House building standard.
Presented by Phius Alliance Chicago board member Philip Schmidt, Architect + Passive House Consultant from Figure Ground Architecture.
About the Presenter
Philip has been a practicing architect in Chicago for 16 years. He was the Project Architect for Landon Bone Baker on Chicago’s first Multifamily Passive House project, the LUCHA Tierra Linda 6-Flat in Humboldt Park. At Figure Ground, he’s been focused primarily on upgrading our existing building stock through Deep Energy Retrofits for single family homes & large multifamily housing.

THE Holiday Party
2022-12-15 17:30 - 20:30 | Bottom Lounge, 1375 W Lake St, Chicago, 60607, United States
THE Holiday Party is back in action this year and we are excited to celebrate the year with the amazing folks in the green building network.
Join The Phius Alliance Chicago and partners in the green building industry for an evening of celebration on December 15 at the Bottom Lounge in the West Loop!
Click Here to Purchase Tickets
***
Join members and friends of Phius Alliance Chicago, Illinois Green Alliance, Chicago Living Future Community, AIA COTE, Carbon Leadership Forum Chicago Hub, CHIBPSA, and more as we toast to a great year of progress on the path to zero! Learn how you can engage with these great organizations to continue advancing this work in 2023.
Reserve your ticket in advance to make sure you don’t miss out! Your ticket includes great food, drink tickets, live music and great conversation. Bring a friend and meet us there!

The New Chicago Code: What You Can Expect
2022-11-16 17:00 - 18:00 | Online – Zoom
There has been great progress in terms of policy lately and this month we are welcoming back Isaac Elnecave, policy specialist with Phius, to talk about the updated code that was recently adopted by City of Chicago.
The city of Chicago adopted the Chicago Energy Transformation Code in September, 2022. The Chicago Energy Transformation Code is one of the most energy efficient codes in the country. This Webinar will focus on the residential portion of the energy code and highlight the major differences between this new code and the previous energy code in Chicago. We will also show how this code compares to a Phius designed home for the Chicago area to give a sense of how far the city has gone and how far it needs to go to reach net-zero.
About the Presenter
Isaac Elnecave joined the Phius Certification Team in 2019. He provides design review and energy modeling services to evaluate project qualifications for Phius+ Certification. Isaac works closely with the submitting CPHC® to provide feedback on questions pertaining to energy modeling and building plans.
Prior to joining Phius, Isaac worked as a policy manager focused on promoting the development, adoption and implementation of the latest building energy codes and appliance efficiency standards. Isaac also worked as a civil engineer in Southern California where he designed seismic retrofits for older buildings susceptible to damage from earthquakes.
Isaac has a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering Mechanics from the Columbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science as well as a Masters in Public Policy from the University of California at Los Angeles.

The Inflation Reduction Act: How It Affects Phius
2022-09-21 17:00 - 18:00 | Online – Zoom
The Inflation Reduction Act provides incentives for all types of construction and will strongly affect Phius. Find out more!
Check out the recent article Isaac wrote about the impacts of the Inflation Reduction Act. We now know even more so this meeting will build on what’s highlighted in this article.
About the Presenter
Isaac Elnecave joined the Phius Certification Team in 2019. He provides design review and energy modeling services to evaluate project qualifications for Phius+ Certification. Isaac works closely with the submitting CPHC® to provide feedback on questions pertaining to energy modeling and building plans.
Prior to joining Phius, Isaac worked as a policy manager focused on promoting the development, adoption and implementation of the latest building energy codes and appliance efficiency standards. Isaac also worked as a civil engineer in Southern California where he designed seismic retrofits for older buildings susceptible to damage from earthquakes.
Isaac has a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering Mechanics from the Columbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science as well as a Masters in Public Policy from the University of California at Los Angeles.

