News & Articles

We are still building leaky homes. “According to journalist Peter Dyer, who has spent the past seven years researching the crisis, we are still making the same mistakes. ‘Everyone I...

2019 November 22 Newsroom: NZ is still building leaky homes

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

“QLDC endorsed an ultra‐low energy passive house concept for the new hall in late 2018, which will make it one of the first community facilities built and certified to passive...

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2019 November 21 Wanaka Sun: Meeting Luggate Community Needs

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

“Often the last place considered to improve health, thermal efficiencies, home comforts, and more, is the slab your house is built on. Yet it might surprise you to learn that...

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2019 November 21 Scoop Business: Build a Healthy Home for Asthma Sufferers

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

“Architects Declare”: NZ profession takes a stand on combatting climate change “We have a New Zealand version of Architects Declare, an international set of guidelines that signatories pledge to follow...

2019 November 20 “Architects Declare”: NZ Profession Takes a Stand on Combating Climate Change

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

I had the pleasure of meeting Anne for the first time last week, at her office in Wanaka. She is the architect for Luggate Hall, which is targeting Certified Passive...

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2019 November 11 Otago Daily Times: Sustainable Architectural Approach Earns Distinguished Award

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

Very excited to see the New Zealand Zero Carbon Bill passed … unanimously. Didn’t expect that but I’m very pleased. We know that buildings can contribute significantly to reducing carbon...

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2019 November 9 Newsroom: Unanimous Support For Landmark Zero Carbon Bill

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

Sustainable Engineering just purchased the first license for new modelling software, districtPH. This was developed in Germany by Passive House International with funding from the EU. Think of it as...

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2019 November 5 Passive House Institute: districtPH – Assessing Energy-Saving Potentials at the District Level!

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2026

This is the second in a series of articles put out by Prefab NZ. Good to see the references to performance, as well as off-site construction. I think prefabrication could...

2019 November 4 Architecture Now: In Focus: Building Smarter (Part Two)

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

The Public Health Summer School symposium on 11 February will be eye-opening and I recommend you attend. This is the team that made the Healthy Home Guidelines a political reality...

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2019 November 4 University of Otago Wellington: Improving Housing Standards for Co-Benefits for Energy Efficiency, Carbon Mitigation and Health

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2026

“But how much will it cost?”. Anyone involved with Passive Houses hears that question a lot. Ross Brown of eHaus reckons an extra 20%, according to this article. I’ve also...

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2019 October 31 Stuff: On the Ladder: Building a Passive House on First-Home Budget

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

Chapman Tripp – Legal opinion – October 2019 This is pretty intense when you realise the implications of this legal opinion. Directors of companies and/or investment schemes have a ‘legal...

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2019 October 31 Chapman Tripp: Climate Change Risk – Implications For New Zealand Company Directors And Managed Investment Scheme Providers

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2026

Profitable carbon savings through better buildings … it’s a strategy we hear about more and more. I love hearing all these policy options: but I hope that the changes proposed...

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2019 October 29 The Fifth Estate: Every Building Counts – Time To Tackle The Laggards

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

In my opinion, the energy provisions in H1 are not fit for purpose. As Kylie Mills writes, “To make buildings better … the quickest way is for regulations to change.”...

2019 October 28: We Need The Building Code Fixed

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2026

Cool list of 10 types of buildings that are certified passive houses that you might not consider as ‘houses’. Remember the standard is an energy performance and quality standard and...

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2019 October 25 IPHA: 10 Types Of Buildings That Are Certified Passive Houses

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

It’s great to see the progress Rochelle and Joel have made on their home. I grew up with a DIY-builder father, so I know how disruptive it can be to...

2019 October 24 Stuff: DIY Rammed-Earth Passive House Involves Plenty Of Sacrifice

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

I was happy to accept the TWO awards for Thermadura (Dunedin) and SEDA (Auckland) for their certified timber aluminium window systems. This is an incredibly competitive event and I was...

2019 October 21 Passive House Institute : Two New Zealand Window Manufacturers Win Certified Component Awards At The International Passive House Conference (China 2019)

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2026

This is another example of the ongoing shift from an engineering focus on saving energy to saving carbon. In order to do this properly, system engineering needs to be emphasized...

2019 October 18 ASHRAE: Drop It Low: 2019 LowDown Showdown Winning Design Increases Resiliency, Minimizes Environmental Impact

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020