Bronwyn Barry (she/her/they/them/it/thingumie)
@passivehousebb.bsky.social
Searching for comfortable buildings in a democracy that works. (Optimist.) E-bike loving architect building Passive House in a climate that thinks it doesn’t need it. (Persistent.)
Reposted by Bronwyn Barry (she/her/they/them/it/thingumie)
Hear @passivehousebb.bsky.social on the latest Marketing Passivhaus, discussing her passivhaus journey, the difficulties of marketing passivhaus to policy makers (and architects!), how parameters set you free, and more.
Listen to the full episode here => marketingpassivhaus.com/episodes/bro...
Listen to the full episode here => marketingpassivhaus.com/episodes/bro...
Marketing Passivhaus | Bronwyn Barry - Passive House BB
Bronwyn Barry is an architect and principal at Passive House BB, as well as co-founder and recently retired Board Chair of the Passive House Network. It was from Bronwyn that I first came across th...
marketingpassivhaus.com
July 29, 2025 at 4:42 AM
Hear @passivehousebb.bsky.social on the latest Marketing Passivhaus, discussing her passivhaus journey, the difficulties of marketing passivhaus to policy makers (and architects!), how parameters set you free, and more.
Listen to the full episode here => marketingpassivhaus.com/episodes/bro...
Listen to the full episode here => marketingpassivhaus.com/episodes/bro...
Reposted by Bronwyn Barry (she/her/they/them/it/thingumie)
he may not like it - but someone needs to tell @mayorofseattle that this is what climate action *actually* looks like
July 19, 2025 at 5:43 PM
he may not like it - but someone needs to tell @mayorofseattle that this is what climate action *actually* looks like
Delighted to be working with @bpublicprefab.com to make beautiful, #SmokeTight, fire resilient homes easy to build in California.
This one is my nod to Gregory Ain - and LA architect whose work and life I have much admired. (More designs coming soon.)
This one is my nod to Gregory Ain - and LA architect whose work and life I have much admired. (More designs coming soon.)
🚨 New Collaboration Alert!
B.PUBLIC Prefab has teamed up with @passivehousebb.bsky.social to launch the SustAIN HAUS—a sleek, fire-resilient, and Passive House-ready home designed for #California living.
Discover more: zurl.co/vT3C7
#PassiveHouse #Prefab #highperformanceprefab
B.PUBLIC Prefab has teamed up with @passivehousebb.bsky.social to launch the SustAIN HAUS—a sleek, fire-resilient, and Passive House-ready home designed for #California living.
Discover more: zurl.co/vT3C7
#PassiveHouse #Prefab #highperformanceprefab
July 10, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Delighted to be working with @bpublicprefab.com to make beautiful, #SmokeTight, fire resilient homes easy to build in California.
This one is my nod to Gregory Ain - and LA architect whose work and life I have much admired. (More designs coming soon.)
This one is my nod to Gregory Ain - and LA architect whose work and life I have much admired. (More designs coming soon.)
You always know when you’ve found your people.
[Unusually uncrowded day outside ODC, SF.]
cc.@americanfietser
[Unusually uncrowded day outside ODC, SF.]
cc.@americanfietser
July 6, 2025 at 8:37 PM
You always know when you’ve found your people.
[Unusually uncrowded day outside ODC, SF.]
cc.@americanfietser
[Unusually uncrowded day outside ODC, SF.]
cc.@americanfietser
Reposted by Bronwyn Barry (she/her/they/them/it/thingumie)
we've known that shades for solar protection go on the outside of the window for *centuries*
July 1, 2025 at 7:24 PM
we've known that shades for solar protection go on the outside of the window for *centuries*
Reposted by Bronwyn Barry (she/her/they/them/it/thingumie)
you don't need 20' front yard setbacks for a high quality of life or good neighborhood character
July 1, 2025 at 5:51 AM
you don't need 20' front yard setbacks for a high quality of life or good neighborhood character
Remember how during an actual pandemic, we couldn’t get these same ash*les to WEAR masks?
Insane that we now need a law to force them to take them off.
Insane that we now need a law to force them to take them off.
