GreenBuilt Home Tour Rapid Fire Preview
2019-07-17 17:30 - 19:45 (America/Chicago) | IL
MORE INFO COMING….
Please Only Register if you are able to attend. Thank You.
A preview of the upcoming 2019 GreenBuilt Home Tour! A chance to hear from architects, builders and homeowners that will be participating in the tour. Presenters to be announced.
The seventh annual GreenBuilt Home Tour is August 3 and 4, 2019 from 10:00am – 4:00pm. For more information about the tour, visit:
http://www.greenbuilthometour.org/

Indoor Air Quality
2019-09-18 17:00 - 19:15 | Leopardo, 210 N Carpenter St Suite 300, Chicago, IL, 60607, United States
Steve Froelicher, PhD, will be presenting on indoor air quality.
Steve will be presenting on:
· Formaldehyde: the molecule, reactivity, basics
· VOCs: other common VOCs in buildings and their hazards
· Construction items, furniture, source control
· Methods for identifying VOCs: Flame Ionisation Detection, Photo Ionisation Detection
· Detection and measurement as it relates to green building rating systems.
Dr. Steve Froelicher is a Senior Scientist at Prism Analytical Technologies. Dr. Froelicher received a B.S. in Chemistry from Northern Kentucky University and a Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from Purdue University. Steve has worked at Prism since 2011 and his interests include understanding and correlating VOC sources, improving and developing new methods for VOC and semi-volatile (SVOC) detection, and educational awareness of VOCs for the air testing community. Dr. Froelicher has also been an Adjunct Chemistry Lecturer at local universities for the past 23 years.
Please join us for a tour of Leopardo prior to the presentations from 5:00pm – 5:30pm. The Leopardo office is in the final stages of pursuing dual certification under the LEED and WELL commercial interiors rating systems. The space was finished in December of 2018. They did a hard hat tour during Chicago Greenbuild 2018 and will be presenting on this project at the Chicago Builds Conference this September.

Mechanical Systems for Passive Buildings
2019-10-16 17:30 - 20:00 | Leopardo, 210 N Carpenter St Suite 300, Chicago, IL, 60607, United States
How are mechanical systems in a Passive Building different? What are the main considerations in properly designing for an air-tight, low-load building? How can these systems be optimized? These are just a few of the questions that Mike Schaefer, Alex Long, and Kevin McHugh will answer in their presentation and discussion.
About the Presenters
Mike Schaefer, Performance Construction Manager, Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC US LLC
Mike has been in the HVAC Industry since 2005 where he has worked on all levels including contracting, distribution and manufacturing. Mike joined Mitsubishi Electric in 2014 and has held multiple roles including Commercial Area Manager, Residential Area Manager and was most recently part of Mitsubishi Electric’s Performance Construction Team which is focused on providing healthy, efficient and reliable mechanical solutions to the high performance building market. He is currently the Regional Sales Manager for the Chicago market.
Kevin R. McHugh, President, Windy City Representatives
Kevin has over twenty-five years of general management, sales leadership, business development, operational optimization and direct sales experience in the industrial manufacturing, construction and energy services sectors. He helps the Windy City team provide the broadest selection of leading brands and products to satisfy the diverse needs of HVAC and industrial clients. From helping clients identify the optimal solution to providing onsite technical expertise, the resources of Windy City Representatives provide the knowledge, support and service to make projects run smoothly.
Prior to joining Windy City, Kevin spent seventeen years with York International and Johnson Controls. Positions ranged from direct sales to corporate leadership with experience in areas of; channel optimization, M&A, general management, program implementation, product deployment and strategy.
Kevin has a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign and a master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. He and wife Heather reside in the suburbs of Chicago with their three children. As a life-long Chicagoan, Kevin and his family enjoy all the great city has to offer.
Alex Long, Build Equinox
Bio coming soon…

