This year, passivhausMAINE held its annual forum at The Harraseeket Inn, uniting people from around the country to discuss passive house principles and the future of high-performance design and construction. The momentum for sustainability increases each year—attendance was up 53 percent from last year’s forum.
Naomi Beal, executive director at passivhausMAINE, enjoyed seeing topics like retrofits presented in a new light: “Our keynote speaker, architect Jeremy Avellino, swung wide in an exploration of neurodivergence in rethinking retrofitting homes and architecture after a recent ADHD diagnosis.”
Additionally, the youth demographic was well represented at the forum. A panel gave space for five women in their twenties to share their experiences and impacts working in the fields of the built environment and activism. “It’s exciting to hand over the reins to hear more young voices on the scene,” says Naomi. While it can be easy to despair over the climate crisis, passivhausMAINE filled attendees with hope and a strong sense of community ready to rally for their planet.
