Aggregate heat loss testing (coheating) standard released

Good news: a European Standard for heat load testing has been released. I hope it will lead to more research that measures the performance gap (if any) between the heating...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2026

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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...

by Rachel Rose

Updated: Jul 2024

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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...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2026

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Streamlining Passive House design

There’s some anticipation about the release of easyPH, understandable given its promise to make Passive House design easier. Here’s some advice for new designers about how to streamline and simplify...

by Sara Wareing

Updated: Jul 2026

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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...

by Rachel Rose

Updated: Jun 2024

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easyPH tool aims to simplify Passive House design

A new tool for Passive House designers aims to simplify the entry of data into the Passive House Planning Package (PHPP) software. Called easyPH, the beta version is bundled with...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Jun 2024

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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...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: May 2024

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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...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2026

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Earthbuilding Standards x3 out for consultation

Three revised New Zealand Earthbuilding Standards are out for public comment. This is a great opportunity—very time limited—to review the content of the draft standards without having to purchase them....

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2026

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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...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2026

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Three steps to mitigate condensation risk in wall assemblies

Significant changes are proposed to minimum Code requirements for commercial buildings in Australia and I’ve been particularly interested in measures to mitigate condensation risk in walls. It’s important New Zealand...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: May 2024

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Developers need a way to participate in the carbon market

We work with motivated clients focused on reducing the carbon emissions associated with their construction projects. In general, I’d characterise their (our) main reason for doing this as the belief...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: May 2024

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Four very good reasons to sign up for designPH Skills right now

You’ll hear me talking a lot about designPH over the next couple of months. That’s because it’s a seriously useful tool that, once mastered, delivers staggering efficiencies and improvements in...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: May 2024

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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. ...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: May 2024

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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...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2026

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Thermal bypass a basic step to improving building performance

I get asked periodically how to increase building performance without spending extra money. Well, better-than-Code performance is going to cost something so I focus on low-hanging fruit: what’s the greatest...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Apr 2024

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There are lots of different reasons why people build Passive House homes

What motivates people and organisations to build better homes? And how do they afford them? It was interesting to chat with Architype principal Tim Ross this week about the Arthur...

by Rachel Rose

Updated: Apr 2024

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Keep heat pump and ventilation systems separate for best results

Buildings need fresh air, every single one of them. Even the very best-performing ones will also need some (possibly very little) heating or cooling at peak times of year. Ducting...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Apr 2024

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