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'Passive house' survives fire in California

Fire-resilient designs have saved a few Los Angeles homes during the still-raging wildfires. One home that applied these principles is still standing.

However, some architects in the know recommend investing in what’s called a “passive home.” Though still a fairly new trend on the market, these types of homes are designed to be incredibly eco-friendly—and benefit from having some protection against fire damage. An aerial view of homes destroyed in the Palisades fire as wildfires cause damage and loss throughout the Los Angeles regionThe latest stats out of California project that over 40,000 acres have been scorched as of Jan. 14. Finally, as Semke notes, these structures also feature energy recovery ventilation systems (HRVs and ERVs), which can be fitted with filters to remove smoke particulates and odors.

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