PHIUS+ Construction on Existing Buildings in Chicago
2019-11-20 17:45 - 19:45 | DataBased+ within dbHMS, 303 W Erie St, Ste 510, Chicago, IL, 60654, United States
Join us as we take a deep dive into the historic Chicago residential market and explore what it takes to transform an 1890s balloon framed residence into a fully compliant PHIUS+ 2018 certified home. This presentation will provide an in-depth introduction into successful passive house retrofit solutions, as well as lessons learned, coming first hand from the project’s PHIUS Certified Passive House Consultant, Design Architect, and Design MEP Engineer. The following four topics will be explored in detail: (1) existing building constraints, (2) unique building code requirements, (3) VRF heating & cooling, and (4) future repeatability.
Thanks to our Host this month for providing this great facility:
DataBased+ in dbHMS
303 W Erie St, Ste 510, Chicago, IL 60654
Networking before and after is encouraged.
6:00-6:15 Introductions and Updates.
6:15-7:15 Presentation by Scott Farbman and April Hughes.
7:15-7:30 Q&A followed by updates and “Off-Site Camaraderie & Libations”
This Meeting is also an Activator for the 14th Annual PHIUS Conference being held in D.C. on December 4th – 8th.

THE Holiday Party 2019
2019-12-18 17:30 - 21:00 | Rebuilding Exchange, 1740 W Webster Ave, Chicago, IL, 60614, United States
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 Chicago Living Future Collaborative, Passive House Alliance Chicago, Illinois Green Alliance, AIA Chicago COTE, CNU Illinois, Open Architecture Collaborative, 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 2020 projects and initiatives!
Food and drinks are included in your ticket price.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-holiday-party-2019-tickets-80310822833
Donate to the Sustainable Living Drive
Support green and healthy living in affordable housing buildings in Chicago by making a donation to the Sustainable Living Drive. Donations will be used to purchase materials like recycling bins, LED light bulbs, and green cleaning products for residents in local affordable housing buildings. To make a donation, select the Ticket + Sustainable Living Drive option when registering. Additionally, the following donations will also be accepted on-site at THE Holiday Party:
LED light bulbs
Green cleaning products
Sturdy reusable bags (nylon, canvas, etc.)
Compostable plates, utensils, cups
$5 donations – there will be a Square Card Reader on-site
By making a donation to the Sustainable Living Drive, you will be entered into a raffle. You will receive your raffle ticket at the event.

Passive House 101: Introduction to Passive Buildings
2020-01-15 17:30 - 19:30 | Skender Construction, 1330 W. Fulton St. Suite 200, Chicago, IL, 60607, United States
Our 2020 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.
James Ortega, and Tony Holub will share the Whys, Hows, and Examples of Passive House design and building in the US. Their presentation will provide a good baseline for those new to PH, and will include the latest updates for those wanting a refresher.
Agenda
5:30 – Networking
6:00 – Introduction to Passive House
7:00 – Q & A
7:30 – Social hour at the Bottom Lounge
James P. S. Ortega, RA PHIUS Certification Manager
James Ortega joined PHIUS in February of 2015 as a member of the Certification team, where he provides design review and energy modeling services to evaluate project qualifications for PHIUS+ Certification. Ortega works closely with the submitting CPHC to provide feedback on questions pertaining to energy modeling and building plans. He also provides consulting services on static and dynamic energy modeling in WUFI Passive and THERM, and spearheads energy modeling deliverables on feasibility studies for projects interested in pursuing PHIUS+ Certification.
Ortega holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, and is a licensed architect in the state of Illinois.
Tony Holub – PHA-C Board President, HOK Senior Architect
Tony is a Senior Architect with HOK in Chicago. His work has focused extensively on sustainable design, LEED certification, Passive House, and Net Zero Energy initiatives. He is currently the chair of Passive House Alliance Chicago and is an involved member of Illinois Green Alliance. Tony is a Certified Passive House Consultant, registered architect and LEED AP. He has work on several Net Zero Energy and Passive House projects.

