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The Ultimate Short-Term Rental Amenity: Breathing Easy on Your Next Getaway

Traveling is about stepping away from the daily grind, exploring new places, and having a safe haven to rest and recharge. Whether you’re a short-term rental host opening your doors, or a guest looking for that perfect home away from home, we share a common goal: creating a high quality, amenity rich, indoor environment.

But there is one invisible amenity that often gets overlooked in the hospitality world, even though it’s the most important material we interact with. We take it into our bodies 12 to 16 times a minute.

I’m talking about the indoor air (1).

As a society, we’re starting to wake up to the importance of Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and the "indoor microbiome"—the invisible ecosystem of bacteria, fungal spores, and biology we share our spaces with. A typical home is filled with thousands of pounds of air that we live immersed in. The air we breathe indoors directly impacts our sleep, our cognitive function, and our long-term health.

Traveling is about stepping away from the daily grind, exploring new places, and having a safe haven to rest and recharge. Whether you’re a short-term rental host opening your doors, or a guest looking for that perfect home away from home, we share a common goal: creating a high quality, amenity rich, indoor environment.

But there is one invisible amenity that often gets overlooked in the hospitality world, even though it’s the most important material we interact with. We take it into our bodies 12 to 16 times a minute.

I’m talking about the indoor air (1).

As a society, we’re starting to wake up to the importance of Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and the "indoor microbiome"—the invisible ecosystem of bacteria, fungal spores, and biology we share our spaces with. A typical home is filled with thousands of pounds of air that we live immersed in. The air we breathe indoors directly impacts our sleep, our cognitive function, and our long-term health.

This short blog is a high-level introduction to the basics of healthy indoor spaces, and is also a list of the easy upgrades that we commonly get wrong as a society. 

In the big picture, this is a synergistic opportunity for us to support each other for mutual benefit.

Guests - If you aren't experiencing these upgrades on your travels, you can respectfully ask for them - or feel free to just forward this to your host! 

Hosts - By focusing on these thoughtful details, you can differentiate your space, command a higher nightly rate, and help educate our community on what a truly healthy home looks and feels like.

Here are 8 straightforward ways we can upgrade our indoor environments for better health:


Plug in type Air “Fresheners” are commonly used. In reality, though the air will indeed smell different, adding chemical molecules to the air does not improve the indoor air quality from a health or wellbeing perspective. 

Credit: Bustle.com

1. Say Goodbye to Chemical "Fresheners"

Arriving at a rental and immediately unplugging the synthetic plug-in air freshener has become a bit of a travel ritual for many of us. While they might smell like a "spring breeze,” or “morning dew”, these products actually emit a slew of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), many of which are known endocrine-disrupting chemicals and can morph into carcinogens. Let’s ditch the synthetic fragrances. Today’s standard for clean is not a home that smells like chemicals; it’s one that actually has fresh, clean, healthy air inside.

2. Keep it Dry and Fresh

If you look at common complaints for hotels and rentals, mustiness and lingering harsh cleaning chemicals top the list. Mustiness is a moisture problem, which leads to a compromised indoor microbiome (mold and mildew). The risk of unhealthy mold exposures can’t be overstated. Take this seriously by adding either stand-alone dehumidifiers, or better yet, use a whole-house ducted ventilating dehumidifier. Healthy indoor spaces need effective humidity control, natural or mild cleaning products, and a way to bring filtered, fresh outdoor air inside continuously. 

3. Bring in a Portable Air Cleaner

This is one of the simplest, most affordable, and effective ways to improve health indoors. Capturing unhealthy chemicals and microbes in a filter before they can enter our lungs and bloodstream is a smart move. Adding a quiet, high-quality HEPA air purifier to the bedroom is a massive upgrade that shows you really care about your guests' rest. 

Avoid any products that mention ozone, ions, ionizers (positive, negative, bipolar), photocatalytic oxidation (PCO), or UV. All of these represent “indoor air chemistry experiments” - where we are the guinea pigs (2). While harmful emissions have been measured, none of these have ever been shown to have net positive effects on indoor air quality by IAQ researchers - only by the manufacturers themselves. Think of it this way, we can filter out pollutants from indoor air, but there is nothing we can add to air that makes it healthier - this includes ozone, ions and UV, as well as chemical scents.