ICYMI: “Rep. @brotherjones.bsky.social has filed a bill to ban law enforcement officers in Tennessee, including ICE, from wearing masks while making arrests (and ID themselves) — the “Stop American Gestapo Act” www.tennessean.com/story/news/p...
July 2, 2025 at 5:24 AM
Remember how during an actual pandemic, we couldn’t get these same ash*les to WEAR masks?
Insane that we now need a law to force them to take them off.
Insane that we now need a law to force them to take them off.
Reposted by Bronwyn Barry (she/her/they/them/it/thingumie)
Required viewing
This @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social video is absolutely INCREDIBLE. The numbers he cites, the strategy and results they produced — it’s the future. When have you heard *any* campaign talk about this, ever? (Video split in 2 to fit in Bluesky’s limits)
July 1, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Required viewing
Reposted by Bronwyn Barry (she/her/they/them/it/thingumie)
This is the ICE we should be funding in the US
June 30, 2025 at 2:54 PM
This is the ICE we should be funding in the US
Important to recognize that this BOE competition by @nyserda.bsky.social was modeled after the Brussels BOE program. NY replicated it after Tour of Brussels organized by @TomasO’Leary & supported by @PassiveHouseNetwork.
🏆 9 winners of NY’s Buildings of Excellence Round 5 were announced June 17 !
Each project targets Passive House certification, with ~$7M awarded by @NYSERDA ($500K–$1M each).
More on the ceremony & projects 👉 ow.ly/wzgI50Wghb4 #SustainableDesign #PassiveHouse
Each project targets Passive House certification, with ~$7M awarded by @NYSERDA ($500K–$1M each).
More on the ceremony & projects 👉 ow.ly/wzgI50Wghb4 #SustainableDesign #PassiveHouse
June 25, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Important to recognize that this BOE competition by @nyserda.bsky.social was modeled after the Brussels BOE program. NY replicated it after Tour of Brussels organized by @TomasO’Leary & supported by @PassiveHouseNetwork.
Reposted by Bronwyn Barry (she/her/they/them/it/thingumie)
an “environmental” law was used to extort a high speed rail agency to paying tens of millions for a highway expansion.
CEQA is completely broken and impossible to defend at this point
CEQA is completely broken and impossible to defend at this point
In a 2017 settlement agreement for a CEQA lawsuit filed by the Republican dominated Kern county board of supervisors, High Speed Rail agreed to pay for a highway expansion.
CC: @ceqaworks.bsky.social
CC: @ceqaworks.bsky.social
June 13, 2025 at 10:12 PM
an “environmental” law was used to extort a high speed rail agency to paying tens of millions for a highway expansion.
CEQA is completely broken and impossible to defend at this point
CEQA is completely broken and impossible to defend at this point
From my visit to SF MOMA today, evidence of Californian history on a repeat cycle:
June 10, 2025 at 3:07 AM
From my visit to SF MOMA today, evidence of Californian history on a repeat cycle:
Reposted by Bronwyn Barry (she/her/they/them/it/thingumie)
The sign authors forgot the follow-up: we decided public housing is icky and imploded it and built a smaller number of public housing townhouses with lots of surface parking in the middle of a rapidly gentrifying neighborhood in its place!
June 6, 2025 at 2:47 AM
The sign authors forgot the follow-up: we decided public housing is icky and imploded it and built a smaller number of public housing townhouses with lots of surface parking in the middle of a rapidly gentrifying neighborhood in its place!
Celebrating these #BoxyButBeautiful row houses, proving that simple is sexy, easier to build + much easier to repair and maintain!!!
we've known how to build cost-effective 2 & 3-story rowhouses for generations
in a manner that not only reduces costs, but reduces risks and increases resiliency.
simple forms. simple roof w/ no/few plane changes. no need for tiny gutters or a ridiculous number of downspouts.
monopoly house FTW!
in a manner that not only reduces costs, but reduces risks and increases resiliency.
simple forms. simple roof w/ no/few plane changes. no need for tiny gutters or a ridiculous number of downspouts.
monopoly house FTW!
June 5, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Celebrating these #BoxyButBeautiful row houses, proving that simple is sexy, easier to build + much easier to repair and maintain!!!
