Deep retrofits of commercial buildings make good sense

  The deep retrofit at 80 Willis Street, Wellington is featured in a just-released NZ Green Building Council publication, A practical guide to upfront carbon reductions. This is a project...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Dec 2023

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In the race to net zero, operational carbon remains crucial

Lloyd Alter is a Canadian adjunct professor and writer on sustainability topics. Like a growing number of commentators, Lloyd is brushing off the impact of operational carbon and arguing for...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Nov 2023

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Stepwise energy improvements waste time and money

Neil Savery had a 20 year career with the Australian Building Codes Board, nine years as its CEO. Let’s say that gives him some perspective, and industry experience worth listening...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Nov 2023

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We need accurate planning tools

The UK’s first net zero energy bills have been introduced by several English councils as part of their response to the climate emergency. That’s good. These requirements need to be...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Nov 2023

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Air pollution kills New Zealanders

Air pollution is real and has deadly impacts. In New Zealand we’re 10 times more likely to die from the effects of air pollution than from a car accident. Marc...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Oct 2023

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Makeup air in a Passive House

Here’s a good summary on make up air for rangehoods, from HVAC consultants and designers at Energy Vanguard. It’s worth reading in full. The quick summary goes like this: Good...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Oct 2023

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Certifier scope of service guidance a helpful read

The Passivhaus Trust, the UK’s industry body, has published an excellent guide to where the roles and responsibilities sit during Passive House design, construction and certification stages. It’s worth reading....

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Oct 2023

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Successfully marketing Passive House performance

We hear that stories on homes built to Passive House standard are very popular with Stuff readers. Here’s another well-written story about this family home in west Auckland, just completed...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Oct 2023

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Passive House design training relaunches, on-demand format

New Zealand needs more Passive Houses—and other buildings heading in that high-performance direction. That requires more confident and skilled Passive House designers. Sustainable Engineering last year launched a new training...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Sep 2023

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Detailed LCA resource available

The Buildings and Communities Programme (EBC*) has just published a huge resource of LCA work focused on buildings in Europe.  The focus of the research are heavyweight buildings powered by...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Sep 2023

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MVHR inlet/extract positions

There’s some new advice available about locating the air inlets and exhausts in MVHR systems. If you’re a Passive House designer or otherwise involved in high-performance building, it’s important to...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Sep 2023

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TFA or CFA? The difference matters

Anyone who notices there are fewer biscuits in a packet that is outwardly the same size has encountered shrinkflation. Same price, but nine chocolate biccies instead of 11 means 18%...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Sep 2023

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Understand thermal implications of underfloor heating

Embedded under-floor heating is a luxurious way of keeping a house warm. You may encounter clients who hate heat pumps and who aren’t deterred by the cost of under-floor heating....

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2026

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Growth in multi-family Passive House buildings in North America

The PHI-aligned Passive House Network has released a detailed and inspiring guide to the costs and benefits of multi-family Passive House buildings. It draws on data from New York and...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2023

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A logical staircase to build PH design skills

Seaward House, a newly certified Passive House on Auckland’s waterfront, is a fantastic example of how architects can build their skills in high-performance design in effective, methodical ways. The architect...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2023

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Thermal bridge calc error rate is way too high

I estimate nearly half the thermal bridge calculations we see during pre-construction review are wrong. Newly minted Passive House designers and consultants are not wholly responsible. The Sustainable Engineering Ltd...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2026

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Q&A: Is spray foam insulation a good idea?

Q. What’s your opinion about spray foam insulation for New Zealand homes? A. Spray foam can be used with good results if properly designed and installed well—but a successful outcome...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Jul 2023

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MBIE releases technical guidance on operational carbon

I welcome the release of technical guidance for operational carbon calculations by MBIE, as part of its Building for Climate Change programme. There is lots of work ahead of us...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2024

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