Posts in Solar

A Path for California Architects to Easily Achieve Title 24 and Achieve Beyond-Code Performance

California has long been at the forefront of energy efficiency in the United States compared to its 49 counterparts, with its pioneering Building Energy Efficiency Standards, commonly known as Title 24, Part 6, first adopted in 1976. These standards are not static. They undergo rigorous updates every three years, serving as a dynamic benchmark for building energy performance and a critical mechanism for reducing greenhouse gas emissions during construction and operation. This continuous evolution is a deliberate policy strategy by the California Energy Commission (CEC) to systematically integrate the latest energy-saving technologies and construction practices into the built environment.

Architectural Design, Building Enclosure, Building Science, Code, Electrification, Embodied Carbon, Heat Pumps, High Performance Homes, HVAC, Mechanical Design, Off-grid, Passive House, Phius, Solar, Wildfire, Title 24Positive EnergyJune 4, 2025Title 24, Building Energy Efficiency Standards, California Energy Commission (CEC), net-zero buildings, decarbonization targets, 2022 Energy Code, energy reduction, building science principles, MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing) engineering, Title 24 compliance, beyond-code performance, Heat Pumps, Electric-Ready Requirements, Solar PV, Battery Storage, Ventilation Standards, 2025 Title 24 updates, demand flexibility, time-dependent valuation (TDV), mandatory measures, prescriptive approach, performance approach, Energy Design Ratings (EDR), EnergyPro, CBECC, EnergyPlus, climate zones, prescriptive requirements, insulation, fenestration, air sealing, moisture management, Solar Photovoltaic (PV) systems, grid-interactive homes, high-efficiency HVAC systems, smart controls, Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERVs), Heat Recovery Ventilators (HRVs), water heating, LED lighting, Phius, passive building standard, net-zero building, quality assurance, continuous insulation, thermal bridge-free design, airtightness, high-performance windows and doors, balanced ventilation, passive solar design, internal heat gains, Phius CORE, Phius ZERO, Integrated Design Process (IDP), labor and expertise gaps, permitting and regulatory hurdles, contractor resistance, building science consulting, energy modeling, MEP system design, Code Compliance, Risk Management.

The Collaborative Legacy of Lake|Flato Architects and Positive Energy

The landscape of contemporary architecture is increasingly defined by the synergy between visionary design and rigorous building science. At the forefront of this evolution stands the enduring partnership between San Antonio based Lake|Flato Architects, renowned for their distinctive, context-responsive designs, and Positive Energy, an Austin, TX-based residential MEP engineering and building science firm. For over a decade, our collaboration has consistently yielded award-winning projects, particularly within the challenging environmental contexts of the Texas Hill Country and beyond. This blog post explores how our integrated approach to design has not only created beautiful and award winning architecture, but also offers invaluable lessons for the broader architectural community.

Architectural Design, Architecture 2030, Building Enclosure, Building Science, Environmental Design, Healthy Home, HVAC, Indoor Air Quality, Mechanical Design, MEP2040, Natural Building Material, Off-grid, Solar, VentilationPositive EnergyJune 3, 2025Lake|Flato Architects, Positive Energy, collaborative legacy, building science, human-centered design, healthy spaces, comfortable spaces, resilient spaces, residential MEP engineering, environmental conservation, resource conservation, energy efficiency, carbon reduction, integrated design, architectural vision, engineering expertise, human well-being, Marfa Ranch, rammed earth, thermal mass, passive heating, passive cooling, moisture management, award-winning projects, The Prow, off-grid resilience, net-zero energy, photovoltaic array, battery storage, solar thermal collectors, rainwater harvesting, energy modeling, window-to-wall ratio, insulation levels, Verde Creek Ranch, solar array, Tesla batteries, energy independence, Confluence Park, sustainable design, biomimicry, green roof, urban regeneration, Madrone Mesa Ranch, Fall Creek Residence, River Bend Residence, Hog Pen Creek Residence, sustainable architecture

Feldman Architecture and Positive Energy Forge a Path to World Class Architecture

Feldman Architecture is a distinguished firm based in San Francisco and widely recognized for their creation of warm, light-filled spaces characterized by an understated modern aesthetic. Beyond the visual appeal of their designs, Feldman Architecture is driven by a profound commitment to addressing complex problems through design, aiming to significantly enhance human interaction with the built environment and the planet. This ethos finds a powerful complement in our work here at Positive Energy. We are a specialty MEP engineering and building science firm from Austin, TX, and share with our partners at Feldman Architecture a foundational mission to transform the delivery of conditioned space to society.

Architectural Design, Building Science, Electrification, Environmental Design, Healthy Home, High Performance Homes, Indoor Air Quality, Mechanical Design, Natural Building Material, Solar, Wildfire, Embodied Carbon, MEP2040, Architecture 2030Positive EnergyJune 2, 2025Feldman Architecture, Positive Energy, Santa Lucia Preserve, MEP Design Engineering, Title 24 consulting, sustainable design, architectural excellence, ethical design, building science, Living Building Challenge (LBC), Carbon Budget initiative, high-performance design, regenerative principles, technical expertise, aesthetic expression, contextual design, MEP2040 Challenge, carbon reduction, operational carbon, embodied carbon, electrification, building physics, design decisions, performance metrics, code compliance, aesthetics, emotional resonance, material selection, concrete, structural steel, aluminum, spray foam insulation, mass timber, wood doors and windows, locally sourced stone, low-carbon CMU, Red List avoidance, Curveball project, Fog's Edge project, Cloud's Rest project, Stone's Throw project, Modern Craft project, radical candor, intergenerational transfer of ethos, Climate Studio, Tally, energy modeling, daylighting, photovoltaic (PV) systems, AIA California Climate Action Committees, reach codes, advocacy, talent attraction, job turnover, collaboration, specialized consultants, ecosystem, jazz improvisation, role of architect, design constraints, 2030 Challenge, industry standards, business benefits of sustainability, "role power", human well-being, mental health.

