In July, Mercy Housing Northwest, in partnership with the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, hosted the Mercy Greenbrae Sustainability Event, where attendees heard from industry experts and learned more about Passive House certification.

Once completed, Mercy Greenbrae, which sits on the site of the former Marylhurst University, will feature a three- and four-story U-shaped building with 100 affordable, energy-efficient apartment homes. 80% of the homes will have two and three bedrooms, meeting a critical need for affordable family housing in the Portland metro area.

Mercy Greenbrae will be one of the most energy-efficient affordable housing communities in the country and with the support of the Sisters, the community is pursuing Passive House US certification, a rigorous performance-based energy efficiency certification. The building is expected to use 40% less electricity than a conventional design and will not consume any fossil fuels. Features include high-performance windows, a balanced ventilation system with air filtration and air conditioning, a highly efficient heat-pump hot water system, energy-star appliances, LED lighting with automatic dimming, and EV parking. PHIUS-certified projects reduce ongoing operating costs, increase comfort for residents and staff, and are more resilient to extreme weather events, including wildfire smoke.