Energy Revolution Exhibition Private Tour
2022-08-18 17:00 - 18:30 | Chicago Architecture Center, 111 E Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL, 60601, United States
For this month, we’re heading over to the Chicago Architecture Center to join Energy Revolution curators, Doug Farr and CAC staff, for a private, after-hours guided tour and discussion!
You are invited for an after-hours small group tour of the ENERGY REVOLUTION exhibit at the Chicago Architecture center with co-curator Doug Farr. Tour the exhibit and stick around for a fascinating discussion on the state of architectural practice, City of Chicago decarbonization initiatives, and the creation of a Climate School of Chicago architecture. BYOB and/or join the group for additional beverages after the event as well.
This event is free but to ensure a spot, you are required to register through Eventbrite. Tickets available on August 6th.
(Please note, this is on a Thursday, one day later than our regular monthly meetup.)
Agenda:

5:00 PM Gather & Mingle
5:15 PM Guided Exhibition Tour
5:45 PM Guided Discussion
6:30 PM Head down the street for cocktails

About the Exhibition:
Energy Revolution demonstrates how we can actively respond to the climate crisis by transforming our use of energy in the built environment. The exhibition highlights the ways individuals, corporations and city leaders can work toward a carbon-free future. Energy Revolution is co-curated by Doug Farr, FAIA and the CAC. Exhibition design is by Sage Creative Group. Learn more -->

Ryerson Woods Educational Center: Nature, Place, Craft, Passive House
2022-07-20 17:00 - 18:00 | Online – Zoom
Nestled adjacent to the flatwoods along the Des Plaines River, the Ryerson Woods Education Center will act as a beacon of both ecological education and environmental stewardship for the residents of Lake County and the region at large.
In addition to supporting educational programs in partnership with local schools and community organizations, the Net-Zero energy building will serve as a trailhead and launching point into “the resource” of the surrounding forest preserve, which includes one of the only remaining quality flatwoods ecotones in Northern Illinois. The story of preservation of this fragile ecosystem will be told by the building through active demonstration of water conservation, energy production, and material resiliency.
Currently under construction, the facility is design certified to the PHIUS 2021 Source Zero Energy standard, and is projected to utilize 90% less energy than code compliant construction.

Summer Solstice Green Building Soiree
2022-06-29 17:00 - 20:00 | Enoteca Roma, 2146 W Division St, Chicago, IL, 60622, United States
Greetings, friends and colleagues!
It’s finally that time of year again! Come join Eco Achievers and the Phius Alliance Chicago as we raise a toast to the new summer season, incredible projects and advancements in regional green building, and most importantly, to being together and seeing each other again.
There will be delicious snacks and cool beverages while supplies last, so join in the fun.
Masks and vaccinations are encouraged, but not required. RSVPs are appreciated.
We are so excited to meet in person again.
Hope to see you there!

Multifamily Phius Source Zero with Tom Bassett-Dilley & Scott Farbman
2022-04-20 17:00 - 18:00 | Online – Zoom
Tom Bassett-Dilley and Scott Farbman will describe architectural, mechanical, and PV design considerations for a 44-unit Source Zero beginning construction this summer in Oak Park.
For Link, RSVP on Meetup
About Tom Bassett-Dilley
Tom Bassett-Dilley founded his firm in 2006 to pursue sustainability as contemporary design based on region, climate, and context. Toward that end, he became a Certified Passive House Consultant (CPHC©) in 2010 to learn advanced energy modeling, building science, and principles of conservation exemplified by the Passive House standard. He is a founding member and past President of the Chicago Passive House Alliance chapter, and is currently the Midwest Regional Phius Alliance rep.
Tom has presented numerous times for the Chicago chapter and at Phius’ annual conferences. His first certified project was completed in 2013, with many more fully certified, pre-certified, and more PH projects currently in the works, including a 45-unit Phius Zero apartment building. Tom sees the beauty of the Passive approach in its ability to optimize energy design concurrently with architectural design, its tendency toward simplicity in form and glazing, and its tendency to require “tuning” a building to site-specific solar access.
About Scott Farbman
Scott Farbman is a licensed architect (AIA), certified passive house consultant (CPHC), and LEED Accredited Professional that is currently working as the Innovation Lead at DataBased+, a studio within dbHMS.

