Update 8/19/2011: PHIUS just published its response [PDF].

Today, tweets exploded on our Passive House list maintained through Twitter.  It started with word this morning that the Passivhaus Institut, founded by Dr. Wolfgang Feist in 1996, had revoked certifier status held by Passive House US (PHIUS), the only Passive House certifier in the United States.  This news was verified by Dr. Feist himself on Twitter, with a link to an open letter issued by the Passivhaus Institut explaining what was going on.  

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Yesterday Tendril and Vivint, formerly APX Alarm, announced a partnership to connect Vivint Go!Control home devices with Tendril’s home energy management technology.  The partnership is designed to give customers with a home security system the added ability to learn more about their energy use and control energy consumption.

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This is martial arts instructor and ex-photographer Steve Rapport’s LV home, a modern prefab designed by Rocio Romero, in Pacifica, California.  Steve has been documenting the construction and working budget on his site, The Minnie House — a reference to his late mom, Mina, sometimes called Minnie — and the finished home is looking fantastic.  Check out some interior and exterior photos below:

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This is the donQi urban wind turbine, which is assembled in Rotterdam.  It’s an interesting small wind product and the subject of a recent article in the September 2011 issue of Dwell.  In the article, Second to None, Jane Szita describes a Passive House near Amsterdam by architect Pieter Weijnen.  The home has some beautiful Japanese-style charred siding and a sleek-white, residential donQi.

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• Good looking and responsible design.
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• Could you live in an 89-square foot house.
• PlotWatt web apps spots home energy hogs.
• Imparting energy smarts to youngsters.
• Six steps to an energy-efficient house.
• 5 interior design iPhone apps.

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