4. Show Off Your Air Quality

Imagine seeing a live snapshot of a home's air quality right on the listing! Adding a residential-grade IAQ sensor—like an Airthings View Plus or an AirGradient One —is a brilliant move. It allows guests to confidently book healthy spaces, while allowing owners to understand the reality of IAQ for their listing. Don’t wonder whether your guests are breathing unhealthy air. Prove to them, and yourself, that the space is healthy, low in CO2, and free of harmful chemicals and particulates.

Modern memory foam mattresses let you sleep on a bed of unstable petrochemical foams that emit VOCs and sVOCs molecules that you get to be immersed in while you sleep - and all other times.

Credit: asleep.co.in

5. Opt for Natural Fibers Over Plastics

Nobody wants to sleep on a lump of petrochemical foam. Yet, many popular conventional mattresses, pillows, and blankets are just that —made of polyurethane and treated with diisocyanates and other chemicals that can off-gas into the bedroom air. Memory foam is about manufacturer profit; it is not the best latest sleep technology by any means.  Instead, for health and comfort, we want "dumb”, OG fibers that come from plants. Investing in organic cotton, wool, coconut coir, hemp and flax ensures guests aren't breathing in chemical pollutants while they're trying to recharge.

6. Rethink the Paint

We all know latex gloves are plastic. Conventional latex paint essentially wraps the interior surfaces of a room in a thin layer of plastic, which off-gasses and traps moisture. Instead of surrounding ourselves with petrochemical plastic, switch to mineral-based paints and natural plasters. These options are breathable, zero-VOC, and inherently hostile to mold without using harsh biocides. Plus, they give walls a gorgeous look and natural depth.

7. Skip the Wall-to-Wall Carpet

Wall-to-wall carpeting made of petrochemicals like ethylene and propylene, and carpet pads made of polyurethane “rebond” are often active emitters of chemical pollutants like toluene, styrene, and phthalates. Floor covering does not have to emit unhealthy molecules and gases into the air you breathe. The healthiest floors are hard, cleanable surfaces like wood or tile, accented with washable, natural-fiber area rugs, like jute, sisal and wool, to keep things cushy and cozy.

8. Vent the Kitchen

Cooking is love and an important part of being in a home. It’s also a powerful source of indoor pollutants like VOCs and fine particulates, and, with gas stoves, nitrogen oxides. If there’s a stove or oven, it needs a real exhaust hood that vents outside. No ifs, ands, buts or exceptions. This is a foundational piece of building science and vital for keeping the indoor air healthy.

Moving Forward Together

Healthy indoor air for breathing is the ultimate amenity. By recognizing this reality, hosts can offer a truly restorative experience, and guests can enjoy a stay that actually supports their health and well-being. 

Shifting our society toward truly healthy indoor environments is a journey, not an overnight fix. It starts with awareness—learning what actually makes a space healthy—and then moves into action, bringing those spaces to life through mindful, informed choices. 

Our eyes and noses think they know best, but nearly all indoor air pollutants evade our native senses. Navigating invisible risks can be challenging, but armed with knowledge and understanding we can rise to the challenge.

Here’s to healthier indoor air on our next getaway!

Footnotes 

  1. Indoor air breathed at home is our generation's dominant pollution exposure. We breathe approximately 30 lbs of air each day, more than 10x what we eat. Are you paying attention to your diet but not your IAQ?

  2.  IAQ researcher Dr. Marwa Zaatari faced a $180 million defamation lawsuit from manufacturer GPS after publicly exposing the flawed, lab-based efficacy claims of their needlepoint bipolar air purifiers. The scientific community widely condemned the action as an intimidatory SLAPP suit, raising over $100,000 for her legal defense. For more details, see Allison’s blog at Energy Vanguard.

