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: Jun 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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Interior condensation should be expelled from school

If Leaky Buildings 1.0 was about rain getting in where it shouldn’t, then Leaky Buildings 2.0 is all about the build-up of condensation, such that it feels like it’s raining...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Oct 2020

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BRANZ sees the light on mechanical ventilation

Holy sh*t. Talk about a big shift in perspective. Let’s repeat that: “BRANZ now recommends that residential buildings are mechanically ventilated and are built to an airtightness target.” This comes...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Oct 2020

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Focus on performance not just appearance in the Christchurch rebuild

Christchurch City Council’s urban design team has turned in a report that looked at 46 housing developments built since new rules were introduced in 2016 to allow for greater housing...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Sep 2020

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Passive House happy hour: Fast, factual, fun

Don’t already know about this? You’ve got some fun and learning to catch up on. This weekly gig is in its sixth month now, bringing Passive House experts together from...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Sep 2020

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Affordable housing that works

Todd Rothstein’s recent Global Passive House Happy Hour presentation* focused on the economics of Passive House construction rather than the more usual technical details. Todd’s goal is to build affordable...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Sep 2020

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