Everything you need to know about designing and building a passive house in Australia

Passive houses maintain comfortable indoor temperatures year-round with minimal energy use in most climates or locations. According to research by the Passive House Institute, “no matter the location, passive houses can be built in a cost-effective way with regard to their life-cycle costs, although the concept of consistent heating and cooling load minimisation seems to reach its limits in extremely cold or hot regions”.

Passive houses rely on passive heating, solar gains, internal heat sources and heat recovery to eliminate the need for conventional heating systems, even in cold winters. In warmer months, passive houses use passive cooling strategies, like shading, to regulate indoor temperatures. High-quality insulation gives you efficient temperature control to keep warmth inside during winter and heat outside in summer. This reduces energy consumption while maintaining comfort in all seasons.