The Cost of Change

As cities and countries continue to declare climate emergency, they are now faced with the economic burden that it takes to switch over to more energy efficient systems. However, in their article, Climate change: real estate worth billions could become obsolete – unless owners act now, Kevin Muldoon-Smith and Paul Michael Greenhalgh, professors at Northumbria …

Zoned Out

Last Sunday, the state of Oregon followed Minneapolis’ lead on zoning for single-family housing.  Sioux Falls, and much of South Dakota, is facing serious housing challenges.  This state-wide effort would allow duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, and attached townhomes in any Oregon community above 25,000 people that is currently zoned as single-family (and to a lesser degree …

Are Passive Houses part of the conversation?

Last week the SDSU Department of Architecture (DoArch) hosted a ribbon cutting at PH01:BRK, the first custom designed single-family passive house in South Dakota. The event culminates almost three years of work, and has introduced passive house principles to students, initiated research and training, and most visibly, resulted in the construction of a certified, student …