I believe that energy efficient building design is much more than pumping more insulation (even green ones) into walls and roofs, or study the hygrothermal behaviour of building envelopes considering the different climatic site conditions, or even installing a superior made-in-Germany, super low U value windows!!. In this regard, as an architect, I'd rather do a good detailing of the building envelope to start with.

Howver, what beats both of the above in terms of sense of design responsibility and effectiveness, is actually what architects are good at (at least theoretically but rarely practice or advocate for)** which is to ensure a minimum heating and cooling loads on their buildings in the first place. This is what passive design principles is all about.

This requires a deep understanding of site analysis, compactness ratio, orientation, landscape impact, shading devices, heat island effect and many many more ***. More importantly, it requires compassion and understanding that architecture is now different than 50 years ago. it must change to be help the environment heal and allow for creativity and innovation in every aspect of the design especially at the very early phases.  

Finally, I don't like to use the word innovation to mean iphone turned into an ipad!. in my view an innovation must eventually help the enviornment including its inhabitants. Only then can we say, an innovative solution. Lets start with passive design principal.

Below is a brief definition of the "passive design" from the Canadian Mortgage & Housing Corporation as applied to affordable hosuing *

“Passive design” refers to any technologies, construction methods or other strategies that increase energy efficiency, reduce operating costs and improve indoor environmental quality, without the need for expensive and overly complex mechanical or energy systems.

This includes relatively simple and inexpensive improvements like increasing the amount or performance of a building’s insulation, reducing thermal bridges, creating airtight building envelopes, using high-efficiency space conditioning (heating and cooling) systems and incorporating heat recovery ventilators (HRVs) to maintain comfort, provide good indoor air quality and control moisture.

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sources:

*  Passive Approaches to Low-Energy Affordable Housing - CMHC

** The evidence is abundant that architects were participants in creating the current environmental catastrophe along side the really bad dictrom of "urban sprawl" which is mushrooming everywhere.

*** Some who proudly carry the designation (LEED AP...etc) usually make the most basic mistakes when it comes to site planning, by entirely neglecting orientation, forget sun protect measures, or even filling up the entire site with asphalt or concrete sidewalks!. Architecture 101 isn't it?

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