The Mentors

Mare Mitrevica
Engineer, Certified Passive House Designer, Accredited Passive House Certifier

Provides services for energy efficiency and building physics calculations to IG Passivhus in Sweden and other countries. Services include thermal bridge calculations, energy balance and life cycle cost calculations, life cycle assessment (LCA) of buildings, preparation of documentation for Passive House certification and support in the certification process. The experience ranges from single-family houses and social housing to schools, kindergartens and public gyms.

“My motivation in participating in Ice Box Challenge is to spread the awareness about the energy-efficient and climate-conscious design and construction among the students who will enter the construction industry within the upcoming years.”

Michael Staffas
MSc, Certified Passive House Designer

Part owner and founder of Build Well Scandinavia AB. Certified passive house designer since 2013. In 2013-2015 I was responsible for the first two certified passive houses built as Villas in Sweden. Build Well is a supplier and contractor of passive house certified solutions for the thermal envelope. We support the projects with design of best possible installation situation for windows, doors, curtain walls etc. We also offer passive house certified products, like window system, system for curtain wall and glass roof and exterior door systems. In addition, for best quality and indoor comfort, we also offer a system for airtightness, insulation and solar shadings. The best products must be installed correct, so we also offer correct installation of the above-mentioned solutions. We have participated in almost all Passive House projects in Sweden since 2016, like schools, preschools, LSS, sport halls and a deep energy retrofit project. We also have been participating in other projects like ecological Villas with very high demands of quality, energy efficiency and low CO2 emissions.

“I hope that some of my accumulated experience can be beneficial for the students in this exciting and unique project. It is an interesting challenge to “spread the word” regarding sustainable buildings – and this is a good opportunity for all of us.”

Birgitta Grebius
Architect SAR/MSA, Certified Passive House Designer

Co-founder, co-owner, and CEO of Bleck Arkitekter AB, I have been a certified passive house designer since 2013 and was the responsible architect for Sweden’s first preschool built to passive house standards.
In our work, we prioritize the fusion of innovative thinking with practical realities, enabling us to create sustainable buildings with a long-term vision. This approach also encompasses the restoration and renovation of culturally and historically significant structures.
I am eager to participate in the ICE Box challenge because I firmly believe in the essential journey of integrating energy efficiency with aesthetic value. It is crucial to spread knowledge and share experiences that highlight the feasibility of this integration.

“By showcasing successful examples, we can inspire others to adopt sustainable practices that not only conserve resources but also enhance the beauty of our environments. Together, we can pave the way for a future where functionality and design coexist harmoniously, proving that it is indeed possible to achieve both sustainability and aesthetic appeal.”

Zack Norwood
Passive House expert, project manager

Dr. Zack Norwood is a researcher in energy and resources with a focus on solar energy and building energy efficiency. In terms of passive houses, Zack has been project manager for the first EnerPHit renovation project in the USA, as well as passive house renovation of a million program apartment building (in Sweden) with a comprehensive BIPV facade (building integrated photovoltaics) and roof that is among the most energy efficient apartment buildings in the Nordics. Now Zack is working with the world’s first passive house oyster farm, which is being built in Rhode Island, USA. Zack lives in Varberg, Sweden.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to be able to contribute to the Ice Box Challenge, and meet the next generation of designers and engineers working on energy efficient buildings. The Ice Box Challenge, as a competition, has the potential to reach a broad audience, and as such can make a big impact.”

Lukas Ljungqvist
M.Sc. Architecture, Passive House expert

Lukas Ljungqvist, (M.Sc. Architecture) has more than 15 years of experience in urban planning and architecture with a special focus on energy efficiency (international passive house standards) and sustainability.

He is currently pursuing a PhD at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, School of , as a part of his employment in the City Planning Administration of Stockholm where he is employed as an urban strategist focusing on sustainability, innovation processes and digitalization. Focus in this work is to improve methods and processes for sustainable urban development within the planning processes where energy and climate mitigation issues have a crucial role. Lukas is currently the city coordinator of Senseable Stockholm Lab where the City of Stockholm together with researchers from KTH Royal Institute of Technology and MIT Massachusetts Institute of Technology are working in a wide range of projects with the aim to develop methods and tools to use AI and Big data for sustainable urban development.

