If you’re building a new home and looking for ways to make it sustainable, then a Passive House might be the perfect solution. 

What Is A Passive House?

Passive Houses are energy efficient, environmentally friendly, and affordable. They are designed to make the best use of passive influences on a building, like sunshine, shade and airflow, instead of active heating and cooling systems. 

Passive houses are comfortable to live in because of their high levels of insulation, consistent temperatures, and good air quality. They can also help to reduce noise, both inside and outside. 

How Do You Build One?

To be certified as a passive house, your home must meet strict design standards. These include regulations for primary energy, space heating, airtightness and thermal comfort. 

In order to achieve this, builders must intentionally design the house with Passive House’s principles in mind. According to the Australian Passive House Association, there are 5 key design principles to consider:

  1. Airtight construction
  2. Thermal insulation
  3. Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery
  4. High performance windows
  5. Thermal bridge free construction

Building a passive house is a complex process, best left to the professionals. Here’s a quick run-down on how to build your passive home and get it certified. 

How To Build A Certified Passive House

    1. Find a certified passive house tradesperson to work with (like JM Homes!).
    2. Set a certification goal.
    3. Start designing (think about passive design aspects like energy efficiency).
    4. Start building.
    5. Continually update your plan with any changes during the construction phase (eg. site conditions, schedule, budget, materials).
    6. Test: after your house has been designed, modeled and built, you then need to run some tests to make sure it meets the standards.
    7. Submit!

If you’re wanting a comfortable, sustainable home, look no further than a passive house. With the right building team, you can create the home of your dreams. 

Looking To Build Your Dream Sustainable Home?

At JM Homes, we are Passive House certified, meaning we’re fully qualified to help you build your sustainable home that meets this strict criteria. 

If you have a renovation or new home project in mind, we’re Brisbane’s building experts. Whether it’s a Queenslander, new build, house raise or extension, we can help you. Contact us today.