Washington — Durable, high quality wood buildings are the new standard for high performance construction. Aligning the construction efficiency and environmental benefits of modern wood technologies with passive design principles can create energy-efficient and carbon neutral buildings that reduce energy bills and benefit architects, developers, owners and cities. …“We must consider more than just how energy efficient a building is  – we also need to look at the energy required to actually build it,” explained Stas Zakrzewski, Principal at ZH Architects. “While typical Passive House Design certifications don’t necessarily focus on this aspect, decreased energy expenditure throughout the construction process is a byproduct of building with wood. …“The Passive House Building Standard is the world’s most energy-efficient certification and can dramatically reduce our carbon footprint,” said Michelle Apigian, practice and sustainability leader at ICON Architecture.