Case Studies - Two PHIUS+ 2018 / PHIUS+ Source Zero Projects
2020-02-19 17:30 - 19:30 | Skender Construction, 1330 W. Fulton St. Suite 200, Chicago, IL, 60607, United States
Tom Basset-Dilley AIA CPHC & Tom Boeman CPHC will each present their recent experiences as Certified Passive House Consultant (CPHC) on projects achieving both PHIUS+2018 and PHIUS+ Source Zero Pre-Certification. Each presenter will discuss the unique issues and solutions associated with meeting the stringent PHIUS certification requirements on their respective case studies.
Tom Basset Dilley will present a 45 unit multi-family market rate residential development.
Tom Boeman will present Trail View Elementary School in Mt Prospect. The project is the envelope and systems retrofit of an existing 1960s elementary school. Tom Boeman worked as the CPHC with FGM Architects as the Architect.
5:30 – Meet and Greet
6:00 – Presentations
7:00 – Q & A
7:30 – Social hour at the Bottom Lounge
About the Presenters
Tom Bassett-Dilley is an Architect, Certified Passive House Consultant (CPHS) and the owner of Tom Bassett-Dilley Architects (TBDA). TBDA has designed and completed several Certified Passive House and Source Zero projects in the Chicago region. Tom is a member of the board of the PHA-Chicago.
Tom Boeman is an Architect and CPHC and Owner of Boeman Design LLC. As a relatively newer member to the PHIUS Community, Tom will be presenting his first PHIUS+2018 / Source Zero Pre- Certified Project. Tom Boeman is a member of the board of the PHA-Chicago.

Mass Timber Construction: Products, Performance and Design (Online)
2020-04-15 16:00 - 17:00 | IL
Due to their high strength, dimensional stability and positive environmental performance, mass timber building products are quickly becoming materials of choice for sustainably-minded designers. This presentation will provide a detailed look at the variety of mass timber products available, including glue-laminated timber (glulam), cross laminated timber (CLT), nail laminated timber (NLT), heavy timber decking, and other engineered and composite systems. Applications for the use of these products under modern building codes will be discussed, and examples of their use in U.S. projects reviewed.
Mass timber’s ability to act as both structure and exposed finish will also be highlighted, as will its performance as part of an assembly, considering design objectives related to structural performance, fire resistance, acoustics, and energy efficiency. Other topics will include detailing and construction best practices, lessons learned from completed projects and trends for the increased use of mass timber products in the future.
Learning Objectives
Learning Objective 1: Identify mass timber products available in North America and consider how they can be used under current building codes and standards.
Learning Objective 2: Review completed mass timber projects that demonstrate a range of applications and system configurations.
Learning Objective 3: Discuss benefits of using mass timber products, including structural versatility, prefabrication, lighter carbon footprint, and reduced labor costs.
Learning Objective 4: Highlight possibilities for the expanded use and application of mass timber in larger and taller buildings.
About the Presenter
Archie Landreman, CSI Wood Products Council-WoodWorks
Archie lives in Racine, Wisconsin and is the North Central Regional Director for WoodWorks, an initiative of the Wood Products Council. Archie has been with WoodWorks since their Midwest inception in 2008 and has been actively involved in wood education and assisting with commercial wood projects. Some notable project assistance examples would be the T-3 building in Minneapolis, Ascent in Milwaukee, and Buffalo Sabres Arena in Buffalo, New York. Archie has assisted on over three hundred projects and provided hundreds of hours of education to architects, engineers, contractors and developers.
He has been active in the wood and structural building component industry since 1970, and has extensive experience with structural lumber, engineered wood products, sips, wood trusses and mass timber.
Archie is an active and participating member of the following organizations: American Institute of Architects, Association of Licensed Architects, Construction Specification Institute, Forest Products Society, National Frame Building Association, Structural Building Component Association, Structural Engineers Association, Structural Insulated Panel Association and works closely with the Forest Products Lab in Madison, Wisconsin.
WebEx
Meeting number (access code): 964 069 391
Meeting password: [REDACTED]

Passive House Discussion with Dan Whitmore from RDH Building Sciences
2020-05-20 16:30 - 18:00 | Online – Zoom
In his efforts to evolve building practices, Dan Whitmore combines a passion for energy, sustainability, and the natural environment with over 30 years of construction experience. He melds knowledge of Passive House, building science, materials selection, and energy resources with his extensive background in hands-on craft, site management, and project troubleshooting. Since 2010 he has designed, constructed and/or consulted on over 40 passive building projects.
A long-time denizen of Seattle, Washington, in 2018 Dan joined RDH Building Science as one of their in-house Passive House Specialists. Additionally, Dan is a Certified Passive House Consultant (CPHC), a Certified Passive House Builder (CPHB), and an instructor and curriculum developer for PHIUS’ Builders Training Program. He also serves on the boards of Passive House Northwest and PHIUS and is a constant advocate for municipal and state advances in building practice.

