BRANZ edition of HPCD out now
It’s great to finally pin a bow on this project and call it done. The final version of the HPCD (the High Performance Construction Details Handbook) has now been fully reviewed...
by Jason Quinn
Updated: May 2022
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Builder backlash to H1 upgrade begins
And, it’s begun: the backlash to the update to the energy efficiency requirements in New Zealand’s Building Code announced last November. It’s been a long time since the last upgrade....
by Jason Quinn
Updated: Jul 2022
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998 days to reach climate change reduction goals
The latest IPCC report emphasises that we have to peak our CO2 emissions by 2025 at the latest to reach 1.5 degrees global warming, to follow those rational paths that...
by Jason Quinn
Updated: Mar 2026
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Lazy overglazing is causing expensive problems
What is it with glass? Buildings in Australia and New Zealand tend to be over-glazed. Is it because huge windows look good in the renders and are a quick go-to...
by Jason Quinn
Updated: Apr 2022
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Student skimp on food to pay rent on cold, mouldy flats
Radio New Zealand has really done an excellent job of summarising the plight of New Zealand university students—all in less than four minutes. Listen here, to hear how bad it...
by Jason Quinn
Updated: Jul 2022
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Think twice about that wood burner
I still surprise Passive House folk when I point out it’s better to use a heat pump than a wood burning fireplace for heating. It’s better for their clients’ health,...
by Jason Quinn
Updated: Apr 2022
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Cold bedrooms make people sick
I know folks who still argue for not heating bedrooms. They love kids but just refuse to believe the research. Cold bedrooms make kids more likely to be sick with...
by Jason Quinn
Updated: Mar 2026
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Passive House for my mom
Awesome to see Architecture New Zealand linking to this great video primer on Passive House from Dave Borlace, who publishes a channel on climate and sustainable energy on You Tube....
by Jason Quinn
Updated: Jul 2022
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First Bushland Park homes certified, go up for auction
The certification of 8 and 10 Bushland Place is a milestone the entire Passive House community in New Zealand should celebrate. These are the first certified Passive House homes to...
by Jason Quinn
Updated: Mar 2026
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Passive House social housing transformative for NYC tenants
Passive House social housing in New York City is taking off, according to this Guardian feature story. Two things stand out: the extent of the uptake (dozens of affordable Passive...
by Jason Quinn
Updated: Mar 2022
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Evaluating embodied carbon of solar panels
Elementa Consulting has released a very easy to follow report on a very complex topic: how good are PV panels and what matters when you consider their embodied carbon? The...
by Jason Quinn
Updated: Mar 2022
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Carbon budget modelled for NZ new builds and existing stock
This is an excellent paper on modelling the carbon emitted by New Zealand homes during construction and use against the IPCC 1.5 degree emission targets. The authors follow population weighting...
by Jason Quinn
Updated: Mar 2026
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Time for deep retrofits
MBIE’s Building for Climate Change programme is going to drive greater energy efficiency in new buildings. Among other things, it will introduce actual performance modeling for New Zealand buildings. This...
by Jason Quinn
Updated: Feb 2022
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Luggate Hall delayed
It’s a shame to hear about delays in construction to Luggate Hall but supply chain issues are a huge issue across the industry. Delays in shipping the Passive House certified...
by Jason Quinn
Updated: Feb 2022
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Zero-energy building sector vital to addressing climate change
Buildings have a big role in addressing climate change. This nice and short technical paper shows how reducing consumption is the only way to address climate change that does not...
by Jason Quinn
Updated: Mar 2026
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Finally, NZ new homes are shrinking
Happy news in this thoughtful article from Stuff about why the average new dwelling is getting smaller in New Zealand. (How it’s getting smaller is obvious: smaller stand-alone homes but...
by Jason Quinn
Updated: Feb 2022
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Fuel poverty harms mental health too
Living in a cold house you can’t afford to heat causes physical health problems, up to and including premature death. There’s plenty of evidence supporting this and I’m grateful to...
by Jason Quinn
Updated: Mar 2026
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Why Passive House costs more
If you’ve met Christchurch Passive House builder Peter Bielski, you’ll know he’s a man of few and well-chosen words, not minced. His company is involved in an ambitious project to...
by Jason Quinn
Updated: Mar 2026
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