The Rise of Passive House in Australia: High-Performance, Energy-Efficient Homes

Chris Nunn, Chair of the Australian Passive House Association, notes:

“In light of the dissatisfaction many people have with the current building stock – in terms of quality, and the cost to keep warm and cool – this early growth of Passivhaus in Australia is the beginning of a new era of high quality, high performance, ultra-low energy buildings that Australians will really appreciate.”

It is an exciting period for high-performance, ultra-low energy homes in Australia. Recently, New South Wales received certification for its first two Passive House (Passivhaus) projects. This brings the total number of certified Passive Houses in Australia to 18. With hundreds more at either the design or construction stage.

Significant milestones include Monash University’s Gilles Hall, completed as the first large-scale building in the southern hemisphere to achieve Passive House certification. And The Fern, an apartment building in Sydney, which is seeking to be the first certified Passive House in Australia. Additionally, Schools Infrastructure NSW commissioned a report exploring the feasibility of developing schools to the Passive House standard.

Globally, the first certified Passive House in the UK was completed ten years ago. Today there are over 1,400 certified Passive House units, growing at an annual rate of 20%. Australia’s first Passive House was completed in 2014. It will be fascinating to see if the country can match or exceed the UK’s growth rate over the next decade.

As a Certified Passive House Designer, I can help you create a high-performance, energy-efficient, and comfortable home. If you’d like to build a Passive House, please contact us here for an obligation-free consultation.