Supporters of the passive house trend achieved a landmark in Oregon this month when a committee charged with drafting the state’s building code adopted a standard recognizing passive house construction.
The Oregon Reach Code Committee, a group that develops Oregon’s building code three years in advance of its implementation, adopted an amendment allowing certified passive houses to meet the state’s energy compliance standard for commercial buildings. They say a similar move related to residential construction is on the horizon.
The Passive House Building Energy Standard cuts traditional energy use by as much as 90%. It is the world’s most rigorous standard for energy efficiency. Its proponents say it has been widely practiced in Europe, where it is being phased in as minimum building code, but it is relatively new in the United States, making Oregon’s move historic. The standard calls for air-tight, insulated construction to reduce the need for heating or cooling.
When Oregon’s Reach Code is formally adopted by the State’s Building Codes Division later this year, the Passive House Building Energy Standard will be part of the new optional code. That will allow builders of certified passive houses to leapfrog state investigations for energy compliance of buildings by showing their certificate. Allowing the standard into law also paves the way for these energy efficient buildings to capitalize on green-building incentives in Oregon.