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.

In this edition, our experts provide insights into selecting environmentally sustainable materials for bathroom renovations, including waterproofing options, indoor air quality considerations, and long-term durability.

At its best it’s a low energy alternative with plenty of potential for effective passive solar design, with houses sprung from the very ground they rest on. Dick Clarke outlines the modern application of one of the oldest building materials around.

The pros and cons of glass types, which to use and when.

A mould-free, easy clean shower screen installation. Watch this short video to understand the benefits for you healthy home.

We recently attended the Australian Passive House Association conference in Melbourne in an attempt to discover whether PassivHaus is appropriate to warmer climates such as coastal Sydney and further north. What is PassivHaus?

Rather than exclude the elements, this rainforest house harmonises with them By Jenny Brown

We often get people sending pretty infographics explaining the world in pictures, they make good points and are well researched but rarely do they provide the information that gets us closer to a better world. This

The Banksia Award winning Centre for Liveability Real Estate (CLRE) has begun a quiet revolution in the way sustainable residential property is valued, and marketed, in Australia. Through its ‘features based’ approach, and the list of

With a flurry of solar and battery technologies being released this summer it can be overwhelming trying to sort through all the information flying around out there. And with the new solar and

Narara Ecovillage is a 64 hectare property located on the Central Coast of NSW. For over a hundred years the site was used as an agricultural research station, the site is dotted with

This week is World Green Building Week. Started in 2009 by the World GreenBuilding Council the week aims to create a more connected, more interactive, more public conversation around the role buildings play in

Designing homes for flood-prone areas often means elevating floors, but floating houses offer a smarter, simpler, and adaptable alternative.

In this issue, we explore two key home-building considerations: underfloor insulation in timber homes and the role of low-e glass in double-glazed windows for extreme climates.

We need to think differently when designing or adapting a home to better cope with the multiple adverse impacts of climate change. Dick Clarke and Chris Reardon look at smarter ways to prepare for heatwaves.

What is Sustainable House Day, and when’s it on? Sustainable House Day, on Sunday 13 September 2015, is an international event where people who own houses that are doing good things with materials,

Why all the fuss about batteries at the moment? What’s it all about? The ability to store energy isn’t new, but the technology to store it at household scale and larger, at an

How can we design eco friendly homes if they are powered by dirty energy, and are potentially undermined or overcome by toxic emissions? We can design the home, it can be eco friendly,