In just a few years we have seen energy-efficient construction taken more seriously and among a larger circle of practitioners than ever before. Adoption of the Passive House standard is accelerating, with over three million square feet planned in New York State alone. Code requirements for insulation and air sealing have become more stringent and enforceable, with mandatory blower door testing being perhaps most notable.

This is good news, but inexperienced adopters may not have the skills to ensure health and safety, comfort, and durability in the context of such changes. Some of us have lived through such a scenario and will speak at this session about the pitfalls of sweeping changes in energy-related construction requirements and what we can do to help the building industry successfully avoid them.