Our Certified Passive House designer.
We picked his brains for a few key points of Passive House Designing.
What motivated you to specialise in Passive House Design?
- I was aware of Passive Solar Design (predominantly orientation to the sun) but Passive House Design is all about learning the figures and details on the running costs and the comparison to the average household, which proved its accuracy
- I want to try and reduce the amount of energy we are using in our homes to make them comfortable but also healthy – avoiding mould, etc.
What are some unique challenges you’ve seen in the industry within your career as a building designer?
- Coming from an architectural firm in Switzerland to living in Tasmania’s cooler climate, and now on the Sunshine Coast, I’ve seen firsthand how poorly many Australian homes perform thermally. This inefficiency leads to wasted money on heating and electricity bills. The solution is clear: prioritising energy efficiency and Passive House design can significantly reduce our reliance on energy sources, renewable or other wise. If we focus on sustainable building practices that passively heat and cool homes, we can drastically lower energy consumption across the board.
What are the key comparisons that you’ve learnt, between the average house and Passive House?
- Passive House uses 86% less energy than the average building
- Passive House has a significant reduction in humidity levels inside the home which reduces the risk of mould growth
- The ventilation system used in Passive House replaces all the air inside the house every 3 hours
What do you enjoy doing outside of your work as a Passive House designer?
- Surfing, spending time with my young family and camping
Buildings, both residential and commercial, account for roughly 28% of global energy-related CO2 emissions, with 11% stemming from the construction process alone. While new builds in Australia currently comprise about 70% of residential construction activity, renovations account for the remaining 30%, and this percentage continues to increase. Retrofitting is essential to make existing houses capable of passive heating and cooling, thereby reducing energy consumption and improving thermal efficiency. This not only addresses the growing need for energy-efficient homes but also contributes to the global effort to lower CO2 emissions from the residential sector.