Turning Policy Into Passive Projects with Isaac Elnecave
2022-03-16 17:00 - 18:00 | Online – Zoom
Details

Over the last year, there have been significant policy successes in Illinois: an incentive program has been established, Phius has been included in the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program and will soon be part of the state energy code. However, the ultimate aim is to get more residences, multi-family and commercial buildings meeting the Phius standard built and policy is only one step in the process. The discussion (and we will aim to make this an interactive discussion) will focus on how to translate policy into buildings.
About Isaac Elnecave
Isaac Elnecave joined the PHIUS Certification Team in 2019 where he provides design review and energy modeling services to evaluate project qualifications for PHIUS+ Certification. Isaac works closely with the submitting CPHC to provide feedback on questions pertaining to energy modeling and building plans. Prior to joining PHIUS, Isaac worked as a policy manager focused on promoting the development, adoption and implementation of the latest building energy codes and appliance efficiency standards. Isaac also worked as a civil engineer in Southern California where he designed seismic retrofits for older buildings susceptible to damage from earthquakes.
Isaac has a Bachelors Degree in Engineering Mechanics from the Columbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science as well as a Masters in Public Policy from the University of California at Los Angeles.

Techny Prairie Activity Center: An Exercise in Commercial Phius Certification
2022-02-16 17:00 - 18:00 | Online – Zoom
Join us as we take a deep dive into commercial Phius certification with Lois Vitt Sale of Wight & Company. She’ll walk us through insights and lessons learned on the design, mechanicals, and sustainability components of the Techny Prairie Activity Center in Northbrook, IL, which was her second Phius success. It achieved PHIUS+ 2015 & PHIUS+ Source Zero certifications, along with an Honorable Mention in the 2021 Phius Design Competition. Her first phius venture, Prairie Activity & Recreation Center (PARC) in Plainfield, IL, was the 1st Phius-Certified commercial project in the state.
About the Presenter
Lois Vitt Sale, FAIA, LEED Fellow
Lois leads Wight & Company’s sustainable design initiatives and advances the firm’s commitment to offering clients the most effective sustainable solutions. Her work focuses on creating leading-edge sustainable facilities, formulating policies that promote and/or remove barriers to sustainability, and maximizing the environmental potential for projects.
Lois’ advocacy efforts include serving as a national leader in the application of private and commercial green technologies and sustainable planning to the public and private sectors. She is a public policy advisor to elected officials and has participated in the development of policies to lessen the negative impacts of the built environment on health and natural resources.

Passive House 101: Introduction to Passive Buildings
2022-01-19 17:00 - 18:00 | Online – Zoom
Our 2022 New Year’s Resolution is to spread our love of Passive Buildings. Please share this great opportunity to learn the basics of Passive House certification with your friends, colleagues, and network, And we hope to see you there as well.
We will share the Whys, Hows, and Examples of Passive House design and building in the US. This presentation will provide a good baseline for those new to PH, and will include the latest updates for those wanting a refresher.

Evaluating Residential Retrofits
2021-11-17 17:00 - 18:00 | Online – Zoom
Tom Bassett-Dilley will present on five deep energy retrofits in the Chicago region, highlighting retrofit techniques, materials, and mechanicals, and using energy modeling to demonstrate 75-100% energy reduction. This will be an expanded version of his PhiusCon 2021 presentation.
About the Presenter
Tom Bassett-Dilley founded his firm in 2006 to pursue sustainability as contemporary design based on region, climate, and context. Toward that end, he became a Certified Passive House Consultant (CPHC©) in 2010 to learn advanced energy modeling, building science, and principles of conservation exemplified by the Passive House standard. He is a founding member and past President of the Chicago Passive House Alliance chapter, and is currently the Midwest Regional Phius Alliance rep.
Tom has presented numerous times for the Chicago chapter and at Phius’ annual conferences. His first certified project was completed in 2013, with many more fully certified, pre-certified, and more PH projects currently in the works, including a 45-unit Phius Zero apartment building. Tom sees the beauty of the Passive approach in its ability to optimize energy design concurrently with architectural design, its tendency toward simplicity in form and glazing, and its tendency to require “tuning” a building to site-specific solar access.

