Aus Passive House vs passive solar misses the point

If you haven’t heard about the Passive Solar versus Passive House bash up argument in Australia, you missed an entertaining example of people talking past each other. I am reminded...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Apr 2021

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Leaky buildings aren’t over: thermal bridges create moisture issues

PREDOS director Rory Crosbie’s article in BRANZ’s Build magazine mostly argues for a national home warranty scheme based on the Canadian model. He does briefly touch on the inadequacy of...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Apr 2021

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“Must do better”: Education Ministry sets new standards for school buildings

The Ministry of Education manages a huge property portfolio (>15,000 buildings, 2100 sites, >$31 billion replacement value). There are a lot of problem buildings, including some that are only a...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Apr 2021

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We can build Passive House quality for the same price as Code-minimum: here’s proof

Joe Lyth is an Auckland based architect and newly-minted Passive House designer. He’s also an UK import who looks on the crappy homes New Zealanders put up with through an...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2026

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NZ’s first Passive House subdivision

Bushland Park is a new subdivision south-west of the Christchurch city centre, at the foot of the Port Hills and all its 12 homes are targeting Passive House performance. Given...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2026

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Worthwhile training course: next week!

I highly recommend attending the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors’ training day in Auckland on 20 March. You’ll hear about Kāinga Ora moving to low carbon building at scale,...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2026

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First, use less energy: #EfficiencyFirst!

The International Passive House Association (iPHA) has launched a campaign called #EfficiencyFirst! It makes the case for focusing on energy efficiency first, before increasing renewable energy. This makes sense from...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2021

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The Building Code is a minimum, not a quality mark!

I’ve had clients call me with issues but then tell me, “the salesperson said it met Building Code”, as if that means something. All it means is the developer wasn’t...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Feb 2021

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Mechanical ventilation everywhere: not just high-performance buildings

Well-built high-performance buildings need mechanical ventilation. Times have changed, nobody’s really arguing about this any more. But all the other homes built in the last 50 years need mechanical ventilation...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Feb 2021

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Don’t get scammed

Recently my son asked me if I’d ever been scanned. (He was really interested, which is becoming less common when I’m speaking now he’s 12.) At first I couldn’t think...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Feb 2021

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Taking the Passive House story to the people

How do we (“we” being those who care about high-performance buildings and all the benefits they deliver to people and the environment) bring about the change we want to see?...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Jan 2021

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Social housing, re-imagined

This analysis from The NewStatesman, comparing Vienna’s tradition of social housing to the UK, is a concise and insightful account and I recommend you go and read it in its...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Jan 2021

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City Council: we will build 500 PH units in 5 years

More Passive House units have been completed in Exeter in the United Kingdom: what a start to the new year for the lucky social housing tenants who are moving in...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2026

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A builder’s perspective on warm, dry, energy-efficient homes

Last year, a builder in the South Island called up Jason Quinn, Sustainable Engineering’s founding director, and asked to interview him. Much later, a story showed up on Achipro. It...

by Rachel Rose

Updated: Jan 2021

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Social housing can be very good and not cost more (it’s proven)

The first time you do something, it takes longer. If you’re paying staff to do it, it costs more again. If you import just one new building component and you...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Dec 2020

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New government serious about ‘wood first’

I’ve heard (unofficial) news out of Wellington suggesting the new government is serious about a ‘wood first’ procurement policy for government buildings. Stand by for an official announcement. It can...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2026

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Passivhaus In Australia book now available

If you haven’t yet downloaded and read the excellent book produced by APHA, Passivhaus in Australia, I highly recommend it. Although New Zealand had a head start over Australia on...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2026

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Retrofit alert: know when fire-rated components are called for

Fire rating of the building/windows is not something we usually need to worry about in new, detached single-family homes, as the clearance to the property boundaries is sufficient. But during...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Oct 2020

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