Sam Rodell | Architect AIA Publishes Groundbreaking Paper
Increased Energy Efficiency Available Through Alternative Technologies
Spokane architect Sam Rodell has published a pioneering paper urging developers, builders, and homeowners to consider the financial and environmental incentives to build well beyond quality levels typical of most new construction. Rodell is the only architect who is both an executive board member of SIREWALL and a Certified Passive House Consultant.
In his paper, “The Beauty of Passive Design: Post Industrial Simplicity in Architectural Systems,” Rodell challenges the public to seriously consider emerging building practices, such as Passive House Design and SIREWALL, to reduce oil dependency and energy consumption. “The largest single component of our energy use, by far, is poorly designed and built buildings” says Rodell. As one of the world’s first architects to propose combining Passive House and SIREWALL technologies, Rodell is hopeful that these innovative techniques will be embraced for their unsurpassed energy efficiency.
Passive House Design was developed in Germany with the goal of radically improving energy efficiency. It has quickly become the leading standard in energy innovation there, saving owners 80 to 90% in annual heating and cooling costs. Passive House Design eliminates the need for traditional heating or cooling equipment by using specially controlled ventilation and advanced building designs and materials. It also delivers pristine interior air quality and unsurpassed thermal comfort.
SIREWALL (short for Stabilized Insulated Rammed Earth Walls) is a healthy and green building product that uses compacted earth and rebar to create a highly insulated wall system that is more energy efficient than traditional building products. SIREWALL products are professionally engineered, durable, maintenance free and distinctively beautiful.
Sam Rodell is an award winning architect and an expert in the field of Architecture. He has a Master of Science in Architecture from Washington State University, and has completed additional Executive Studies on Sustainable Residential Design from Harvard University Graduate School of Design. Those interested in learning more about Passive House design or SIREWALL are encouraged to visit Rodell’s website healthy-architecture.com for a free copy of his paper.
