Planning or developing a Passive House or high-performance building and need specialist input? We specialise in Passive House, high-performance and low-carbon consulting.
If you’re looking for an architect to design your Passive House or high-performance building, we can also do that.
Visit our Architecture page >
Visit our Architecture page >
Consulting Services
We offer a range of consulting services including full Passive House design, thermal bridge modelling, energy efficiency and embodied carbon modelling and guidance, and sustainable design advice.
Stage 1 - Initial
Review – initial review & comment on the site, brief and initial concept design
Guide – provide passive house guidance and support to the architect/designer
Guide – provide passive house guidance and support to the architect/designer
Stage 2 - Preliminary
Review – review & comment on the current design
Model – initial modelling using designPH & PHPP software
Guide – provide specification
requirements for the thermal & airtight envelope (incl windows & doors) & the ventilation system
Iterate – repeat the above if necessary – initial modelling using designPH & PHPP software
Model – initial modelling using designPH & PHPP software
Guide – provide specification
requirements for the thermal & airtight envelope (incl windows & doors) & the ventilation system
Iterate – repeat the above if necessary – initial modelling using designPH & PHPP software
Stage 3 - Detailed
Review – review & comment on the current design, specification & construction detailing
Model – detailed modelling using designPH & PHPP software. And thermal bridge modelling for heat loss & condensation risk using Flixo software
Guide – passive house product and component selection, liaise with specialist suppliers
Submit – collate & submit pre-construction information to the passive house building certifier
Model – detailed modelling using designPH & PHPP software. And thermal bridge modelling for heat loss & condensation risk using Flixo software
Guide – passive house product and component selection, liaise with specialist suppliers
Submit – collate & submit pre-construction information to the passive house building certifier
Stage 4 - Procurement
Tender – obtain tender prices from one or multiple builders
Contract – contract documents, insurances etc.
Contract – contract documents, insurances etc.
Stage 5 - Construction
Observation – site visits at key stages to observe adherence to PH requirements
Support – answer contractor PH queries, check & vet any variations
Model – update modelling for variations, site testing & commissioning results
Testing – blower door tests at close-in & practical completion
Submit – collate & submit construction information to the certifier
Support – answer contractor PH queries, check & vet any variations
Model – update modelling for variations, site testing & commissioning results
Testing – blower door tests at close-in & practical completion
Submit – collate & submit construction information to the certifier
All Stages
Carbon – embodied and whole of life carbon modelling and guidance
Sustainability - low-impact materials, off-grid and net-zero energy, water conservation etc
Sustainability - low-impact materials, off-grid and net-zero energy, water conservation etc
Treated Floor Area:
106
m2
Heating Demand:
13.2
kWh/(m2a)
Heating Load:
11.8
W/m2
Targeting:
Passive House Plus
Consulting
Hokowhitu Passivhaus
A compact Passive House in suburban Palmerston North designed by E3Architects. Smart efficient design combined with the mild climate and good orientation has allowed the design to meet Passive House Plus requirements with standard 90mm timber wall framing, with the addition of a 50mm insulated service cavity. Construction due to start spring 2023.
Treated Floor Area:
83
m2
Heating Demand:
28.9
kWh/(m2a)
Heating Load:
20.0
W/m2
Airtightness:
0.51
ACH
Certification:
Low Energy Building
Consulting
Recreational Services Depot
A compact office building in Wanaka, with attached workshops and garaging, designed by Salmond Architecture. Certified as a PHI Low Energy Building. Built by Breen Construction. Completed July 2023
Treated Floor Area:
208
m2
Heating Demand:
12.0
kWh/(m2a)
Heating Load:
10.5
W/m2
Airtightness:
0.27
ACH
Certification:
Passive House Classic
Consulting
58 Totara Street
58 Totara Street is the first of a two-home development to achieve Passive House Classic certification. Developed by Mark Teesdale (Nest Residential), a Christchurch developer who has been setting the standard in energy efficient spec homes for several years. The project was built by Nest Residential and Atamai Structures. The timber wall framing panels, inclusive of insulation, wraps and battens, were made in a factory by Atamai Structures. They were assembled from slab to pre-roof inspection in ten working days. The total construction of the project took just six months, from site works and foundations to handover. The airtightness result was exceptional, a reflection of the design process and construction team. Completed December 2022.
