On the bustling streets of Broadway Boulevard in New York City, two multi-colored huts are trying to get the public excited about hyper efficient buildings. Part of the Ice Box Challenge, the environmental public art installation has been touring the world, demonstrating the merits of Passive House design.

The Challenge, which has popped up in Brussels, Seattle, Vancouver, and now New York City, involves two small sheds—one built to Passive House Standards, and the other, to the local city's building codes. One ton of ice is then placed inside each, and left outside in the summer heat for one month. The display then invites passersby to check out the progress, and see which building design and construction has done a better job at keeping the ice from melting. 

The New York City huts have been designed by Stark Architecture, a Vancouver based firm with its certification in Passive House design. The Ice Boxes have been coated in a colorful mural by the street artist Olivier Binamé and the site, itself, is covered in a sustainable bio-based artificial turf. It is all very efficient.

Passive House design is incredibly dynamic, using up to 90% less energy for heating and cooling than other buildings do, while maintaining good indoor ventilation and air quality. And it is all achievable through relatively minor upgrades, such as adding a bit more insulation, installing triple-pane windows, and using careful, air-tight methods of construction. 

The Ice Box Challenge showcases this, inviting the public to see with their own eyes how high-performance building design and construction is reliable, affordable, and comfortable. They will remain up until May 23rd, when the big reveal comes and we'll see just how much the ice in each structure has melted.