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Architectural Design, Building Science, Code, Electrification, Embodied Carbon, Healthy Home, High Performance Homes, Passive House, Phius, Natural Building Material, Mechanical Design, MEP2040, Indoor Air Quality, HVAC, Heat Pumps Positive Energy Architectural Design, Building Science, Code, Electrification, Embodied Carbon, Healthy Home, High Performance Homes, Passive House, Phius, Natural Building Material, Mechanical Design, MEP2040, Indoor Air Quality, HVAC, Heat Pumps Positive Energy

Positive Energy's Education and Advocacy Efforts

Our comprehensive approach to MEP engineering and building science consulting is deeply rooted in a strategic vision that extends far beyond individual project delivery. Our commitment to the idea of "Healthy people, healthy planet” is unwavering. It is not just a statement, but a guiding principle that permeates our extensive education and advocacy efforts. Through the firm’s Building Science Blog and The Building Science Podcast, we aim to actively cultivate knowledge everywhere we can, demystifying complex technical concepts like indoor air quality and intricate wall assembly dynamics for architects and the broader industry. This accessible knowledge transfer empowers architects to confidently integrate advanced building science into their designs, mitigating risks and ensuring the long-term performance and durability of their projects.

Positive Energy is an MEP engineering firm that has carved a distinctive niche by specializing in high-end residential architecture projects. One way we differentiate ourselves as a firm is through our commitment to integrating building science expertise with human-centered MEP design/engineering. We engineer spaces that are not merely functional but are fundamentally healthy, comfortable, and resilient. This specialized focus allows us to apply deep building science and engineering expertise to the unique challenges and opportunities inherent in the complex architecture-driven custom home market.

But our differentiation in the market of MEP engineering firms extends beyond the technical specifications of individual projects. Our mission is to actually change the way society delivers conditioned space to itself. That mission also encompasses improving the lives of our employees and fostering meaningful relationships with our project partners. These commitments are guided by an overarching vision: "Healthy people, healthy planet." This aspirational goal is a moral and strategic compass, driving initiatives that reach far beyond the immediate confines of a single construction project.

A cornerstone of Positive Energy’s philosophy involves active collaboration. We partner closely with architects, contractors, and owner representatives, a strategic alliance designed to elevate the lived experience of architecture. This collaborative ethos is woven into every aspect of our work, enhancing how people get to interact with and thrive within their built environments. Kristof Irwin, the Principal and Founder of Positive Energy, frequently articulates this expansive ambition, emphasizing that society is "due for an upgrade in the way it thinks about and delivers indoor space to itself," and that a higher standard should be expected from homes. 

Positive Energy’s work is not confined to the delivery of MEP systems for specific projects. Our mission-focused engineering team, equipped with extensive expertise, actively solve problems in design that result in excellent outcomes for owners. These outcomes include the creation of healthier indoor environments and the electrification of homes with resilient systems, contributing directly to society's transition away from fossil fuel-based solutions.2 This demonstrates a clear link between their project-level work and significant societal and environmental impacts. The firm's strategic approach, which integrates education and advocacy, serves as a powerful lever to achieve this expansive "healthy people, healthy planet" vision. By empowering architects with critical knowledge and confidence, Positive Energy aims to foster designs that yield profound, lasting positive impacts on occupants' well-being and the planet's health.

Our business model transcends typical transactional engagements and encompasses what we call market development. When a company invests significantly in educating its partners and the wider industry, and articulates a mission and vision that extend beyond its immediate revenue streams, you can bet that it’s a strategic intent to shape the market. By fostering a greater understanding and demand for high-performance, healthy buildings, Positive Energy is cultivating a professional environment where our specialized services are not just desirable, but become an essential component of high quality architecture. This approach is a form of market-shaping, where education and advocacy are not merely marketing tools but integral components of our service delivery and a core strategy for market differentiation and long-term influence.

