Passivhaus Playbook a great free resource
The latest book from APHA is the Passivhaus Playbook and it’s great. I love the focus on the team and a successful process. The publishers describe it as “a nine-step...
Updated: Mar 2026
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Deep retrofits of commercial buildings make good sense
The deep retrofit at 80 Willis Street, Wellington is featured in a just-released NZ Green Building Council publication, A practical guide to upfront carbon reductions. This is a project...
Updated: Dec 2023
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In the race to net zero, operational carbon remains crucial
Lloyd Alter is a Canadian adjunct professor and writer on sustainability topics. Like a growing number of commentators, Lloyd is brushing off the impact of operational carbon and arguing for...
Updated: Nov 2023
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Stepwise energy improvements waste time and money
Neil Savery had a 20 year career with the Australian Building Codes Board, nine years as its CEO. Let’s say that gives him some perspective, and industry experience worth listening...
Updated: Nov 2023
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Air transfer solution: ventilated doors
Australian Passive House designer Matt Purves posted online some intriguing photos of bespoke doors he built himself from leftover spruce wall panelling. These were for his home in Tasmania, which...
Updated: Mar 2026
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New plans for Passive House training and certification
Dr Kara Rosemeier has personally trained and certified almost every Passive House professional in New Zealand and her influence cannot be overstated. Kara is preparing for a gradual retirement and...
Updated: Nov 2023
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We need accurate planning tools
The UK’s first net zero energy bills have been introduced by several English councils as part of their response to the climate emergency. That’s good. These requirements need to be...
Updated: Nov 2023
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Jason Quinn in Wellington speaking on high-performance glazing
Jason Quinn will be speaking in Wellington on 7 November on the latest developments in high-performance glazing. The industry event, hosted by Metro Performance Glass, is on the waterfront, with...
Updated: Oct 2023
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Air pollution kills New Zealanders
Air pollution is real and has deadly impacts. In New Zealand we’re 10 times more likely to die from the effects of air pollution than from a car accident. Marc...
Updated: Oct 2023
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Makeup air in a Passive House
Here’s a good summary on make up air for rangehoods, from HVAC consultants and designers at Energy Vanguard. It’s worth reading in full. The quick summary goes like this: Good...
Updated: Oct 2023
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Certifier scope of service guidance a helpful read
The Passivhaus Trust, the UK’s industry body, has published an excellent guide to where the roles and responsibilities sit during Passive House design, construction and certification stages. It’s worth reading....
Updated: Oct 2023
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Successfully marketing Passive House performance
We hear that stories on homes built to Passive House standard are very popular with Stuff readers. Here’s another well-written story about this family home in west Auckland, just completed...
Updated: Oct 2023
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Leaky buildings ripe for EnerPHit level makeovers
Nick Gaites spent years designing a new home for his family and overseeing its construction, successfully achieving Passive House certification. His family loved the winter they spent living there but...
Updated: Mar 2026
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Passive House design training relaunches, on-demand format
New Zealand needs more Passive Houses—and other buildings heading in that high-performance direction. That requires more confident and skilled Passive House designers. Sustainable Engineering last year launched a new training...
Updated: Sep 2023
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Detailed LCA resource available
The Buildings and Communities Programme (EBC*) has just published a huge resource of LCA work focused on buildings in Europe. The focus of the research are heavyweight buildings powered by...
Updated: Sep 2023
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MVHR inlet/extract positions
There’s some new advice available about locating the air inlets and exhausts in MVHR systems. If you’re a Passive House designer or otherwise involved in high-performance building, it’s important to...
Updated: Sep 2023
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TFA or CFA? The difference matters
Anyone who notices there are fewer biscuits in a packet that is outwardly the same size has encountered shrinkflation. Same price, but nine chocolate biccies instead of 11 means 18%...
Updated: Sep 2023
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Understand thermal implications of underfloor heating
Embedded under-floor heating is a luxurious way of keeping a house warm. You may encounter clients who hate heat pumps and who aren’t deterred by the cost of under-floor heating....
Updated: Mar 2026
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