News & Articles

A fifth of New Zealand’s carbon emissions is due to our built environment. Unlike other parts of the economy, significantly lowering this sector’s carbon emissions can be done while making...

Thinkstep report: 20% of NZ’s carbon emissions from built environment

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Feb 2021

Solaire Properties Passive House a subtropical Passive House “Solaire Properties is close to completion of what it claims is the world’s first subtropical passive house. The Brisbane-based property development company...

Solaire Properties Passive House a subtropical Passive House

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

Although we have the Thinkstep report showing that New Zealand’s built environment contributes only 20% of our overall carbon emissions (compared to 40% for the USA and much of Europe) this...

Better buildings easier than better cows

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2026

Public swimming pools: a niche type of building but important community fixtures. They are also invariably shocking gluttons for energy thanks to stupid design (or stupid decisions by those commissioning...

Niche public facilities an obvious target for energy-efficient design

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

Some interesting analysis here, although you have to read carefully to see the high-performance building connection. Of the $12 billion in infrastructure spending announced last week, $200 million has been...

Work harder, commit more to decarbonising public assets

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

Here is the list of folks that have, at least, taken the two-day training course. If you are searching for someone in your area that knows how to build a...

Handy list of trained installers

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

Homebuyers do care about energy efficiency and energy rating schemes for homes show a price premium for high-performing homes, says this Australian author. The problem is the ACT is the...

Energy Ratings Deliver Higher Sale Prices For High-Performing Homes

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

Crazy looking building: but under the iridescent facade is a standard form office building. Well, standard aside from the funky double concrete staircase. The architect’s website has some great photos....

Yes – it’s a Passive House Plus Office Building

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

8% more: that’s the extra cost in the UK for building to the Passive House standard, according to this report. That is quite good. The most important factors in containing...

Cost of construction to Passive House level falling in UK

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

This first study of its kind in New Zealand attempts to calculate how much carbon new homes can emit if we are to stay within the 2 degrees warming limit...

New NZ homes emitting 5x more carbon than <2 deg budget allows

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

Ireland has released its nearly-zero energy buildings regulations (to comply with EU requirements) and insulation supplier Xtratherm has published a guide for builders/designers. I’ve pulled together a table of the...

Ireland releases new nearly-zero energy building regulations

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2026

There are about 30,000 new houses a year currently built in New Zealand. In a decade, could they all be certified Passive House? I think it can be done but...

Every house a Certified Passive House by 2030

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

I know this seems obvious when you think about timber-framed residential buildings: all the embodied CO2 is in the concrete and steel, so the bulk of it is used in...

Embodied carbon/energy—it’s in the floors

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

The basic idea? The chosen materials and landscape components sequester carbon to balance out the carbon it took to create it, all within five to 20 years. (Five for greener...

Carbon-positive landscapes too

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

I try and read Daniel Overbey’ posts for the technical content but in his first post of the year, he presented a real challenge. “John Elkington is often credited with...

Consider social responsibility also

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2026

BC Step Code Way Out In Front Comparing New Zealand to British Columbia, Canada is an interesting one. Its population is very similar to NZ (5.1 million people compared to...

2019 December 16 Construction Canada: B.C. Setting New Standard For Building Energy Performance

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

This is a great short video of the co-housing project. If you watch closely you can see lots of construction details and products. My favourite Easter egg is the shot...

2019 November 26 Otago Daily Times: Sustainable Communal Housing Requires Skill

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020