The Theresa Passive House: A Blueprint for High-Performance Design in Hot-Humid Climates

The Theresa Passive House, nestled in Austin's historic Clarksville neighborhood, stands as a remarkable example of how architectural preservation can harmoniously merge with modern sustainable design. This 2100 square foot residence, completed in 2020, is not merely a renovation and addition to a 1914 Craftsman bungalow; it is a meticulously engineered dwelling that embodies rigorous targets in energy efficiency, indoor air quality (IAQ), thermal comfort, embodied carbon, and responsible materials sourcing.[1] These ambitious goals were established by the Passive House Institute U.S. (Phius), a leading authority in high-performance building standards.

Architectural Design, Building Enclosure, Building Science, Code, Dehumidification, Electrification, Environmental Design, Filtration, Healthy Home, Heat Pumps, High Performance Homes, HVAC, Indoor Air Quality, Mechanical Design, Passive House, Phius, Solar, VentilationPositive EnergyMay 28, 2025Theresa Passive House, high-performance design, hot-humid climates, residential performance, sustainable design, architectural preservation, energy efficiency, indoor air quality (IAQ), thermal comfort, embodied carbon, responsible materials sourcing, Passive House Institute U.S. (Phius), Phius certification, PHIUS 2018+ Source Zero, ASHRAE Climate Zone 2A, photovoltaic panels, battery backup systems, self-sufficiency, resilience, Forge Craft Architecture + Design, Hugh Jefferson Randolph Architects, Studio Ferme, integrated design process, building envelope, HVAC system, on-site solar panels, MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing) engineering, Positive Energy, building science, human-centered design, net-zero energy buildings, heating loads, cooling loads, source energy, airtightness, energy modeling, continuous insulation, thermal bridges, air changes per hour (ACH@50 Pa), air leakage, Blower Door Test, high-performance windows, triple-glazing, low-emissivity (low-e) coatings, Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC), balanced ventilation, Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERVs), dedicated dehumidification, right-sizing mechanical systems, comfort, health, durability, passive survivability, Winter Storm Uri, University of Texas research, climate-specific standards, moisture management, key performance metrics, site energy use index (EUI), renewable energy production, wall assemblies, water control layer, air control layer, thermal control layer, vapor control layer, wood frame system, mineral wool insulation, unvented roof, Marvin windows, indoor pollutants, combustion products, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), particulate matter (PM2.5), ASHRAE Standard 62.2, ventilation rates, Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) heat pump AC, Panasonic Intellibalance 1000 ERV, MERV filtration, heat pump hot water heater, climate resilience, extreme weather events, grid outages, source zero certification, community education, AIA Housing Award, Passive Project of the Year – Retrofit, Austin Green Awards, affordable multifamily housing, building envelope prioritization, mechanical ventilation with energy recovery (ERV) implementation, MEP systems integration, advanced air filtration, MERV ratings, active energy independence, photovoltaics, battery storage, MEP engineer collaboration, climate-specific MEP solutions, commissioning agent

The Campsite at Shield Ranch

The Campsite at Shield Ranch was designed by our friends at Andersson / Wise . It is a 100% off-grid community designed to engage and celebrate the natural context of the ecologically diverse 6800-acre hill country sanctuary where it sits. The camp features an open-air pavilion, screened shelters, and miles of hiking trails just 22 miles from downtown Austin. Positive Energy was hired to perform MEP engineering, solar design and engineering, and Resilient Systems consulting. The Resilient Systems we master planned for the program include a 64kW architecturally integrated solar array, a 200kWh (100kW peak power capacity) backup battery array, a 60kW emergency propane genset, and we consulted with another rainwater system engineer a couple of 60k gallon rainwater collection tanks for occupancy use with TECQ compliant filtration for public consumption (as well as necessary rainwater storage for fire suppression).

Architectural Design, Building Enclosure, Building Science, Electrification, Environmental Design, HVAC, Mechanical Design, Natural Building Material, Off-grid, Solar, Batteries, GeneratorPositive EnergyFebruary 28, 2023Shield Ranch, Off-Grid Campsite, Sustainable Development, Microgrid, Solar PV System, Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), Propane Generator, Rainwater Harvesting, Water Conservation, Evaporative Toilets, Wastewater Management, SITES Gold Certification, Conservation Easements, Barton Creek Watershed, Ecological Protection, Vegetation and Soil Protection Zones, Topsoil Reuse, Native Plant Restoration, Light Pollution, Dark Sky Designation, Quiet Place Designation, Climate Change Resilience, MEP Engineering, On-Site Power Engineer, Building Science, Human-Centered Design, Energy Systems Consulting, Solar Design, Battery Array Design, Generator Integration, Regulatory Breakthroughs, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), Travis County, Off-Grid Living, Resilient Spaces, Self-Sufficiency, Integrated Design, Collaborative Engineering.

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