From Ice Boxes to Impact: Educating for Energy Efficiency

Building Science Meets Community Impact

At Verdacity, we are committed to initiatives that merge sustainability with education and community support. Our latest endeavor, in collaboration with Donna Marion of

Page Architects and the AIA Committee on The Environment (COTE), is a modified Ice Box Challenge in Santa Fe that exemplifies this mission perfectly.

Earlier in March, Huang Banh, principal here at Verdacity and Chair on the AIA New Mexico Committee on the environment, shared key insights on the Northern New Mexico Ice Box Challenge—a hands-on project combining sustainability, education, and community support.

What Is the Ice Box Challenge?

Traditionally, the Ice Box Challenge is an educational experiment demonstrating the effectiveness of high-performance building techniques. It typically involves constructing two identical cubes—one built to standard methods and the other using passive house techniques—each containing a block of ice. By monitoring the ice melt over time, the challenge visually illustrates the superior energy efficiency of passive house construction. These are typically located in publicly visible areas to broaden public awareness and public policy advocacy.

Taking It Further: Tiny Homes for Learning and Shelter

Partners at the Santa Fe Home Builders Association and Habitat for Humanity saw an opportunity to take this challenge a step further. Instead of simply building test cubes, the team collaborated with YouthWorks (partnered with B. Public) , Santa Fe Early College Opportunities High School, and Santa Fe Community College to turn the challenge into a hands-on learning experience for students and young tradespeople.

Together, these teams are constructing three versions of tiny homes, giving students hands-on experience with construction techniques, insulation, air sealing, and energy modeling:

• A 1950s Santa Fe typical construction version

• A current code-standard version

• A passive house-standard version

  
  

These boxes will be on display near the Roundhouse in Santa Fe, New Mexico during the Parade of Homes starting August 8th, 2025.

Once the challenge is complete, the 1950's era build will be retrofitted to meet energy-efficient passive house standards and donated to Esparanza Shelter.

These energy-efficient upgrades will ensure lower energy bills, improved indoor air quality, and enhanced comfort for future occupants, reinforcing the real-world benefits of sustainable design.

Educating Future Builders

As part of this initiative, Huang Banh and Donna Marion of Page Architects led an introductory course on building science for young trades people at YouthWorks and students at Santa Fe Early College Opportunities. They covered essential topics, including:

• The role of architects in sustainable design

• The impact of climate change and embodied carbon

• The importance of daylight, views, air quality, and temperature in human well-being

• How to improve your own environment in simple, low-cost ways

• The fundamentals of the passive house standard, likening it to creating a thermos for a home

• Key strategies such as thermal bridging, air barriers, and solar shading for optimized daylighting and comfort

Discussions sparked insightful questions from students, including how site location affects building performance, how climate change is shaping the future of construction in New Mexico, and even why Huang and Donna became architects. Some students were curious about the path to becoming an architect and what steps they would need to take to pursue a career in the field.

Why It Matters

This project is more than an academic exercise—it’s a hands-on opportunity for young New Mexicans to develop trade skills, engage with sustainable building practices, and give back to their community. By equipping the next generation with knowledge and experience in high-performance design, the team is not only preparing them for careers in the built environment but also fostering a culture of sustainability and social responsibility.

The project team is excited to see this effort unfold and looks forward to sharing the results. Stay tuned for updates on how these tiny homes perform—and how they will soon provide comfort and shelter for those in need.

Learn more at the Santa Fe Ice Box Challenge webpage.