Passive House is a standard of housing that results in homes which require less energy output to heat or cool. The design principles utilise natural processes like sun positioning and insulative materials to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures all year round. Check out this quick explainer video to learn more.
Passive House Explained in 90 Seconds from Hans-Jörn Eich on Vimeo.
A passive house generally maintains an indoor temperature range of 21-25℃ all year round
(even in the height of summer and the depths of winter!).
Of course you can open and close your doors and windows! However, the design of passive houses utilises an air lock system which helps maintain the indoor temperature and prevent leakage. Leaving windows and doors open will impact the air lock and result in a fluctuation in indoor temperature, but it’s up to you if you are bothered by this or not. The other great thing about passive houses is that the focus on non-toxic materials make your indoor air incredibly healthy and breathable, meaning there is no need to air out your space with external air.
We strongly believe that using non-toxic materials and finishes in new homes is not only healthier for our tradespeople and your family, but also for the environment. We are passionate about sourcing the best non-toxic materials and finishes available on the market, resulting in homes that look great and are extremely healthy. For detailed air quality assessments, we can bring in one of our Building Biologists to consult on your home.
Definitely! Without the need to rely heavily on air conditioning or heating, your energy consumption and bills will dramatically decrease. Not only is this better on your hip pocket, but it means you’re reducing your carbon footprint on this planet.
Let’s chat now! Ideally you want to chat to us before you start thinking about contracting architects or builders. We can assess your site and advise on high-level design principles that will need to be implemented in your home to best achieve passive house results. We are happy to Talk with you no matter what stage of your journey you are at. If you like we can assess your land before you purchase.
Of course. We’re always open to working with architects that you may have already brought in to design your home. It will be important for your architect to be open to learning about and implementing Passive House principles into the design and aesthetic of the home. If you are looking for an architect, we can recommend a number of architects who align with our beliefs and passion for sustainable design and building.
We are building designers and builders who are certified in Passive House design. This means that we can design you a home that not only makes the most of Passive House principles but will also be buildable and suitable for your budget. If you would like to bring in an architect as well, we can happily work alongside them to achieve your dream home together as a team.
Because Passive House is a whole house system, it can be difficult to apply the principles to a renovation or extension. That said, there could be some elements of Passive House that you could implement into the design of your renovation or extension. Let’s have a chat about what you’re wanting to achieve and see what we can do!