News & Articles

Ireland has released its nearly-zero energy buildings regulations (to comply with EU requirements) and insulation supplier Xtratherm has published a guide for builders/designers. I’ve pulled together a table of the...

Ireland releases new nearly-zero energy building regulations

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2026

There are about 30,000 new houses a year currently built in New Zealand. In a decade, could they all be certified Passive House? I think it can be done but...

Every house a Certified Passive House by 2030

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

I know this seems obvious when you think about timber-framed residential buildings: all the embodied CO2 is in the concrete and steel, so the bulk of it is used in...

Embodied carbon/energy—it’s in the floors

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

The basic idea? The chosen materials and landscape components sequester carbon to balance out the carbon it took to create it, all within five to 20 years. (Five for greener...

Carbon-positive landscapes too

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

I try and read Daniel Overbey’ posts for the technical content but in his first post of the year, he presented a real challenge. “John Elkington is often credited with...

Consider social responsibility also

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2026

Why am I sounding overjoyed at this simple text from BRANZ? The backstory goes a long way back. In its <December 2019 Guideline https://www.branz.co.nz/guideline>, the front story is about...

About time: Damn right, mechanical ventilation is appropriate in all new buildings

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Dec 2019

BC Step Code Way Out In Front Comparing New Zealand to British Columbia, Canada is an interesting one. Its population is very similar to NZ (5.1 million people compared to...

2019 December 16 Construction Canada: B.C. Setting New Standard For Building Energy Performance

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

This is a great short video of the co-housing project. If you watch closely you can see lots of construction details and products. My favourite Easter egg is the shot...

2019 November 26 Otago Daily Times: Sustainable Communal Housing Requires Skill

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

In our opinion every home needs continuous mechanical ventilation. EVERY HOME. Alice Peacock, who works as a social worker with the healthy housing programme, travels around the Bay helping vulnerable...

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2019 November 26 Radio New Zealand: Mouldy Home Victims Get New Lease On Life

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

We are still building leaky homes. “According to journalist Peter Dyer, who has spent the past seven years researching the crisis, we are still making the same mistakes. ‘Everyone I...

2019 November 22 Newsroom: NZ is still building leaky homes

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

“QLDC endorsed an ultra‐low energy passive house concept for the new hall in late 2018, which will make it one of the first community facilities built and certified to passive...

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2019 November 21 Wanaka Sun: Meeting Luggate Community Needs

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

“Often the last place considered to improve health, thermal efficiencies, home comforts, and more, is the slab your house is built on. Yet it might surprise you to learn that...

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2019 November 21 Scoop Business: Build a Healthy Home for Asthma Sufferers

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

“Architects Declare”: NZ profession takes a stand on combatting climate change “We have a New Zealand version of Architects Declare, an international set of guidelines that signatories pledge to follow...

2019 November 20 “Architects Declare”: NZ Profession Takes a Stand on Combating Climate Change

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

I had the pleasure of meeting Anne for the first time last week, at her office in Wanaka. She is the architect for Luggate Hall, which is targeting Certified Passive...

Press

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2019 November 11 Otago Daily Times: Sustainable Architectural Approach Earns Distinguished Award

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

Very excited to see the New Zealand Zero Carbon Bill passed … unanimously. Didn’t expect that but I’m very pleased. We know that buildings can contribute significantly to reducing carbon...

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2019 November 9 Newsroom: Unanimous Support For Landmark Zero Carbon Bill

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020

Sustainable Engineering just purchased the first license for new modelling software, districtPH. This was developed in Germany by Passive House International with funding from the EU. Think of it as...

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2019 November 5 Passive House Institute: districtPH – Assessing Energy-Saving Potentials at the District Level!

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2026

This is the second in a series of articles put out by Prefab NZ. Good to see the references to performance, as well as off-site construction. I think prefabrication could...

Press

2019 November 4 Architecture Now: In Focus: Building Smarter (Part Two)

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2020