Just testified before the Washington State Legislature in support of HB 1183, a fantastic bill that will remove barriers to Passive House. 1/ app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?... - ThreadSky

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robharrisoncphc.bsky.social • 6 days ago

Just testified before the Washington State Legislature in support of HB 1183, a fantastic bill that will remove barriers to Passive House. 1/

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?billnumber=1183&year=2025&initiative=False

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robharrisoncphc.bsky.social•6 days ago

“My name is Rob Harrison. I am a Seattle architect, testifying on behalf of The Passive House Network, a national non-profit. We strongly support HB 1183.

Passive House buildings use 60 to 70% less energy for heating and cooling. This has positive implications for our electrical grid.” 2/

robharrisoncphc.bsky.social•6 days ago

Passive House walls and roofs contain more insulation, so they are thicker. For both new buildings and retrofits, putting insulation on the *outside* is often the only feasible approach, but it’s not allowed. HB 1183 addresses this. 3/

robharrisoncphc.bsky.social•6 days ago

Setbacks and square footage caps as currently measured penalize Passive House buildings by reducing usable floor area. On multifamily buildings this discourages developers from going for Passive House. HB 1183 addresses this. 4/

robharrisoncphc.bsky.social•6 days ago

HB 1183 removes barriers to achieving Passive House in residential housing. Please pass it.”

I could have said way more—there’s more to the bill—but I only had a minute! 5/

robharrisoncphc.bsky.social•6 days ago

For example: I didn’t have time to say HB 1183 removes the requirements for facade modulation and upper level setbacks, which increase cost and thermal bridging! And then there is leaving the provision of off-street parking up to the owner/developer! 6/

robharrisoncphc.bsky.social•6 days ago

Special thanks to HB 1183 prime sponsor Representative @davina425.bsky.social, and Sightline’s @danbertolet.bsky.social who’ve both been doing great work on housing again this session. 7/

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