Frequently Asked Questions

Why build a Passive House?

Building a new home is one of the largest investments you may ever make, therefore you want to make sure you are getting the best possible design and most comfortable home than you budget can allow. If you don’t want to be cold walk around your home, condensation on your window or have mould growing on your new walls, then you should definitely consider building a Passive House.

How comfortable will I be in a Passive House?

How does 20 – 23 degrees all year-round sound? This is what a Passive House is designed to maintain with very little energy use. So even in the middle of winter in Wanaka or Queenstown with snow on the ground, you can walk around inside with just a t-shirt and shorts.

Can I still open my windows in a Passive House?

Of course you can. You are free to open all your windows and door as often and for as long as you like. However, because a passive house is very airtight and has mechanical ventilation you won’t feel like you need to open your windows to get fresh air. The ventilation system will supply all the clean fresh air that you need.

Do I need triple glazing?

This depends of a number of factors, but primarily the site location. Normally we can get away with double glazing for most windows if the building is in Wellington. If the building is located in Queenstown, then we will probably need triple glazing to all windows.

Do I have to use SIPs to build a Passive House?

While SIPs (Structurally Insulated Panels) are a great way to achieve a thermal bridge free construction, it is not the only way to building a Passive House. As the Passive House standard is a performance-based metric, it can be achieved using any construction method, standard framing, concrete block, hay bales and more, as long as it meets the performance standard.

Is a Passive House more expensive?

Yes, they currently are 10 – 15% more expensive. But you are getting a much higher quality, energy efficient and a healthier home. The biggest barrier making it more expensive is supply and demand in NZ. The more Passive House certified building we have under construction in NZ the lower the construction cost will be.

Is it only for new building?

Passive house, while initially developed for new builds, it is a performance-based standard that can be applied to any building.

There is now a retrofit specific standard called EnerPHit which certifies energy saving between 75-90% from the existing building. EnerPHit uses the same principles as the Passive House standard, but it factors in the complexity of working with existing buildings.

Isn’t Passive House just for Europe?

Not at all. Each Passive House is designed specifically of the climate conditions of the site. This means that a Passive House in Wellington will not need the same level of insulation as a Passive House in Otago, or Germany.

Does my building need to be certified Passive House?

Certification is not always needed, but it is the only way to verify and independently prove the performance your home. Passive House Certification can also increase the market value of your home if you ever decide to sell.

But even if you are not looking to achieve certification, we can use the same Passive House principles to design a home that will far warmer and energy efficient than a standard building code home.