This month's topic: Vancouver Passive House

Dr. Guido Wimmers will speak about energy efficiency construction and Passive House standards. For more information, please contact metrovancouver@cascadiagbc.org.

"Passivhaus” or Passive House has its roots in the late 70’s in Canada, was developed in the 80’s in Germany and is spreading over the last 20 years over Europe with projects in Russia, Korea, Japan, USA and Canada. Because of its very simple performance-based rules, it is easy to understand. The major criterion is the specific energy demand for heating and cooling of less than 15 kWh/m², which is a reduction of over 90% of the energy consumption of average Canadian buildings. Air quality, heat bridges and air tightness are some of the other requirements. This, and the other rigorous limitations regarding the entire specific primary energy demand, makes the passive house one of the most successful green building models worldwide.

Dr. Guido Wimmers Dr. Tech, Dipl.Ing., MRAIC, LEED AP

Guido Wimmers is a specialist for energy efficient and environmentally friendly architecture. Before moving to Canada in 07, he has worked as an architect, independent consultant and project manager for Energy Tirol, designed and executed or supervised the design of numerous residential, commercial and institutional “Passivhaus” buildings in Austria and Italy. Mr. Wimmers was also one of the initiators of the first Canadian Passive House, the Austria House for the Olympics in Whistler and is currently working on the next extremely energy efficient buildings in BC. He holds a master degree in architecture and a PhD in engineering science in the field of energy efficient building technology at the institute of building science.

Since in BC, Guido has already been invited to share his refreshing expertise with students of UBC, SFU and BCIT at lectures and seminars and talk about the next leap in building technology at numerous forums including the GLOBE convention, the CAGBC and Canadian Wood Council fairs. He is also co-author of the Passive Design Tool Kit of the City of Vancouver, a founding director of the Canadian Passive House Institute.

***PLEASE NOTE: NO LUNCH WILL BE SERVED. PLEASE BRING A BAG LUNCH***