Phius Verification: It's More Than a Blower Door
2021-10-20 17:00 - 18:00 | Online – Zoom
Are you wrapping up Pre-Certification and want a better idea of what’s next? Or simply curious on what’s really in store for a future Phius project? Prepare Thyself!
Join us as we discuss the inspections, additional certifications (yes, it’s a bundle!), and testing needs required for Single-Family, Multi-Family, and Commercial Phius projects.

Home Tour: High-Performance & Building Science Living Laboratory
2021-09-15 17:30 - 18:30 | TBA
Join us for a home tour with Brian Rayski from One World Consulting and Zoetic Homes to see inside how he turned an infill city lot into an all-electric, Passive House-inspired, health & wellness conscious home.
Built with panelized Steel SIPs, this was a high-performance home design and construction project that took on a life of its own where priority in the design was to:

Maximize useable/functional space of the city lot and the interior of the home
Optimize the performance of the assemblies (wall, floor, roof & windows) and available technology in reference to cost benefit / market acceptance
Synergize with decisions being made around assemblies to provide smart decisions regarding health, comfort, energy usage, and sustainability

Certifications include:

EnergyStar Net-Zero / Zero Energy Ready Home (pending)

LEED Gold (pending)

NGBS Gold (pending)

EPA WaterSense (pending)

IndoorAir Plus (pending)

Asthma & Allergy-friendly (pending)

Low EMF Design

Presenter:
Brian Rayski, LEED AP O&M, BPI Healthy Home Evaluator, NAR Green HVAC Engineer and Real Estate Broker has experience with 100+ high-performance projects and a passion for working in the high-performance building and healthy home design space mostly in Chicago and the surrounding Midwest.
Capacity:
Since this is an in person event, space will be limited to the first 30 RSVPs. Tours will be hosted in (2) 15-person groups (or (3) 10-person groups).
Face masks required on tour.
After-Event:
Join us after the event for further discussion at nearby bar, outdoors and weather permitting.

Announcing Our New Strategic Plan: Priorities, Activities & Ways to Be Involved
2021-05-19 17:00 - 18:00 | Online – Zoom
Please join us as we introduce the outcomes of our recent Strategic Visioning endeavor. We will share the ‘five trajectories’ that will guide our community over next few years and offer opportunities for how we can all help to advance the application of PHIUS principles and techniques enabling a sustainable, equitable, and carbon-free future.
This meeting will be part presentation of what we accomplished during the visioning process as well as break-out sessions for attendees to explore ways to put these plans into action.
We are extremely excited to engage with all of you in planning the future of the Chicago chapter of the Passive House Alliance! We hope you can join us!

Illinois Home Efficiency: From HERS to Passive - Featuring Isaac Elnecave
2021-04-21 17:00 - 18:00 | Online – Zoom
As practitioners who design and build homes to the PHIUS standard know what, in terms of efficiency, they want the typical home to be like. However, what is the typical home like at this moment? We have gathered data from RESNET on over 5,000 homes that were given HERS ratings across the state of Illinois. The data from the ratings were disaggregated to show the distribution of insulation R-values,, blower door results and mechanical equipment efficiencies. How do these homes stack up against the code? Against a PHIUS home? The aim of this presentation is to begin the process of charting a path from where we are to where we want to go (all homes meeting the PHIUS standard…think big!).
About the Presenter
Isaac Elnecave joined the PHIUS Certification Team in 2019 where he provides design review and energy modeling services to evaluate project qualifications for PHIUS+ Certification. Isaac works closely with the submitting CPHC to provide feedback on questions pertaining to energy modeling and building plans. Prior to joining PHIUS, Isaac worked as a policy manager focused on promoting the development, adoption and implementation of the latest building energy codes and appliance efficiency standards. Isaac also worked as a civil engineer in Southern California where he designed seismic retrofits for older buildings susceptible to damage from earthquakes.
Isaac has a Bachelors Degree in Engineering Mechanics from the Columbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science as well as a Masters in Public Policy from the University of California at Los Angeles.
