Georgina Bowden Georgina Bowden

Australia’s Largest Practical Training Day: A hands-on learning experience

The best projects happen when everyone understands how it works.

The day before this year's THRIVE conference is our Practical Training Day on June 18th, a hands-on teaching of the key areas of Passivhaus design through handling materials, guided tasks, presentations and Q&As. This is valuable for all professionals interested in and working on Certified Passivhaus projects, and any interested parties involved in the process.

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Georgina Bowden Georgina Bowden

Five simple ways to support THRIVE 2025 #SharingisCaring

We’re aiming for great attendance again: this June, we’re after record numbers of attendees Thriving with us the 2025 Passivhaus Conference in Melbourne.

Helping us is very easy! We’ve created a list of five simple things you can do to increase the exposure of the 2025 THRIVE Conference.

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Errin Loznak Errin Loznak

What is Airtightness and Why is it Important in a Passivhaus?

Passivhaus construction places a strong emphasis on airtightness — a fundamental principle that ensures structural durability while increasing energy efficiency and occupant comfort. It signifies a holistic approach to building design that supports thermal performance, durability, sustainability and occupant comfort.

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Alexia Lidas Alexia Lidas

CONSULTATION - Housing construction productivity

The Productivity Commission is seeking brief comments from people working in or with the housing construction sector. This work aims to investigate issues that might be weighing on productivity growth in the housing construction sector, such as: 

  • barriers to the adoption of innovation and scaling up 

  • government regulation at the local, state and federal level 

  • characteristics of the construction workforce. 

The Australian Passivhaus Association has concerns about an emerging rhetoric which questions the validity of frequent NCC updates and positions them as an unnecessary imposition on builders. It is crucial that our industry demonstrates that;

  • NCC updates are crucial for the health and welfare of all Australians, in addition to our future climate risk.

  • Can be affordable to implement, and would be easier if a National commitment to implementation took place.

  • That a culture of continual improvement must be fostered evenly across all professions in the built environment, to ensure that we stop falling behind global pace of construction practices.

We are encouraging our members to respond and have drafted suggested responses.

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Alexia Lidas Alexia Lidas

white paper - passivhaus a pillar of mass DECARBONISATION and superior comfort in build to rent

Property Developers MODEL recently released a white paper titled Tomorrow's Too Late. The paper recognises that Passivhaus Certified assets in the Build to Rent sector are “a no brainer”.

In the team’s decarbonisation strategy the Passivhaus Standard is listed as a core pillar of their strategy. The team at MODEL also recognise that the Standard will support other goals for tenants such as superior comfort, a healthier, cleaner, quieter environment for their clients.

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Georgina Bowden Georgina Bowden

First class treatment for renters. Australia’s First major-scale Passivhaus build-to rent project announced.

Build to rent innovator MODEL’s first project in Abbotsford stands to be the first large-scale rental apartment complex certified under the Passivhaus standard. Covering 13,000 square meters, it will not only be the tallest mass timber residential building in Australia but a global exemplar for Passivhaus large-scale build-to-rent models. This marks a big change for renters, enabling them to be at the forefront of sustainable housing.

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