Addressing climate change through Passive House design
Alumnus dedicates practice to energy efficient design
Seminary Hill Ciders is a two-story, 8,600 square foot building that will house an organic hard cider production facility, a tasting area, a commercial kitchen, and an event space overlooking the Delaware River Valley in upstate New York. The project is the first of its kind to pursue Passive House Institute US (PHIUS) certification. Image courtesy of River Architects
Published October 22, 2019 This content is archived.
Reflecting the urgency and centrality of the climate crisis to the work of architects, UB alumnus James Hartford (MArch ’95) describes it as a “newly understood force – a force that we must account for in our designs just as we deal with Newtonian gravity.”
In response to School of Architecture and Planning's "Be the Plus" campaign focus on climate change, Hartford says the profession has the opportunity to take the lead in addressing what has emerged as an existential threat for our planet.
We have no choice but to recognize that our actions as a profession have had some of the largest impacts on carbon emissions. We have a collective responsibility to stop and hopefully reverse the harm done.
James Hartford (MArch '95)
Hartford, for one, is doing something about it.
He and design partner Juhee-Lee Hartford lead River Architects, a small firm in upstate New York dedicated to Passive House design - a rigorous, voluntary standard for energy efficiency and reduced ecological footprint. The work of the firm ranges from single-family houses to commercial manufacturing to new construction and retrofits.
The firm is currently consulting on a net-zero-targeted public school retrofit in New York City. An 8,000-square- foot Passive House cidery and tasting space in upstate New York, currently under construction, will be the first project of its kind to achieve Passive House Institute U.S. certification. Recently River Architects and development partner the Galvan Foundation were recognized by the NYSERDA Building of Excellence Competition for their 7th & State Multifamily Passive House, to be built in Hudson, N.Y.
Rendering of the 7th & State Multifamily Passive House in Hudson, N.Y.
In addition to their focus on Passive House and net zero architecture for their clients, River Architects is committed to achieving environmental sustainability through their own actions. Their studio meets and exceeds the Passive House standards designed for clients, with the goal of promoting environmental stewardship through green purchasing, greenhouse gas emissions reduction, energy efficiency, and waste reduction.
River Architects employs four full-time architects - all trained in Passive House design - the highest number of CPHCs in the PHIUS registry. Hartford is the founder and past president of the Passive House Alliance - Hudson Valley, a professional development, public outreach, and advocacy organization active across the state.