What did you do on your family winter break? I took mine to a PHI-certified EnerPHit hotel, the first of its kind in the US. I really enjoyed our stay. I snuck into the all-electric kitchen (yeah, I was kicked out pretty quick) and it looked pretty standard except for the welcome absence of giant gas burners spewing particulate pollution. …
Design and build your own Passive House Premium off-grid home
Maria’s Passive House is in select company whichever way you look at. Few New Zealand Passive projects are rural; only three are certified to Premium performance; it’s believed to be the country’s only off-grid Passive House; and it was designed and built by its owner, Steve Hughes of Build Good Architecture. This minor dwelling is a vital stage in …
Wildfires also kill people through fine particulate pollution
This paper on PM2.5 pollution caused by wildfires estimates the number of Americans killed by wildfires—not the fire itself but the fine particulate pollution in the smoky air. It has implications for New Zealanders and it’s worrying. “We estimate a total of 52,480 to 55,710 premature deaths are attributable to wildland fire PM2.5 over the 11-year period with respect to …
When must windows be open in your Passive House?
As any Passive House homeowner knows, you can open your windows and doors whenever you want. The mechanical ventilation is delivering fresh, filtered, pre-warmed (or cooled) air 24/7 which means opening windows is not required for indoor air quality (IAQ). Not that New Zealanders are very good at that anyway. But there are two specific circumstances in which it’s important …
Making certified Passive House tradesperson training even better
Ideas on how to make certified Passive House tradespersons training even better: that’s one of the things I took away from the THRIVE 2024 Passivhaus Conference in Melbourne. UK architect Julia Bennett gave a presentation called “Tackling Challenges in Passivhaus construction: Notes from the UK” and given Sustainable Engineering Ltd delivers training to the Passive House community in New Zealand, …
Highlights from the 2024 Thrive Passivhaus Conference
The Thrive 2024 Passivhaus Conference in Melbourne last week was great—here are my highlights. It was well worth nipping across the ditch for two days. (Was I really the only person from New Zealand in attendance?) I estimate there were about 320 people there, plus those at the trade show, a big turnout. Here were the top three sessions for …
NZGBC lays out emissions reductions through better buildings
NZ Green Building Council’s latest report is well worth reading. In my view, the policy changes it recommends are easy (we could do more). Buildings are capable of delivering about a third of the carbon emission reduction that New Zealand is required to do—the government signed agreements and those commitments are now part of our trade agreements. If we choose …
World’s smallest Passive House building?
What and where is the world’s smallest certified Passive House building? I was asked this question today and didn’t know the answer. It turns out my guess was way off. Sustainable Engineering recently certified a New Zealand Passive House project that checks in at just 61.5m2 of Treated Floor Area (TFA). The question about the world’s smallest was asked by …
The right filter matters in your MVHR system
MVHR systems are great but they need the right filters and the right maintenance to do their job well. I draw your attention to a useful article published by Scottish ventilation consultancy and design service, Paul Heat Recovery. Filters remove various pollutants like dust, pollen, smoke and other particulates, making sure the air circulated inside buildings is clean and fresh. …