289: High Design, Low Carbon: A Conversation with Nathan Kipnis

In this episode of the Passive House Accelerator podcast, Ilka Cassidy interviews Nathan Kipnis, founder of Kipnis Architecture and Planning in Chicago and Boulder, about his path from early solar architecture influences during the 1973 oil embargo to today’s fact-based, certifiable Passive House practice. Kipnis explains how early rule-of-thumb passive solar design often led to overheating, and how building science and climate-specific approaches improved outcomes.  And describes his firm’s “high design and low carbon” approach, evolving client communication from quietly implementing efficiency measures to showcasing performance and resilience through smart home monitoring, batteries, and high-quality envelopes.

• KAP website
• NHA website
• Project profile for Evanston’s first Passive House in PHIUS’ database
• Crain’s Chicago Business Notable Leader in Sustainability 2025 recognition

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