Certified Passive House is gaining traction in Australia, especially with sustainable designers and builders. But why are people embracing a voluntary building standard, and what does it offer that passive solar design does not?

Having a plan for a place without a plan for how it is to be used is like cooking dry toast and forgetting the butter and honey: it sticks in the throat and

At this year’s BDA National Design Awards, our Mudgee Hempcrete House won the prestigious Paul Dass Memorial Prize, took out the Residential Buildings 251-350m2 and over $2000/m2 Category and won a Commendation from

Hemp masonry is gaining recognition as a high-performance, low-impact and contemporary building product. Building designer and hemp proponent Dick Clarke explains how it’s best used in housing and its role in regenerating local agriculture.

Dion and Amy Zappacosta’s reno included some interesting material choices, including a raised timber fl oor rather than a concrete slab, recycled materials and eco-fi nishes. They describe how they went about it, and the results.

Here's a clear and accurate explanation from someone who's expert in both approaches. We offer definitions and pros and cons of each.

A highly mobile tiny house.

Glazing and buildings are about so much more than just energy and while energy is important and can be easily valued, comfort is priceless!

Andy Marlow has been elected to the eight member of APHA for a two year term.

Director Andy Marlow has recently become a certified Passive House Designer, one of only six in NSW. A tough three-hour exam including designing an entire Passive House, followed an intense two week course.

Wondering which glazing is most suitable for your house and climate? Lance Turner and Dick Clarke introduce you to the delicate art of window selection, and explain the key terms and concepts to get you started.

Sunday 17 September is Sustainable House Day, and lovely high performance low impact houses await your inspection across Australia, including some of Envirotecture’s finest.

Many green roofs don’t get past being a ‘good idea’, but with some knowledge and planning you can follow through on your desire to green up high, writes Dick Clarke.

In this edition, we explore how home size affects energy ratings, concerns over formaldehyde emissions in MDF bathroom vanities, and the role of thermal mass in home design for Victoria’s Wimmera region

In this edition, we explore topics such as installing a green roof on a Sydney shed, retrofitting insulation in a Melbourne home, and selecting efficient electric cooking appliances for an off-grid solar system.

Envirotecture recently undertook a blower door test on an Inner West terrace house. The retrofit project intends to use the Passive House EnerPHit Step-by-Step system

For those of you with an interest in seeing the mechanics of how a blower door test is undertaken, this is an invite to witness it in the flesh. As Australia moves (slowly)

Passive House or PassivHaus as it is known in Europe is often derided as an esky-approach to building that prevent people from opening windows, results in ugly boxes and is generally un-Australian. I disagree.

The federal Government’s proposed carbon tax threatens to become yet another divisive issue, when we should be working together on tackling climate change. The usual personalisation of issues – “Gillard’s new tax” etc,

Insulating under slabs has become commonplace, but slab-edge insulation can be just as important. But how do you do it and still provide good termite protection? Dick Clarke explains the physics and a simple design solution.

For the 146,00 people in NSW and many more nationally about to lose their FeedIn Tariff at the end of 2016 “what to do next?” is the big question. Invest in batteries and

Concrete floor slabs are a standard way to embed thermal mass in passive design, but is it always the right approach? Dick Clarke explains the benefits and design considerations for using concrete, and

Concrete floor slabs are a standard way to embed thermal mass in passive design, but is it always the right approach? Dick Clarke explains the benefits and design considerations for using concrete, and some alternatives.

Envirotecture directors Dick Clarke and Andy Marlow recently went on an intensive study tour to Singapore, to look at the latest green buildings.

“I recently visited HUF-Haus in Germany, made famous on Grand Designs – arguably the best modular builders in the world – with high expectations. I was not disappointed.”

When investigating a skylight for your home, the first question to consider is whether you need sunlight or just light. With the advent of solar-powered LED technologies you can now bring ‘daylight’ into

When investigating a skylight for your home, the first question to consider is whether you need sunlight or just light. With the advent of solar-powered LED technologies you can now bring ‘daylight’ into your home or apartment without compromising the building envelope – but if you want the real thing, there are several energy-rated skylights on the market. Dick Clarke explains.

Byera Hadley Travelling Scholarship report Engaging Communities: Shifting focus from building to urban scale now released

In this edition, we explore the best material choices for bushfire-prone areas, comparing ModWood and concrete for heat retention and reflection.

This issue covers two key renovation challenges: managing air ventilation in a pre-war double-brick house and navigating heritage restrictions for solar panel installations.