A Tale of Two Bldgs: In-Depth Performance Comparison + PHIUS Monitoring Protocol
2020-06-16 17:00 - 18:00 | Online – Zoom
Join us as we explore high level protocols and in-depth performance results of energy and indoor environmental quality measurement within PHIUS+ multi-family buildings. Providing more perspective on actual operation is a key step to transforming the market towards passive design principles.
The presentation team will discuss findings from a ComEd monitoring study conducted by Slipstream which looks at two nearly identical affordable housing multi-family buildings in Chicago: one meeting ENERGY STAR Multifamily requirements and the other achieving PHIUS+ standards. Although we won’t cover all aspects of the comprehensive research-grade undertaking, we will touch on energy, load breakdowns, indoor air quality, and a couple of lessons learned.
Stepping back from the specific study, an overview and key findings of the PHIUS+ Monitoring Protocol will also be presented. The certification requirements of the PHIUS+ program are designed to produce efficient, comfortable, healthy, and durable buildings. But currently those requirements pertain to the design and construction of the building; certification ends as building occupation and operation begins. The purpose of the monitoring protocol is to verify that the desired outcomes are being achieved; to, at least, detect problems in case they are not; and preferably, to diagnose problems as well.

Oh No! What Did I Miss? How to Properly Specify an Air Barrier System
2020-07-15 16:45 - 18:00 | Online – Zoom
Design and Construction documents are one of the first steps towards achieving an effective layer of airtightness to manage moisture and air movement. The importance of a proper specification cannot be understated and a well-articulated document will ensure that the owner is provided with materials, performance and quality. The presentation will review some of the consideration and language that should be reviewed prior to developing a specification and will outline code requirements, performance requirements, what can be done for quality and ensuring material selection meets the intent of design and for crucial coordination with other components of the enclosure.
Learning Objectives:

Understand the various test methods for air barrier materials and assemblies as it relates to air, water, fire and other key requirements
Analyze the other control functions for a wall assembly and determine if the air barrier also provides vapor control or water resistance
Identify key language for 3-part specification to articulate performance standards, execution and quality requirements
Define requirements for quality assurance and control and typical downfalls of specification language

Presenter Info:
Laverne Dalgleish, ABAA Executive Director

Principal of Building Professionals & Executive Director of the National Air Barrier Association
Chair – ULC S700 Committee on Thermal Performance in the Built Environment
Chair – ISO TC163 SC03 Thermal insulation materials, products and systems
Chair – Building Envelope Task Group for Standing Committee on Energy Efficiency

Mr. Laverne Dalgleish is the Executive Director of the Air Barrier Association of America (ABAA). As such, he works to champion energy conservation in buildings while educating the building owners and designers about the benefits of energy conservation such as durability, comfort, reduced maintenance, reduced HVAC equipment costs and the positive impact on the environment.
Mr. Dalgleish travels North America to educate building owners and designers on the benefits of effective and working air barrier systems in buildings. This education mission includes working with standards development organizations, training and education groups, government policy departments, and quality assurance program developers for the construction industry. Mr. Dalgleish is the Secretariat of two ISO Committees, ISO TC61 SC10 Cellular Plastics and ISO TC163 SC3 Thermal Insulation Products. He is also Chair of the ULC Thermal Performance in the Building Environment Standards Committee.
Mr. Dalgleish was the key developer of the ABAA Quality Assurance Program for the installation of air barrier systems in buildings. This program is based on ISO 9000 and ISO 12576-2 but brings the ISO requirements together with practical applications for the air barrier industry.

Integrating HVAC into Large Passive House Building Design
2020-10-21 16:45 - 18:00 | Online – Zoom
Integrating HVAC into Large Passive House Building Design with Mike Woolsey
Plus bonus presentation from Brett Bridgeland with Slipstream on new ComEd incentives!
For our main presentation this month Mike Woolsey from Swegon will be exploring the integration of HVAC systems into the design of large Passive House buildings in order to save enormous amounts of energy, reduce operating costs and provide high levels of occupant comfort. Presentation starts at 5pm.
Course Objectives Include:

Review the main characteristics of large Passive House buildings.
Learn the differences between HVAC systems for large buildings meeting code, and large buildings built to the Passive House Institute standard.
Examine the role of the Energy Recovery Air Handling Unit in large Passive House buildings.
Explore steps taken to integrate HVAC into large Passive House buildings.