Blast from the past: over-framing at the roof of my Sunnyvale project from 2016. Should be standard construction detail but I’m still struggling to get this done on the reg in my current projects.. [Sigh.]
May 19, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Blast from the past: over-framing at the roof of my Sunnyvale project from 2016. Should be standard construction detail but I’m still struggling to get this done on the reg in my current projects.. [Sigh.]
Happy to see more #ElectrifyEverything peeps looking upstream (and realizing we live in a third world product market.)
I was recently looking through the ducted product line chart of Lennox, a large HVAC equipment manufacturer.
What stood out to me?
There's 17 furnaces, but only 5 heat pump air handlers.
8 one-way ACs, but only 5 heat pumps. 🧵
What stood out to me?
There's 17 furnaces, but only 5 heat pump air handlers.
8 one-way ACs, but only 5 heat pumps. 🧵
May 6, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Happy to see more #ElectrifyEverything peeps looking upstream (and realizing we live in a third world product market.)
Reposted by Bronwyn Barry (she/her/they/them/it/thingumie)
I don't think people understand the *massive* gulf between fire injuries/deaths and traffic violence.
Here's an example:
Average annual fire injures in Berkeley: 2
Average annual traffic injuries in Berkeley: 694
Here's an example:
Average annual fire injures in Berkeley: 2
Average annual traffic injuries in Berkeley: 694
March 17, 2025 at 8:58 PM
I don't think people understand the *massive* gulf between fire injuries/deaths and traffic violence.
Here's an example:
Average annual fire injures in Berkeley: 2
Average annual traffic injuries in Berkeley: 694
Here's an example:
Average annual fire injures in Berkeley: 2
Average annual traffic injuries in Berkeley: 694
Reposted by Bronwyn Barry (she/her/they/them/it/thingumie)
good question. Hey passivhaus folks with homes in suburbs/away from arterials/highways:
how often do you have to change your HRV filter? does it ever get as dirty as in my photo above?
@passivehousebb.bsky.social @wolfgangfeist.bsky.social @jurajmikurcik.bsky.social @ecominimalnick.bsky.social
how often do you have to change your HRV filter? does it ever get as dirty as in my photo above?
@passivehousebb.bsky.social @wolfgangfeist.bsky.social @jurajmikurcik.bsky.social @ecominimalnick.bsky.social
March 17, 2025 at 4:55 PM
good question. Hey passivhaus folks with homes in suburbs/away from arterials/highways:
how often do you have to change your HRV filter? does it ever get as dirty as in my photo above?
@passivehousebb.bsky.social @wolfgangfeist.bsky.social @jurajmikurcik.bsky.social @ecominimalnick.bsky.social
how often do you have to change your HRV filter? does it ever get as dirty as in my photo above?
@passivehousebb.bsky.social @wolfgangfeist.bsky.social @jurajmikurcik.bsky.social @ecominimalnick.bsky.social
What every west coast city needs right now is a full Zoning Holiday. NOT new stock plans, and NOT a stop to energy code progress. Here’s a proposal for two viable fixes:
www.linkedin.com/pulse/ration...
(👀@matthaneysf.bsky.social,
@sonjatrauss.bsky.social )
www.linkedin.com/pulse/ration...
(👀@matthaneysf.bsky.social,
@sonjatrauss.bsky.social )
Rationalizing Building Codes in California
This post is an open letter to California Assembly Members Schulz, Rivas, Haney and Wicks, in response to their recently proposed bill AB 306, which proposes to stop all jurisdictions from filing loca...
www.linkedin.com
March 17, 2025 at 4:13 PM
What every west coast city needs right now is a full Zoning Holiday. NOT new stock plans, and NOT a stop to energy code progress. Here’s a proposal for two viable fixes:
www.linkedin.com/pulse/ration...
(👀@matthaneysf.bsky.social,
@sonjatrauss.bsky.social )
www.linkedin.com/pulse/ration...