Positive Energy's Educational Platforms

Positive Energy actively curates and shares knowledge across the AEC industry, recognizing that widespread understanding of building science and what’s possible with better MEP engineering practices is crucial for systemic change. Our primary educational vehicles are the company blog and The Building Science Podcast, both meticulously designed to make complex technical information accessible and actionable for professionals, particularly architects. These platforms are explicitly part of our Education and Advocacy efforts , reflecting a core value of "continual learning and improvement" within the firm.3 This commitment to providing extensive, free educational content represents a significant strategic investment. It serves to cultivate a market for high-performance design, position Positive Energy as a leader, and build trust within the industry. By raising the overall knowledge base of architects, the firm contributes to a market where advanced building practices are the norm, expanding the pool of potential clients for their specialized services and attracting top-tier talent passionate about building science.

The Building Science Blog

Positive Energy's blog serves as a robust and accessible public resource, offering well-researched posts on a diverse range of building science, engineering, and architecture topics. In fact, you’re reading this very article on the company blog.  It functions as one of the primary educational arm of the firm, translating complex technical information into practical, digestible insights specifically tailored for architects and other industry professionals. The firm’s commitment to knowledge accessibility means that we try our best to present even the most intricate concepts clearly, in hopes of fostering a deeper understanding among our readership.

The blog directly addresses core areas where architects often seek practical guidance, particularly concerning MEP systems, building resilience, energy systems, building enclosures, and indoor air quality. For instance, the article "The Damp Deception: How a Well-Intentioned Code Change is Fostering Mold in New Homes,"delves into critical issues related to moisture dynamics within building envelopes, especially in hot-humid climate zones. This piece is highly relevant to architects who need to understand how seemingly minor code shifts can inadvertently lead to significant durability problems like mold growth, emphasizing the importance of proper wall assembly design and ventilation strategies. Another insightful piece, "The Case for Dedicated Dehumidification In Sealed Attics," meticulously explains the unique moisture challenges that arise with modern sealed attic construction. It clarifies how this approach, while offering benefits for HVAC performance, necessitates "precise and active management to prevent long-term durability issues and maintain superior indoor air quality". The blog further explores "Understanding 'Ping Pong Water' and Navigating Attic Moisture Dynamics in Modern Roof Assemblies", dissecting the intricate physics of moisture movement within various building components, empowering architects to design for long-term resilience.

Another favorite is the post called "Breathing Easy: The Case for a National Indoor Air Quality Code in the United States." This article highlights the significant, yet often unregulated, public health challenge posed by indoor air pollution and makes a compelling case for a comprehensive federal IAQ code. It directly addresses the architect's need to understand not only what constitutes good IAQ but also the systemic regulatory gaps that impede its consistent achievement. The blog also features "Designing Healthier Homes by Eliminating Fossil Gas Appliance Emissions," which emphasizes the architect's pivotal role in proactively designing for superior IAQ through informed material selection and integrated mechanical system design. This content is intended to be empowering for architects across the world to think of themselves as critical guardians of public well-being within the built environment, expanding the more traditional/conventional scope of responsibility.

The blog consistently features content on critical industry transitions, such as the "Electrification of Domestic Hot Water" and the shift to "Hydronic Systems for Future-Ready Architecture." These topics are framed as essential for decarbonizing buildings and fostering a more resilient energy infrastructure. "The Resurgence of Natural Building Materials in High-End Homes: A Building Science Perspective for Architects," addresses the escalating demand for homes that embody both sophisticated elegance and profound environmental responsibility. It explores the integration of biophilic design principles and eco-friendly materials to achieve goals like net-zero energy and reduced carbon footprints. This helps architects understand the broader implications of their material specifications. The article "Resilience in Action: A New Year's Resolution for the Built Environment,"is a great example of our firm’s commitment to designing buildings that can effectively withstand extreme weather events and power outages, a growing concern for everyone in the face of climate change.

We try to keep the blog’s writing style dignified, but accessible. Our posts often frame technical discussions within the practical context of architectural practice and design decisions. For example, "Interview Questions For Architecture Firms" directly engages owners who are looking for a potential architecture firm so they can evaluate candidates based on crucial aspects of their professional practice; ethos, process, and technical knowledge.

