290: Decarbonization and Affordable Housing: The New Ecology Approach

290: Decarbonization and Affordable Housing: The New Ecology Approach

From Passive House Podcast by Matthew Cutler-Welsh, Zack Semke, Mary James, and Ilka Cassidy

June 2, 2026 · 56 min · Season 5 · Episode 290

About this episode

Ilka Cassidy discusses affordable housing and sustainability with Marty Josten and Ashley Wisse from New Ecology.

In this episode of the Passive House Accelerator Podcast, Ilka Cassidy chats with Marty Josten and Ashley Wisse of New Ecology. Marty and Ashley describe the nonprofit’s 26-year mission to preserve and improve affordable housing through sustainability, building performance, health, and resiliency, using a hybrid fee-for-service and grant-funded model. They discuss evolving embodied-carbon requirements, regional market differences, misconceptions about Passive House cost, and innovations like drain water heat recovery, as well as engaging lenders and maintaining focus amid political and funding pressures. https://www.newecology.org/ Thank you for listening to the Passive House Podcast! To learn more about Passive House and to stay abreast of our latest programming, visit passivehouseaccelerator.com. And please join us at one of our Passive House Accelerator LIVE! zoom gatherings on Wednesdays.

People in this episode

Host: Ilka Cassidy

Guests: Marty Josten, Ashley Wisse

Topics covered

  • decarbonization
  • affordable housing
  • sustainability
  • building performance
  • health
  • resiliency
  • Passive House

Keywords

  • decarbonization
  • affordable housing
  • sustainability
  • Passive House
  • building performance
  • health
  • resiliency
  • embodied carbon
  • drain water heat recovery

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: New Ecology

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