News & Articles

Fresh air is good for people but also the buildings I grumble about BRANZ, but the scientists working there are good people trying to fix problems with how we...

Mechnical ventilation is a no-brainer

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

We can’t solar panel our way out of climate change: energy demand must fall as well. And especially in the winter, when less solar energy is available! This alone is...

Even a ‘green grid’ has a carbon cost

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Nov 2023

This story about the American Gas Association promoting gas cooking via Instagram influencers makes me cringe. “Every time you ignite a gas stove, you’re filling your home with many of...

Cooking with gas is like idling a car in your kitchen

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

Current Events

Finally, it’s been published. This company has been working on better buildings to address climate change since 2011 and MBIE’s announcement today is definitely causing celebration in our office. It’s...

Yes! MBIE action on climate change for building sector

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

Current Events

And this year it is virtual. OK, it’s not the same as getting our grubby fingers on everything but there are significant benefits to seeing inside Passive Houses around the...

iPHA Passive House tour time!

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2026

Stuff ran an impressively long and well-researched story on Passive House and the need for net-zero buildings this week; it’s well worth a read in its entirety and a plug on...

Welcome media attention on improving NZ homes

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

I recommend against combustion devices in homes—all of them. Using gas to cook is particularly bad, with health impacts related to the indoor air pollution it causes. (American think tank...

Choose gas for cooking? Please don’t.

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

The North American Passive House Network is hosting a virtual conference next month. The tickets are cheaper and you save all those carbon emissions by not flying. Hopefully, you bought...

Calculating embodied carbon: live presentation at the NAPHA virtual conference

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

I’m sometime asked just how accurate PHPP’s models are. This great paper quantifies it. “Are the energy savings of the passive house standard reliable? A review of the as-built thermal...

Reality check: PHPP accuracy in the real world

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2026

I’ve been asked about improving the performance of larger buildings. This often requires an external insulation facade solution but getting it right is not always obvious. I’m a fan of...

External insulation facade solutions: thermal facade clips

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

Thermal comfort targets have been revised by the Passive House Institute for use in PHPP. Passive House certification requires that windows and doors meet specified thermal comfort targets*. This requirement...

New design choices possible in Queenstown and Wellington

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Jun 2021

Certification Guidance

The North American Passive House Network annual conference will be a great event—and way cheaper than normal due to being virtual. The bad news is the timing sucks for Australia...

Attend the North American PH conference virtually

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

Check out a beautiful project from across the Tasman, the Owl Woods Passive House. It’s the 10th certified Passive House in Victoria, Australia and it’s won or still a finalist...

Owl Woods PH nails a design-stage retrofit for performance

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2026

This is a lovely summary of Passive House, written up as a Q&A with an American architect. There’s mention of an intriguing North American connection to the genesis of Passive...

Great Passive House primer (includes eye candy and clear diagrams!)

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

Passive House Hospitals can have a 40-50% reduction in total energy use of the building, using efficient technologies already available, when compared to a conventional new hospital building. I’ve been...

Passive House (Passivhaus) Hospitals

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

At-home learning seems set to continue for a while; for those raising the next generation of building geeks/scientists/informed homeowners, here are some resources that might be useful, compiled by the...

Homeschooling resources (for adults and kids)

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

Exeter, in England’s south-west, is blazing a trail for Passive House social housing. Its Chester Long Court, 26 high-quality, affordable homes built to the Passive House standard, has won design...

Social housing can be this good

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2026