Kristof
Kristof Irwin, PE, M. Eng.
Principal
Kristof Irwin, P.E. is Principal and Founder of Positive Energy. Based in Austin Texas, Positive Energy provides building science consulting and high performance MEP Engineering to project teams across the country. His approach to building systems recognizes that society is due for an upgrade in the way it currently thinks about and delivers conditioned space to itself.
Positive Energy’s vision is that buildings can be healthy, comfortable, durable, efficient, resilient, sustainable and regenerative, while also being outstanding architecturally. Kristof’s background includes 12 years of experience as a custom builder (including deep energy retrofits and zero-net energy projects) and 19 years as a building science consultant and MEP engineer.
Prior to founding his career in the AEC, Kristof worked for 14 years as an engineer, research scientist, and high-energy physicist at government and university research labs. He is active in the local and national high-performance building community including his role on the board of Passive House Austin and with the AIA BEC and COTE committees. He is also the host of the popular Building Science Podcast, which started in 2015, and is dedicated to moving the AEC forward through an understanding of building science and human factors in architecture, engineering and construction.
When away from work, Kristof enjoys spending time with family and 3 dogs. He’s an avid wind/water sports enthusiast and gets out on the water as much as he can to kitesurf, wing foil, and windsurf. When on land he enjoys mountain biking, hiking and martial arts. He also enjoys delving into books that expand horizons, from systems ecology to mindfulness.