News & Articles

Many speakers talk about how much time we spend indoors when they talk about how important indoor air quality is and they seldom take the time and reference source of...

24 July 2001 The National Human Activity Pattern Survey (NHAPS): a resource for assessing exposure to environmental pollutants

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Apr 2019

Looking for insulation in the purchase of a new home is an excellent idea and looking for bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans is even more critical. Unfortunately this is not...

30 November 2018 NZ Herald: How to spot a healthy home

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Dec 2018

Our director, Jason Quinn, had the privilege of attending the Air Infiltration and Ventilation Association of Australia’s general meeting in Sydney. This meeting covered not only the general meeting of...

22 November 2018 ATTMA Workshop

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Nov 2018

Our director, Jason Quinn, will be teaching the advanced clinic on Thermal Comfort and Overheating at the South Pacific Passive House Conference. The workshop will cover the impacts of design...

2019 South Pacific Passive House Conference and Trade Show

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Nov 2018

Sustainable Engineering Ltd. recommends that everyone who possibly can go to the South Pacific Passive House Conference(SPPC). This conference will be held for the first time in Wellington on February...

Press

2019 South Pacific Passive House Conference (SPPHC)

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Nov 2018

Although this is again one horrible house and one family in an unfortunate situation it is representative of a large number of really unhealthy homes in NZ. I seldom see...

26 November 2018 News Now: Poverty advocate ‘incredibly disappointed’ Housing NZ satisfied dying woman, 78, living in mouldy South Auckland home

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Nov 2018

Luggate Hall is the is a community hub in Queenstown that needs to be replaced due to seismic strengthening. The community has pulled together a business case plan through the...

22 November 2018 The Wanaka Sun’s Ruth Blunt: A healthy heart for Luggate

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Nov 2018

Hütt Homes has made news in Australia by seeking crowdfunding for its passive house design business. This crowdfunding is an equity investment allowed by the new recent changes in Australians...

22 November 2018 The Fifth Estate’s Tina Perinotto: Passive House business Hütt Homes jumps onto new crowd funding platform

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Nov 2018

People who have built a Certified Passive House are often asked how much they cost. The words from the owners ranges from my Certified Passive House cost about the same...

19 November 2018 Stuff’s Susan Edmunds: Many factors push up cost of building new, construction industry says

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Dec 2018

Frasers Property Australia is the first mass market developer in all of Australia who’s looking forward to making passive houses through their in-house design team. They know the primary benefits...

15 November 2018 HVAC&R News’ Laura Timberlake: Passive House to hit mass market?

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2026

A fairly common question during the certification process is ‘What sort of construction documentation is required for a certified passive house?’ Required documentation for a Certified Passive House (Passivhaus) or...

Documentation required for a Certified Passive House

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Jun 2021

Certification Guidance

I’ve had the great pleasure of staying overnight in this Passive House with some friends. It was beautifully warm and quiet inside. Although it was cold outside that night one...

7 November 2018 ArchitectureNow Editorial Desk: The eco-ethical house: part two

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Nov 2018

More and more folks are realizing that housing contributes to their health. Federated Farmers steps up to looking after their members and their children’s health. Talk about blunt quotes ‘asthma-inducing...

05 November 2018 Chris Lewis, Federated Farmers Opinion: Farmers deserve honest discussion about the future of housing

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Nov 2018

We’d like to congratulate Certified Passive House Fesigner Guy Shaw on his elegant design of this passive house. This elegant design easily met the certification criteria. We are particularly fond...

31 October 2018 Architecture Now’s Justine Harvey and Camille Khouri: The Eco-Ethical House: Shotover House Case Study

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Nov 2018

Surprise! Australian buildings have very similar problems to New Zealand buildings. They’re finding that mould is prevalent throughout their buildings because they don’t require designing to prevent mould in their...

25 October 2018 HVAC&R News’ Marc Vender: Mould Inquiry Calls for Tighter Building Standards

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Nov 2018

Dangerous overheating in buildings may not be showing up in desktop studies, new research suggests.” “Monitored operative temperatures of up to 47.5C recorded in a highly glazed apartment building...

26 October 2018 Passive House Plus Jeff Colley: Study: extreme overheating not reflected in building simulations

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Nov 2018

This report reviewed detailed test measurements for air tightness and heating loads for passive houses and non-passive houses designed to meet an energy target. From this data the Passive Houses...

26 October 2018 Passive House Plus’ Kate de Selincourt: Performance gap much smaller for passive homes, research finds

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Nov 2018