Nabih will describe the European Passive House concept and modern, home manufacturing methods in Austria. The Passive House is a European standard for a specific way to build a house that consumes very little energy, is comfortable and has a high indoor air quality. It is a cost effective method of building, where conventional heating systems are eliminated, and their cost is reinvested in super insulation, super air-tightness and heat recovery. Free heat generated from electrical and gas appliances and lighting is recycled through the heat recovery ventilator. This results in buildings that consume 80% to 90% less heating energy while constantly supplying fresh air. Passive Houses are engineered buildings. The Passive House Planning Package (PHPP), an energy modeling program, was developed by the Passive House Institute in Germany as a tool to use during the design stages of a project. Through the monitoring of hundreds of completed homes, the PHPP has proven to be accurate in predicting the energy performance of buildings. The seminar will describe the current situation of energy efficient design and construction in Europe. It will describe the Passive House concept and how this concept was adapted to a remodel in Berkeley. The seminar will also introduce the modern, prefab methods of construction in Europe which result in building which perform as designed. For additional information on the Passive House concept please visit this website www.nabihtahanarchitect.com and click on the link for the Home Energy Magazine article which describes Nabih Tahan retrofit of his home in Berkeley to the Passive House Standard For more information about this seminar, please contact: Michael Wetter(510) 486-6990