Jeff Colley stands at the forefront of sustainable architecture journalism as publisher and editor of Passive House Plus Magazine. For over two decades, his work has shaped building regulations and design practices across Europe, particularly in his native Ireland where he helped implement groundbreaking energy efficiency standards.
Colley’s TEDx talk and policy work demonstrate his unique position as both industry insider and public educator. Those pitching should emphasize technical rigor while connecting to broader climate action frameworks.
We’ve followed Jeff Colley’s work for over two decades as he’s reshaped global conversations about sustainable architecture. As publisher and editor of Passive House Plus Magazine, Colley has become synonymous with evidence-based environmental journalism that bridges technical rigor and public accessibility.
Colley’s TEDxTralee presentation reframes sustainable housing as a form of “ethical hedonism,” arguing that Passive House design delivers superior comfort while reducing ecological impact. The talk deconstructs technical concepts like heat recovery ventilation through relatable analogies, making complex physics accessible to general audiences. Its viral success (15k+ views) demonstrates Colley’s unique ability to translate niche architectural concepts into mainstream discourse.
In this 2021 dialogue, Colley reveals his editorial philosophy shaped by medical researcher Ben Goldacre’s Bad Science principles. He emphasizes rigorous data verification and avoidance of greenwashing, critiquing both corporate sustainability claims and well-intentioned but ineffective eco-design trends. The interview provides rare insight into Colley’s balancing act between architectural aesthetics and performance metrics.
Colley’s mainstream media appearances, like this Irish national television feature, demonstrate his skill in contextualizing Passive House principles within broader climate action frameworks. He positions energy-efficient buildings as critical infrastructure for national carbon reduction goals, influencing public policy debates through mass media engagement.
Colley prioritizes solutions with third-party certifications (PHI, BREAM) and peer-reviewed performance data. Successful pitches reference specific energy metrics – e.g., “Our insulation system achieves U-values of 0.15 W/(m²K) in field tests.” Avoid anecdotal claims about “eco-friendliness” without quantitative validation.
With his policy background, Colley seeks stories connecting building practices to legislative frameworks. Pitch case studies demonstrating regulatory compliance while exceeding standards, like Dublin’s 2024 social housing project that achieved Passive House Premium certification.
While technical, Colley’s work emphasizes occupant wellbeing. Highlight innovations improving indoor air quality (sub-500 ppm CO2 levels) or thermal stability (±0.5°C diurnal variation). Avoid products prioritizing aesthetics over performance metrics.
With 80% of 2050’s building stock already existing, Colley seeks scalable renovation strategies. Successful pitches detail whole-building approaches rather than single-product solutions, particularly for protected historical structures.
While focused on European markets, Colley shows growing interest in passive cooling strategies for tropical climates. Pitch projects demonstrating humidity-controlled ventilation systems or vernacular architecture integrations.
“A publication that makes thermodynamics read like poetry.” – 2023 European Sustainable Media Award Jury
At PressContact, we aim to help you discover the most relevant journalists for your PR efforts. If you're looking to pitch to more journalists who write on Architecture, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant:
