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12 August 2019: Seriously the mould is a design flaw not the tenant

Humorous comment that matches my maxim of buildings should be durable without requiring crazy intervention from the occupants. I still remember one of mates telling me the reason for mould...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2019

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12 August 2019 Passive House Massachusetts legislates incentive path to PH

I’m originally from Massachusetts (it’s the state with Boston on the east coast of the USA) and have spent some time with the Passive House community there back in 2012...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Jan 2024

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10 August 2019 Stuff’s Cate Broughton: Why are Christchurch’s most vulnerable tenants freezing in council homes?

Insane focus on first cost is the why to ‘Why are Christchurch’s most vulnerable tenants freezing in council homes?’ “Hundreds of vulnerable, low-income tenants are living in dangerously-cold council homes....

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2019

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08 August 2019 River City Press: The advantages of building a Passive House

River City Press ran a nice article on Passive House featuring our Director Jason Quinn. View PDF: http://www.rivercitypress.co.nz/rcp-8-8-19.pdf...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2026

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04 August 2019 TVNZ’s Marama Davidson: Greens announce its rent-to-own policy as part of the Government’s KiwiBuild reset

“Everyone deserves a warm, safe and healthy home to live in, and the Government has a role to provide this”, Green Party’s co-leader Marama Davidson said.” “We wouldn’t allow people...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2019

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30 July 2019 News Talk ZB Meghan Lawrence: Tenants evicted after mould and damp complaints

“… over the next two months she discovered the damp and mould. “The curtains were disgusting, they were rotten and mouldy. In all the bedrooms the walls are wet and...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Jul 2019

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23rd International Passive House Conference 2019

We’ve confirmed the time and date for our Director, Jason Quinn, is speaking at the 23rd International Passive House Conference 2019 in China. It will be on Wednesday, 9th of...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Jul 2019

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29 July 2019 RNZ’s Eleisha Foon: Conditions at social housing place risk tenants’ health – expert

Poor design means your home is cold, damp and mouldy even with a high power bill … here is some bubble wrap for your windows. That seems like a joke...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Jul 2019

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27 July 2019 NZ Herald: Kids doing it tough in winter

“A two-year-old born prematurely with a chronic lung condition has been hospitalised multiple times this year. Part of the problem is that the child is sleeping on a damp mattress…”...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Jul 2019

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24 July 2019 NZ Doctor: Bridging the gap with Healthy Homes

Not sure I’d consider Wellington or Rotorua any more damp than Christchurch or Auckland in the winter. Much of NZ is nearly 100% RH in the winter for at least...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Jul 2019

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NZ Building-related standards

“The Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (Building System Performance) has funded the following building standards, used for Building Code compliance, for free download.” Awesome. This includes most of the...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2026

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23 July 2019 Yes, your brand new house could be cold and damp

An example of a legally code minimum compliant new house that is cold and damp. Look at the photo of the condensation dripping off of the new double glazed windows....

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Jul 2019

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21 July 2019 Stuff’s Chris Hutching: New houses have cladding and joinery that lasts just 15 years

That title is a bit clickbaity but true. NZBC says the bits of house that are easily replaced only have to last 15 years. Twisted funny that this includes the...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2019

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11 July 2019 Stuff’s Colleen Hawkes: First Kiwi passive house: Seventh winter without heaters

View PH1NZ Case Study “Fresh air is delivered via a heat exchange system and a series of ducts in each room. Some of the ducts remove air and others deliver fresh...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Jul 2019

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11 July 2019 MBIE: R&D tax incentive: What’s eligible and how to claim

NZ Tax Credit for Research & Design uses designing to meet Passive House energy standard as an example of something that is known “and there is no scientific or technological...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2026

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Waikato (Taupiri) expoHaus is up for sale!

Announced in the eHaus winter 2019 newsletter: “We noted, with interest, the Waikato expoHaus today registered 19.5 degrees inside as the staff arrived for work, with an outside temperature of...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2026

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08 July 2019 Stuff’s Ellen O’Dwyer: Cold and ill but bill puts heat pump off limits

-3C – barely insulated house and no heating. The cost of electricity and line charges in that area is wild but so is running a unflued portable propane heater inside...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Jul 2019

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4 July 2019 NZ Herald: What it’s like living in a home with no insulation: Condensation, mould and large power bills

“Six months ago I moved house and didn’t think too much about the state of insulation and heating in our new rental home. It was the middle of summer in...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Jul 2019

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