Designing Passive House for a Mixed-Humid Climate

Join us for an inside look at The Passive House in Davidson, NC, the first certified Passive House project in its region. This two-story, 5,700-square-foot home, situated on 11 acres of farmland, demonstrates how high-performance building can be seamlessly integrated with a client’s aesthetic vision. Led by Kristina Held, founder and president of Held Architecture, this session will explore climate-specific design strategies, the certification process from start to finish, and the measurable results of Passive House performance. Participants will also learn how Passive House principles align with other green building certification programs, including LEED v4 BD+C: Homes and Multifamily Lowrise and PHIUS Core, while gaining practical insights into site orientation, thermal control, and mechanical systems.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:

• Describe what Passive House design is, why it is essential, and how it aligns with LEED v4 BD+C: Homes and Multifamily Lowrise, PHIUS Core, and other green certification programs.
• Explain the principles of proper building orientation, including sun exposure, shading, solar heat gain, and daylighting.
• Discuss strategies to address thermal bridging, including continuous thermal barriers and continuous air barriers.
• Identify best practices for mechanical systems in Passive Houses, including water heating efficiency and integration of on-site renewable energy systems.

This webinar can be self-reported for one free general hour of LEED, WELL, and/or AIA continuing education.