EEBA's High Performance Home Blog

When it comes to progress in high-performance homebuilding, the latest technologies — like net zero homes, decarbonization strategies, and advanced materials — often take center stage. But these innovations are built on a foundation of collaboration, learning, and long-term effort. For more than 40 years, the Energy & Environmental Building Alliance (EEBA) has supported the industry through education and practical guidance, helping builders and partners navigate these changes. At the 2025 High Performance Home Builder Summit, Pat Huelman, a longtime building science professor and EEBA leader, took the stage to remind attendees where it all began. With a mix of humor and heart, he brought the audience on a “trip in the Wayback Machine,” reflecting on EEBA’s origins, evolution, and enduring mission to create better buildings and a better world. The Early Days: A Movement Takes Shape EEBA’s story began in 1983, following the Superinsulation Conference held in Rochester, ... read more

In construction energy efficiency should be more than an afterthought; it should be integral to your building design. This is where Premier Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) come in, providing a building envelope solution that is leaps and bounds more energy-efficient than traditional stick-framed construction. But how do SIPs achieve this superior performance? Let's break it down. ⇒ VIEW PORTFOLIO: Get a glimpse of extreme energy-saving projects! Take a peak through our portfolio of high-performing commercial and residential projects to see some off-the-charts net-zero, positive energy, Passive, and LEED Certified Premier SIPS buildings across North America. SIPs at a Glance Fact: A SIP structure is up to 15 times more airtight than traditional stick framing, which means less energy wasted on heating and cooling. SIPs are a smart, integrated solution for your building envelope, combining four critical components—structure, insulation, an air barrier, and a... read more

By Ken Nelson, Group Sales Manager, Ventilation When it comes to building high performance homes, the air inside matters just as much as the walls, roof, or floors. Indoor air quality (IAQ) has moved to the forefront of home design, with homeowners and builders alike recognizing its impact on health, comfort, and long-term energy costs. In an era when people spend up to 90% of their time indoors, proper ventilation, filtration, and humidity control are no longer optional, they’re essential. Panasonic OASYS™ meets this need as groundbreaking Whole Home Air Quality Management System. Debuted in the OASYS Concept Home in March 2025 in Houston, Texas, OASYS represents a new way to experience indoor air, giving builders an innovative tool to deliver cleaner, more comfortable, and more efficient high-performance homes. OASYS: A Unified, Smarter HVAC System Panasonic’s OASYS™ Whole Home Air Quality Management System is more than an HVAC upgrade – it’s a fully electric... read more

The HVAC industry is facing a significant challenge: a growing labor shortage that threatens to impact the quality and availability of services. As seasoned professionals retire and the demand for HVAC services continues to rise, the need for skilled technicians has never been greater. To address this issue and elevate the trade, Carrier and other organizations are making substantial investments in technician training, apprenticeships, and upskilling programs. 

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Exponential Growth 2024 was a banner year for the Zero Energy Ready Home program seeing the most single-family home certifications in the program’s 11-year history. In 2024, nearly 15,000 homes were certified, more than double the previous record of 6,500 certified homes in 2023. The record year also pushed the program over 32,000 certified homes. National production builders such as Beazer Homes and K. Hovnanian becoming ZERH partners contributed substantially to the growth in 2024, but with 20 different states experiencing a 50% increase in certified ZERH homes the program is garnering more attention from builders and homebuyers across the country. With a nearly 125% increase in certifications from 2023-2024, multifamily and manufactured housing program versions available, and the continued rebates and incentives from the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, the ZERH program is primed for continued success into 2025 and beyond. Some highlights from the 2024 calendar year include:... read more

As we celebrate Earth Month, it's important to recognize the role that sustainable and high-efficiency solutions play in protecting our planet. Carrier, a global leader in intelligent climate and energy solutions, is dedicated to providing innovative products for home builders that reduce environmental impact and drive progress for the planet. This Earth Month, let's explore how Carrier is making a difference with its commitment to sustainability. High-Efficiency Solutions for a Greener Future Carrier's high-efficiency solutions are designed to meet the needs of both single and multi-family real estate owners. The Infinity Heat Pump with Greenspeed Technology is a prime example of Carrier's innovative approach to energy-efficient heating and cooling. This heat pump operates efficiently at lower temperatures and uses electricity instead of fossil fuels, which can help reduce carbon emissions and overall energy costs compared to a gas furnace. In dual fuel applications, building ... read more

At EEBA, we’re proud to have innovators in our community like ERTH360, a solutions provider for homebuilders committed to creating healthier homes. ERTH360’s holistic approach, rooted in the science of building biology, focuses on using natural building materials, abundant ventilation, natural light, and humidity control to promote health and well-being. Their mission is simple yet powerful: Everyone deserves to live in a home that nurtures their health. This commitment to healthier living spaces is why we were thrilled to honor the Empire x ERTH360 Discovery Home with the 2024 EEBA Excellence Award for Healthier Homes! This groundbreaking project, designed and built by ERTH360 and Empire Communities, serves as a proof-of-concept for how innovative design, materials, and processes can redefine production homebuilding to prioritize health, wellness, and sustainability. Learn more about the Discovery Home: Visit the ERTH360 website. And don’t miss our interview with Andrew ... read more

Carrier is pleased to announce the launch of its first Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for residential HVAC solutions in North America. This milestone reinforces the company’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and transparency in the environmental performance of its products. Carrier is a part of Carrier Global Corporation (NYSE: CARR), global leader in intelligent climate and energy solutions. The EPD, based on rigorous life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology, provides a comprehensive overview of the environmental impacts associated with the production, use, and disposal of Carrier's Comfort™ Fan Coil and Performance™ Variable-Speed Compact Heat Pump. This independent declaration includes key metrics such as carbon dioxide performance, energy consumption, and natural resource usage, all of which are vital factors influencing the overall environmental footprint of the residential HVAC industry. “Publishing our first residential EPD in North America represents a... read more

Minneapolis, Minnesota — The Energy & Environmental Building Alliance (EEBA) is proud to introduce its 2025 Board of Directors, a distinguished group of industry leaders dedicated to advancing the future of high-performance homebuilding. Representing a diverse range of expertise across sustainable construction, innovation, and energy efficiency, these individuals will guide EEBA’s mission to educate and empower the residential building industry. Their leadership will drive new initiatives, strengthen industry collaboration, and support the transition to healthier, more resilient homes. 2025 Board President Doug Tarry Jr., President of Doug Tarry Homes Limited, will serve as EEBA’s Board President in 2025, bringing decades of expertise in sustainable construction and energy-efficient design. Over his 25 years with the family-owned business in St. Thomas, Ontario, Doug has led the creation of more than 750 Net Zero and Net Zero Ready homes—more than any other builder in... read more