Learn how homes marry performance and sustainability to become resilient sanctuaries. Most homes need power to remain habitable. However, there’s an increasing design trend among architects—especially on the East Coast with frequent storm-related power outages—that builders and remodelers should monitor closely. It’s called passive survivability, and it’s the standard for today’s most energy-efficient homes. Passive survivability reduces a home’s environmental impact while still providing for basic human needs when utilities are out. After the storm passes, the home’s features work to keep the inside comfortable. What are the main ingredients of passive survivability? Let’s take a look. 1) Super-efficient home envelope Highly efficient envelopes help homes retain so much energy that heating or cooling requires less than a conventional HVAC system. This involves a combination of proper insulation and air sealing that starts with code-mandated structural features such as tie-downs to resist uplift and sheer panels to help the frames…