(👀@matthaneysf.bsky.social,
@sonjatrauss.bsky.social )
Reposted by Bronwyn Barry (she/her/they/them/it/thingumie)
you know how i keep harping on the mayor's comp plan limiting density to arterials?
this is the filter on a passivhaus over a block off MLK.
the dirty one was replaced 24 february.
20 days.
the white one is what it looks like brand new. due to road particulates, needs to be changed monthly.
this is the filter on a passivhaus over a block off MLK.
the dirty one was replaced 24 february.
20 days.
the white one is what it looks like brand new. due to road particulates, needs to be changed monthly.
March 16, 2025 at 8:46 PM
you know how i keep harping on the mayor's comp plan limiting density to arterials?
this is the filter on a passivhaus over a block off MLK.
the dirty one was replaced 24 february.
20 days.
the white one is what it looks like brand new. due to road particulates, needs to be changed monthly.
this is the filter on a passivhaus over a block off MLK.
the dirty one was replaced 24 february.
20 days.
the white one is what it looks like brand new. due to road particulates, needs to be changed monthly.
Seeking recommendations for an 8” duct mechanical damper for a range hood make-up air supply intake. Needs to seal tight enough for #Passivhaus. (Pressurization and depressurization.) Any suggestions @energysmartwv.bsky.social @lanefab.com @andrewmichler.bsky.social ?
March 13, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Seeking recommendations for an 8” duct mechanical damper for a range hood make-up air supply intake. Needs to seal tight enough for #Passivhaus. (Pressurization and depressurization.) Any suggestions @energysmartwv.bsky.social @lanefab.com @andrewmichler.bsky.social ?
Q for those working on #EmbodiedCarbon policy: anyone talking to Planners?
#ZoningReform is our largest #upstream lever to reduce carbon emissions from buildings. City planners have NO idea of the impacts their decisions on setbacks + massing have on operational or embodied carbon… Why?
#ZoningReform is our largest #upstream lever to reduce carbon emissions from buildings. City planners have NO idea of the impacts their decisions on setbacks + massing have on operational or embodied carbon… Why?
March 1, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Q for those working on #EmbodiedCarbon policy: anyone talking to Planners?
#ZoningReform is our largest #upstream lever to reduce carbon emissions from buildings. City planners have NO idea of the impacts their decisions on setbacks + massing have on operational or embodied carbon… Why?
#ZoningReform is our largest #upstream lever to reduce carbon emissions from buildings. City planners have NO idea of the impacts their decisions on setbacks + massing have on operational or embodied carbon… Why?
Are there better paths to simplify building regs that don't simultaneously retard State decarbonization efforts?
YES there are!
Here's my open letter to the authors of AB 306 (Schultz, Rivas) offering better options than just saying NO.
www.linkedin.com/pulse/ration...
cc. @sammyroth.bsky.social
YES there are!
Here's my open letter to the authors of AB 306 (Schultz, Rivas) offering better options than just saying NO.
www.linkedin.com/pulse/ration...
cc. @sammyroth.bsky.social
Rationalizing Building Codes in California
This post is an open letter to California Assembly Members Schulz, Rivas, Haney and Wicks, in response to their recently proposed bill AB 306, which proposes to stop all jurisdictions from filing loca...
www.linkedin.com
February 28, 2025 at 1:45 AM
Are there better paths to simplify building regs that don't simultaneously retard State decarbonization efforts?
YES there are!
Here's my open letter to the authors of AB 306 (Schultz, Rivas) offering better options than just saying NO.
www.linkedin.com/pulse/ration...
cc. @sammyroth.bsky.social
YES there are!
Here's my open letter to the authors of AB 306 (Schultz, Rivas) offering better options than just saying NO.
www.linkedin.com/pulse/ration...
cc. @sammyroth.bsky.social
Reposted by Bronwyn Barry (she/her/they/them/it/thingumie)
I needed this bird divination today, perhaps you do too. (Available as a print at https://bit.ly/hopedivination and part of the deck of 100, along with the story behind them and my process, at https://almanacofbirds.org)
February 26, 2025 at 8:01 PM
I needed this bird divination today, perhaps you do too. (Available as a print at https://bit.ly/hopedivination and part of the deck of 100, along with the story behind them and my process, at https://almanacofbirds.org)