News & Articles

Childcare centres in New Zealand often run up fairly high energy bills; Diverting ongoing budget that would be better spent on staff. This forward thinking building sets the standard for...

Okanagan College Daycare

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Apr 2019

Paper in The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health by Elinor Chisholm Michael Keall Julie Bennett Anaru Marshall Lucy Telfar‐Barnard Louise Thornley Philippa Howden‐Chapman Bottom line – even...

Why don’t owners improve their homes? Results from a survey following a housing warrant‐of‐fitness assessment for health and safety

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Apr 2019

“Generations of homes have been built that are unsuitable for the New Zealand climate. According to research by the Building Research Association of New Zealand, about half our houses aren’t...

12 April 2019 Stuff’s Antonia Watson: The cost of cold, damp homes is too high

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Apr 2019

“You won’t see buildings as one of the sectors, because we don’t count them that way – yet the Green Building Council estimates buildings make up about 20 percent of...

11 April 2019 Boardroom’s Nikki Mandow: Government told to ‘walk the talk’ on green building standards

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Apr 2019

“Most landlords comply with these rules already, but for those who don’t, they will need to upgrade their properties. This investment benefits both landlords and tenants, as it lengthens the...

11 April 2019 Opinion: Healthy housing the goal of new rules

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2026

Scala Seminar Series Hosted by the disciplines of Landscape Architecture & Architecture, Unitec Institute of Technology invites you to bring your lunch and attend a free public seminar on Thurs...

10 April 2019 Passive Houses in New Zealand: Let’s talk details

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Apr 2019

Course is cancelled – we’re considering offering in in conjunction with the SPPHC in Sydney in 2020 so please contact us if that would suit you. CANCELLED What is the...

Press

2019 Passive House Academy: PHPP Expert (PHPP) – course cancelled may be held in 2020 at SPPHC in Sydney

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Jun 2019

Press

“ Homeowners understand the importance of insulation, but messages about other important measures which could make homes healthier aren’t getting through.A recent University of Otago study of 80 homes showed...

09 April 2019 Newsroom’s Farah Hancock: Homeowners ignore healthy home advice

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Apr 2019

The Committee on Climate Change said: “The Government should act now to set an ambitious trajectory of standards, regulations and targets for new homes, ensuring they are fit for 2050...

05 April 2019 Passive House Plus’ Kate De Selincourt: New housing should be to passive house standard — Climate Change Committee

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Apr 2019

Building codes that ensure dwellings are built to a high standard of performance are an obvious move when thinking about reducing loads. “The cheapest time is when you first build,...

4 April 2019 The Fifth Estate’s Willow Aliento: Airconditioning needs to innovate to stop climate change and keep us cool

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Apr 2019

These provincial communities need better housing and outdoor air quality as well. “There is strong evidence that Taumarunui has a pool of housing that does not meet reasonable standards and...

04 April 2019 Devdiscourse News Desk: Investment of $2.1 million into housing announced for Taumarunui and Te Kuiti

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Apr 2019

“Many homes in New Zealand are cold and damp, which creates the perfect environment for asthma and allergy triggers such as mould. To help reduce this impact during the colder...

04 April 2019 Scoop Media World Allergy Week: Why healthy homes are important

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Apr 2019

You would think this is rare and something that you need to go looking for but it is not abnormal in NZ The windows of the North East Valley flat stay...

29 March 2019 Stuff’s Hamis McNeilly: Former refugee family placed in damp Dunedin home feels abandoned

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Apr 2019

In order to certify your building as meeting the exacting Passive House Standard the certification standard “Criteria for the Passive House, EnerPHit and PHI Low Energy Building Standard, version 9f,...

MVHR commissioning in Certified Passive House Buildings (includes PHI Low Energy Building Standard and EnerPHit as well)

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2026

Certification Guidance

“A Beachlands house, the first Passive House Plus in New Zealand to be awarded a 10 Homestar built rating, has been put on the market for sale.Built in 2014, the...

21 March 2019 Scoop: Coastal Home for Sale Provides the Best in Energy Efficiency

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Apr 2019

This is a good top level summary of efforts around the world to do deep energy retrofits. These deep retrofits are one way to approach the fundamental issue of lock-in....

21 March 2019 The Fifth Estate’s David Thorpe: Ways to finance deep energy retrofits from around the world

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Apr 2019

Passive House Institute has released a climate morphing tool for use in examining future climates and building resilience. I’m particularly fond of this approach which simply takes an increased summer...

Future climate considerations in Passive House Planning Package (PHPP)

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Oct 2019