PHMass
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2022 Local PHIUS Project Winners
This past month, PHIUS held their annual Passive Projects Design Awards in Chicago to highlight buildings across the country that are pushing the envelope for passive h ouse – and several local projects won big! Best High-rise Multifamily & Best Overall Project Winner: 425 Grand Concourse | Bronx, New York Architect: Dattner Architects Builder: Monadnock Construction…
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The New Stretch Code and the Specialized Opt-In Code
The New Stretch Code and the Specialized Opt-In Code The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) has released the final draft of the state’s new building codes as required by last year’s Climate Act. The result is an updated Stretch Energy Code and a new Specialized Municipal Opt-in Code (the “Net-Zero” Code) that are expected…
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DOER Releases New Building Code Details and Invites Comments
On June 24th, the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) released draft code language for its Stretch Energy Code and Specialized Municipal Opt-in Code: Summary Document Explaining the Stretch Energy Code and Specialized Opt-in Code Language Residential Low-Rise Stretch Energy Code and Specialized Opt-in Code Language (red-line of applicable code sections) Commercial and Other Stretch Energy…
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Mass Save Launches 1-4 Unit Incentive Program
The Sponsors of Mass Save have officially announced the launch of a new incentive program for 1-4 unit residential buildings. The program is aimed at driving residential new construction toward high-performance, all-electric homes. They are offering incentives up to $40,000, as well as technical assistance to support builders, developers, and homeowners in the construction of…
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State Programs Inspire Efficient Affordable Housing
From Energy News Network Passive house incentive programs from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center and Mass Save have sparked the growth of high-performance multifamily buildings, with thousands more units in development. In the past year, families have moved into 257 affordable housing units in complexes built to the standard, and about 6,000 additional units are…
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Finch Cambridge Opens as a Model of an Affordable, Low-Carbon, and Healthy Building
After years of development, planning, and construction, Finch Cambridge has opened its doors to residents for the first time – and established itself as a model for affordable, low-carbon, and healthy living. The building features 98-units of 100% affordable housing, with a mix of 1, 2, and 3 bedroom units for lower income ranges through…
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Massachusetts Takes the Lead on Passive House
Massachusetts Takes the Lead on Passive House While Massachusetts has been a longtime leader in energy efficiency programing, the state is finally taking the lead on the development of low-carbon buildings by focusing on the Passive House standard. This includes incentives from the Mass Save program, a pilot grant program for affordable housing through the…
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A Surge in Affordable Multifamily Passive House in Boston
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Mass Save Incentives Expanded to Include Smaller Buildings
The Sponsors of Mass Save® have just announced an expansion of the Passive House Incentive Program to include all multi-family buildings of five or more units. Previously, only multi-family buildings that were four or more stories were eligible. Now, all multi-families regardless of the number of stories will qualify, as long as they still have…
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Somerville Includes Passive House in New Zoning Plan
Passive House is now ingrained into the City of Somerville’s development policy. The City Council approved the new Somerville Zoning Ordinance in December. This plan provides Passive House certification as qualification for density bonuses in residential projects. It also requires Passive House certification, or Living Building certification, in certain Master Planned Districts, including areas around…
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Brookline Bans New Fossil Fuel Infrastructure in Buildings
While the Passive House standard does not require electrification of buildings, many projects strive to entirely avoid the use of gas, and now in at least one town in the state they’ll have to just that. This past month, the Town of Brookline officially adopted a bylaw that prohibits the installation of oil and gas…
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MassCEC Awards Eight New Passive House Developments
The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center’s Passive House Design Challenge program has awarded grants to eight affordable housing developments throughout the state that will be built to the Passive House standard. The Design Challenge seeks to demonstrate that multi-family affordable housing can be built to the high efficiency levels of Passive House at a low-to-no cost premium.…
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Passive House Training Tool
This new training tool was developed primarily for multi-family projects but may be helpful for other Passive House building types. The goal of the tool is to empower each project team to develop their own in-house trainings specific to their project and provide them with the resources to effectively deliver that training to tradespeople who…