Our blog content goes beyond merely informing; it serves as a strategic, proactive risk mitigation tool for architects. The firm understands that architects often lack confidence in understanding how walls interact with the physical environment or the details of what constitutes indoor air quality. By providing clear, practical, and accessible explanations of building science principles related to common failure points—such as moisture issues in wall assemblies or poor IAQ—Positive Energy implicitly helps architects anticipate and prevent costly mistakes. Design errors in these areas can lead to significant building durability issues, adverse health impacts for occupants, expensive callbacks, potential litigation, and damage to an architect's professional reputation. This proactive knowledge transfer enhances the architect's technical competence and confidence, contributing directly to the delivery of more durable, healthier, and higher-performing buildings. This strategy fosters deeper trust and positions Positive Energy as an indispensable, forward-thinking partner committed to the long-term success and reduced liability of the architectural community.

The Building Science Podcast

Hosted by Kristof Irwin, Principal and Co-Founder of Positive Energy, and produced by M. Walker, Principal and Director of Business Development and Special Projects, The Building Science Podcast is a prized educational and advocacy platform. We have tried to distinguish our approach to topic and guest interview curation by moving beyond pure technical specifics to exploring the broader philosophical, ethical, and systemic aspects of building science and its profound impact on human lives and the planet. We are deeply interested in adjacent fields of scientific study that intersect with and impact building systems. 

Kristof Irwin's extensive background—including 14 years as an engineer, research scientist, and high-energy physicist, followed by 12 years as a custom builder and 19 years as a building science consultant and MEP engineer—lends immense credibility and a unique perspective to the podcast's discussions. His active roles in high-performance building communities, such as serving on the board of Passive House Austin and his involvement with AIA BEC (Building Enclosure Committee) and COTE (Committee on the Environment) committees, further solidify his position as an influential voice in the industry. His hosting of the podcast is explicitly "dedicated to moving the AEC forward through an understanding of building science and human factors in architecture, engineering and construction". This deep and varied expertise allows him to connect disparate fields and articulate the holistic nature of building science, amplifying Positive Energy's message and making our educational content more impactful.

The podcast encourages a holistic understanding of building performance through several key themes:

  • Integrating Ethics and Aesthetics: The show’s "Design Matters: Aesthetics, Ethics and Architectural Impact" episode explores the deep convergence of ethics and aesthetics in architectural practice. It challenges the notion that architecture should not "sully itself with social or ecological ills," advocating for design decisions that actively incorporate "carbon accounting, human health, and regenerative practices". This broadens the architect's perspective beyond mere visual appeal to encompass societal and environmental responsibility, thereby redefining the very value proposition of architectural design.

  • Risk Management in AEC: "Architecture of Risk: Managing Liability & Uncertainty in the AEC" directly addresses the inherent challenges within the industry, including client demands, contract complexities, and proactive project management It presents thoughtful design, careful building, and open communication as the "ultimate de-risking move," providing architects with practical guidance on navigating the complexities of their practice from a robust building science perspective.

  • Bioclimatic Design and Architectural Influence: "More Influence, More Impact, More Satisfaction" serves as an "invitation to architects to reclaim their power" by deeply understanding bioclimatic design. This involves mapping ambient climate inputs to specific building design elements such as massing, orientation, enclosure systems, and window specifications. This directly relates to how buildings mediate between external climate and human lives, thereby improving thermal comfort and the overall lived experience. Kristof’s philosophy is clear: "Fundamentally, homes should be about human thriving," and the industry already possesses the knowledge to design environments that improve sleep, life expectancy, cognition, and emotional regulation.

  • Systemic Thinking and Industry Transformation: The podcast frequently expands the "building-as-a-system view to a society-as-a-system view" to identify "leverage points for greater impact". This philosophical approach, particularly articulated in "Next Level Leverage," encourages a broader understanding of how building science can drive systemic change across the entire AEC industry. Kristof Irwin's powerful statement, "The paradigm needs to change. Fundamentally, homes should be about human thriving", encapsulates this transformative vision, urging a shift from a myopic focus on the building lot to a recognition of its role within natural ecosystems.

