PHIUS and the EMerge Alliance announced a joint effort to create an integrated active electrical power standard to further establish the existing PHIUS building standards as the best path to zero energy. The cooperation will create a single technical standards group made up of members of both organizations to develop the standard, which was formally launched on June 8, 2017.
While the PHIUS+ 2015 Passive Building Standard, released in March 2015, accounts for a range of climate conditions, market variables and other factors in North American climates, and serves as an ideal basis for net zero and net positive designed buildings, it does not cover active electrical systems in such buildings.
The EMerge alliance's development of direct current (DC) power to complement existing alternating current (AC) electricity will enhance current PHIUS standards through the use of hybrid AC/DC microgrids to provide plug-and-play convenience for homes and commercial buildings in an increasingly digital device-driven world. The new PHIUS initiative will facilitate faster electrical vehicle charging, as well as support for expanded use of USB, wireless charging and other low voltage DC power distribution needs. It will simplify the use of personal electronics and 'Smart Home and Buildings' automation to help reach net zero and net positive energy use in passive buildings designed buildings.
PHIUS co-founder and Executive Director Katrin Klingenberg commented:
"While we believe our standard is ideal to meet today’s economic and ecological market demands, we want to take it to the next level and provide active electrical standards to complete the journey to net Zero/Positive building construction. We anticipate, with EMerge’s experience and expertise in power system standards, we will get there."
About PHIUS
PHIUS is a 501(c)(3) organization committed to making high-performance passive building the mainstream market standard. PHIUS is transforming the building sector by developing and promoting North American specific standards, practices, and certifications for buildings, professionals, and products to create structures that are durable, comfortable, healthy, and super energy efficient.
Founded in 2003, PHIUS has trained over 2,000 architects, engineers, energy consultants, energy raters, and builders in the passive building standard. The organization is the leading passive building research and information provider in North America. PHIUS released the PHIUS+ 2015 climate-specific building standard, developed under a DOE grant in partnership with Building Science Corporation, in March of 2015. In addition to the DOE, PHIUS has also established strategic relationships with key organizations including RESNET and the Home Innovation Research Labs, among others. The organization has received funding from the Richard King Mellon Foundation and, more recently, the John D. and Katherine T. MacArthur Foundation.
Through its Passive House Alliance US (PHAUS) program, a membership-based organization with over 800 members across 18 local chapters and dozens of corporate sponsors, PHIUS is building a robust national network of passive building communities across North America.
Learn more at www.phius.org.
CONTACT:
Christopher Hacker
PHIUS Communications
312.561.4588