Jesper Waage
Passive House Designer, construction engineer

Jesper Waage, a 43-year-old engineer, is participating in the Ice Box Challenge to emphasize the importance of energy efficiency in construction. With a background in building technology from Lund University of Technology (2003-2006) and over a decade as CEO at Knut Jönson Ingenjörsbyrå, I’m dedicated to promoting sustainable practices. As a mentor for students, I view this as an opportunity to foster greater awareness around energy issues and demonstrate how passive house design can impact energy consumption positively.

Viktoria Ljungberg Hötzel
Arkitekt SAR/MSA, Certified Passive House Designer, Partner at VIEW Arkitekter

With curiosity, eager listening and focus on environment she works as an architect. A big focus in her every day work is to design inspiring and healthy buildings, and since 2016 when she got experience from the building standard IG Passivhus that came with her involvement as an architect with the public school Glänningeskolan in Laholm, Sweden, also an extra layer in most of her work is added with thoughts and ideas gained from that project and also later education for “Certifierad passivhusexpert vid Passive House Institute i Darmstadt”.

Assignments as school buildings, kindergardens, apartment buildings and public gyms as new projects or as renovation projects are some of her works. No matter how big or small a project is, one of the most important questions to ask when meeting a client is “What climate goals do you want to achieve with this building?”. To find ways to improve the set goals from the client is the main ambition parallel with designing and working for a building that will bring joy and safety for anyone who enters it.

“The reason I take part as a mentor in Ice Box Challenge is to hopefully inspire others to dare develop new concepts in this opportunity to explore both new and old ideas. I also hope to gain new knowledge that I can use in my own work. The outcome from an Ice Box is not only cool and cooling, but also important for the environmental challenges we already face today.”

Barbro Titti Eriksson
Arkitekt SAR/MSA/KKH-R, Certified Passive House Designer

Part owner and chairman of the board of TOL Arkitekter. Certified passive house designer since 2019. My vision is to create sustainable architecture with a focus on strengthening the place’s identity and balancing aesthetic and practical requirements.
Responsible architect for some passive houses in Sweden, both built and ongoing projects. A public preschool, school buildings and a holiday home. Also working in projects to reduce CO2 emissions during the construction and management phase.
I am also trained in restoration and work with reconstructions of culturally and historically interesting buildings.

“My motivation for participating as a mentor in the Ice Box Challenge is to spread the knowledge and share my experiences as a professional, to students about the necessity of resource and energy efficient architecture”

Ingo Theoboldt
Certified Passive House Designer and Passive House Certifier

Interest in renewable energy systems started in the early 1980s, followed by a focus on green building in the mid-1990s, when studying engineering physics, specialising in environmental engineering. In 2007, Passive House projects in the UK and Scandinavia started. Passive House certifier since 2009, designer and consultant, authorised by the Passive House Institute in Germany. In addition to engineering physics, sustainable energy systems, IT, quality management and business administration in Germany, the UK and Sweden were studied and there has been involvement in over 200 Passive House related projects in many different countries so far. Support for manufacturers, regarding the development of their Passive House components such as MVHRs, windows, building construction systems, etc., has been provided. Services include energy balance and indoor comfort calculations, thermal bridging and hygrothermal analyses, as well as LCA and LCC calculations. Production of individual (local) climate datasets, contemporary and for future scenarios.

“I have worked with Passive House schools and nurseries, single and multi family homes, student dwellings, assisted living and office buildings, conference centres, sports halls, and even a hospice, and in addition to that have lectured on the subject e.g. at Chalmers in Gothenburg, Strathclyde University in Glasgow, Oban University in Algeria and the Yrkeshögskolan in Alingsås, Sweden. My motivation in participating in Ice Box Challenge is to find yet another contact point – to be able to spread the knowledge and experience regarding sustainable construction even further.”