The podcast also delves into specific technical solutions for critical issues. For Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and Materials, episodes like "Designer Desiccants, Molecular Filters, and the Prospects of Dehumidification" explore low-energy methods for moisture removal and introduce advanced filtration technologies for molecular pollutants. This offers architects cutting-edge insights into improving IAQ beyond conventional approaches. Discussions in "Tools For a Habitable Future" and "Rethinking The Wood Supply Chain" emphasize the critical importance of material supply chains for both human health and planetary ecosystems.

These episodes link material choices directly to occupant well-being and the "triple bottom line of healthy homes, healthy people, healthy planet," reinforcing the profound connection between material specification and indoor environmental quality.While the provided information does not include explicit testimonials or quantitative listener feedback, the podcast actively seeks audience engagement. 

We honestly appreciate listeners who, in our increasingly soundbite world, appreciate the depth, breadth and subtlety of conversations like those of our show and we encourage emails and comments. We want the show to foster a community of engaged professionals and thought leaders around these complex topics. The Building Science Podcast is a virtual "philosophical society" for the AEC industry, serving a purpose far beyond conventional technical education. The podcast's broad, interdisciplinary content, coupled with our in-person Building Science Philosophical Society, work together to influence the mindset of the industry professionals, not just their technical skills. We want the show to be a crucial platform for fostering critical thinking, challenging outdated paradigms, and cultivating a shared, elevated vision for a more ethical, human-centric, and environmentally responsible built environment. By engaging thought leaders from across the industry and delving into the fundamental "why" questions behind the building science nuts-and-bolts, exploring ethical implications, societal impacts, and interdisciplinary connections, we hope to shape the intellectual discourse and professional ethos of the industry. 

Positive Energy's Advocacy for a Better Built Environment

Positive Energy's commitment to "Healthy people, healthy planet" extends far beyond the confines of individual projects, manifesting in active advocacy efforts aimed at catalyzing systemic change across the AEC industry. This strategic approach leverages their deep technical expertise to influence broader standards, policies, and collaborative practices.

A Vision for Human and Planetary Thriving

  • Overarching Strategic Purpose: Positive Energy's vision of "Healthy people, healthy planet" 3 is the ultimate driver of all their education and advocacy efforts. This comprehensive vision dictates their ambition to design buildings that are not only "healthy, comfortable, durable, efficient, resilient, sustainable and regenerative," but also "outstanding architecturally".5 This holistic view defines the scope and ambition of their "big impact" beyond day-to-day projects.

  • Prioritizing Human Health and Well-being: The firm explicitly centers its work on the belief that "homes should be about human thriving".17 This commitment is evident in their relentless focus on indoor air quality (IAQ) 7, ensuring optimal thermal comfort 11, and meticulously considering the impact of material choices on occupants' health.12 They boldly assert that buildings, when designed correctly, can actively "improve sleep, life expectancy, cognition, and emotional regulation" 17, thereby elevating the very quality of human life.

  • Driving Environmental Responsibility and Decarbonization: Positive Energy's dedication to moving society "away from fossil fuel based solutions" 2 and their active advocacy for electrification 7 are central to their environmental mission. They consistently emphasize the crucial role of high-performance buildings in "decarbonizing the built environment" and contributing to a "climate-neutral society".23 Their work aligns with global efforts to mitigate climate change and foster a sustainable future.

  • Philosophical Underpinning: "Design Around People. A Good Building Follows." This philosophy, implicitly and explicitly stated across their platforms 12, encapsulates their integrated approach. It suggests that when design fundamentally prioritizes human well-being and the health of the planet, high-performance outcomes naturally emerge as a consequence. Kristof Irwin's powerful articulation of this expanded systemic thinking serves as a guiding principle: "We cannot put the very systems upon which we provide energy and resources for our homes, which are in natural ecosystems, out of that view. In thermodynamics, for example, you define a boundary, and what we tend to do is define the boundary around the home or the lot. That myopia is inappropriate and damaging".17 This statement urges a shift from a limited, site-specific perspective to a broader, ecological understanding of architectural responsibility.

