Mouldy Schools Resource

Mouldy Schools Resource Some advice from health professionals and articles on damp mouldy schools. We are building scientists and are not health professionals or even public health researchers (we strongly...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2026

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New Yorkers get behind Passive House

New York City is a hot spot of Passive House development due to forward-thinking owners and developers and encouragement from the city government and utilities. New apartment blocks are being...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

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How to trigger social tipping points to get action on climate

Systemic change is needed to fix the issues we have with buildings in New Zealand. It can’t just be left to individuals choosing to do better. Doing it right and...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2026

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Europe’s plan to create jobs and reach zero carbon

Creating net jobs while cutting net emissions is going to be challenging. Although the building sector can do this through efficiency—saving money at the same time as we build better...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

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Can a small building with a complex shape hit PH performance?

This showhome in NSW Australia is targeting Passive House performance levels. This is a very challenging project: it is small but also complex with a high form factor because of...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

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

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...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Feb 2021

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Solaire Properties Passive House a subtropical Passive House

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...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

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Better buildings easier than better cows

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...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2026

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Niche public facilities an obvious target for energy-efficient design

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...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

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Work harder, commit more to decarbonising public assets

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...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

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Handy list of trained installers

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...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

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Energy Ratings Deliver Higher Sale Prices For High-Performing Homes

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...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

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Yes – it’s a Passive House Plus Office Building

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....

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

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Cost of construction to Passive House level falling in UK

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...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

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

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...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

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Ireland releases new nearly-zero energy building regulations

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...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2026

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Every house a Certified Passive House by 2030

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...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

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Embodied carbon/energy—it’s in the floors

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...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

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