Presenter Info:
Mike Woolsey first became interested in building energy use during the oil embargo of the 1970s. Ongoing curiosity about building systems led to a career in the HVAC industry that launched in 1985, while he was still completing his BSME degree from Washington University in St. Louis. Now a Certified Passive House Designer, Mike specializes in product and system applications, market management and business development and has presented on ventilation topics in the United States and abroad at hundreds of seminars. An active member of ASHRAE, Mike is a voting member of ASHRAE SPC 227P Passive Building Design Standard, and was previously a voting member of SSPC 170 Ventilation of Health Care Facilities. Mike currently serves as Business Development Manager in the Commercial Ventilation group of Swegon North America, a wholly owned subsidiary of Swegon AB, with 1500 employees and annual sales of over US$600M worldwide.
Bonus Presentation
Brett Bridgeland from Slipstream will be giving a quick presentation on the NEW ComEd incentive ($2k) for high-performance, all-electric homes!
1 AIA and 1 PHI CEU approved
To sign up and get call link, visit our meetup page.

Deep Dive Into Warm Water: Electrify Water Heating in Passive House Construction
2020-11-18 16:45 - 18:00 | IL
Sean Armstrong has led the Zero Net Energy design of more than 100 all-electric, Energy Star and Passive House multifamily developments, and brings a wealth of practical knowledge to share with you from 25 years in the field.
The focus of this presentation is the challenge of integrating heat pump water heaters into cold climate, Passive House homes and high rises, with case studies and discussion of available and soon-to-market products. Related water heating conservation measures–3/8″ piping, pipe-in-a-pipe insulation, manifold vs. trunk-and-branch–will be briefly discussed for those with interest in delivery system best practices, but this presentation is intended to help Passive House designers get rid of that last fossil fuel load without having to pioneer the design strategies.

Passive House 101: Introduction to Passive Buildings
2021-01-20 17:00 - 18:00 | Online – Zoom
We’re pleased to have board member Tom Boeman and PHIUS Certification Manager James Ortega start the year off with an introduction to the Passive House building standard. 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.
About the Presenters
Tom Boeman, LEED AP
Tom Boeman is a practicing Architect and Certified Passive House Consultant (CPHC). He co founded Boeman Design LLC with his wife Susan in 2012 where he continues to provide architectural services to residential and commercial clients in the Chicago area and Michigan. Prior to Boemand Design he worked for 20+ years at Powell/Kleinschmidt, an award winning interior architecture firm, where he performed a variety of roles including Architect, IT manager and principal. Tom was introduced to Passive House in 2016 and became a CPHC that year. He was drawn to PHIUS for it’s straightforward approach and the rigorous training grounded in Building Science. He is currently consulting as a CPHC on his first projects pursuing PHIUS + Certification. Tom is on the Board of the Passive House Alliance Chicago.
James P. S. Ortega, RA PHIUS Certification Manager
James Ortega joined PHIUS in February of 2015 as a member of the Certification team, where he provides design review and energy modeling services to evaluate project qualifications for PHIUS+ Certification. Ortega works closely with the submitting CPHC to provide feedback on questions pertaining to energy modeling and building plans. He also provides consulting services on static and dynamic energy modeling in WUFI Passive and THERM, and spearheads energy modeling deliverables on feasibility studies for projects interested in pursuing PHIUS+ Certification.
Ortega holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, and is a licensed architect in the state of Illinois.
Schedule
4:45pm — Zoom opens
5:00pm — Presentation
5:45pm — Q & A

Passive House 201: PHIUS+ 2021 Updates
2021-02-17 17:00 - 18:00 | Online – Zoom
More info coming soon…

Renovation Round Table
2021-03-17 17:00 - 18:30 | Online – Zoom
Not only will we be talking green, we’ll be wearing green! Please join us online St Patrick’s Day for our renovation round table featuring Chicago folks who have been or are going through Passive and near-zero retrofits: April Hughes, Scott Farbman, Neil Peck, Lindsey Elton, Jamie Carr, and Tom Bassett-Dilley. We’ll tackle what’s easy, what’s hard, what order to do things if you’re phasing the project, energy modeling insights, and more.
If you have questions you’d like to see addressed by the panel, PLEASE post them on the meetup page and we will be glad to take them on.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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 -->

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.

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.