Speaking Engagements 

Positive Energy has been strategically presenting on a range of topics for information-hungry audiences all over North America since 2012. We have long held the ethos that articulating ideas and showing examples from our day-to-day work helps us educate others on first-principles-thinking that is so badly needed in the AEC industry. Architecture firms and builders have become exhausted by product manufacturers lunch-and-learn formats because they are product-centric and don’t connect the dots to a more holistic understanding of how buildings work. Expanding the lens to include adjacent disciplines across the scientific field, reminding folks of building science basics, and showing real world case studies is a powerful antidote. 

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University Guest Lectures

It is imperative for architecture and engineering schools to engage with building science and engineering practitioners to help bridge the gap between theoretical/academic design and practical, real-world high-performance design and construction. We have been engaged with various academic institutions since 2012, offering a range of lecture topics to support undergraduate and graduate students break through pedagogical bottlenecks.

Organization & Committee Memberships

Positive Energy is actively redefining the architect's role from primarily aesthetic and functional design to a critical public health and environmental stewardship role. By emphasizing the profound impact of design decisions on occupant health (IAQ, sleep, cognition) and planetary health (decarbonization, responsible material sourcing, regenerative practices), they are advocating for a shift towards truly regenerative design. This positions architects as "guardians of public well-being," implicitly urging them to embrace a more comprehensive, ethical, and impactful practice that contributes positively to both human and natural systems, moving beyond merely minimizing harm to actively creating benefit.

One powerful way to infuse these ideas into practice is to advocate for them within organizations of influence. Here are a few examples of Positive Energy team members and their active engagement in the industry: 

Notable Industry Publications

Positive Energy personnel are prolific contributors to various publications, both through our internal blog and external industry journals, endeavoring to provide thought leadership in building science and MEP engineering. 

Notable External Media Appearances

We live in a time where media reach is more fractured and potent than ever before. Positive Energy has endeavored to stay plugged into both traditional print media, as well as various social media channels to support education on first principles thinking that is so badly needed in the AEC industry.

Empowering Architects for Enduring Impact

Our comprehensive approach to MEP engineering and building science consulting is deeply rooted in a strategic vision that extends far beyond individual project delivery. Our commitment to the idea of "Healthy people, healthy planet” is unwavering. It is not just a statement, but a guiding principle that permeates our extensive education and advocacy efforts. Through the firm’s Building Science Blog and The Building Science Podcast, we aim to actively cultivate knowledge everywhere we can, demystifying complex technical concepts like indoor air quality and intricate wall assembly dynamics for architects and the broader industry. This accessible knowledge transfer empowers architects to confidently integrate advanced building science into their designs, mitigating risks and ensuring the long-term performance and durability of their projects.

Beyond education, Positive Energy endeavors to affect change through robust advocacy efforts. This includes promoting the widespread adoption of high-performance standards like Phius and actively contributing to industry standards development through roles on influential committees. Our strategic partnerships with architects, contractors, and owners all hinge on our deep belief that true industry transformation is a collaborative endeavor, where multidisciplinary expertise converges to elevate the lived experience of architecture.

Our firm’s philosophy, encapsulated by the motto "Design Around People. A Good Building Follows", challenges the industry to undertake a profound reorientation of architectural priorities. It challenges the industry to move beyond a limited focus on aesthetics and initial cost, urging a deeper consideration of how buildings profoundly impact human health, comfort, and the planetary ecosystem. By consistently articulating this expanded view and helping others understand its many intricacies, we hope to empower architects to embrace their critical and expanding role as critical guardians of public well-being and advocates for human thriving. 

In essence, we hope that our integrated strategy of education and advocacy acts as a force for systemic change within the AEC industry. We are not simply providing engineering services; we are trying to shape the future of the built environment by equipping architects with the confidence and knowledge to design buildings that are not only aesthetically compelling but also profoundly healthy, durable, energy-efficient, resilient, and ultimately, regenerative. This holistic approach ensures that every project contributes to a healthier future for both people and the planet.

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