Hot on the heels of Sustainable House Day tours, the Australian Passivhaus Association (APA) is now promoting more tours!

The focus here is on renovation projects that meet the Certified Passivhaus Standard. This particular category of Certification is called “EnerPHit” instead of Passivhaus Classic, Passivhaus Plus or Passivhaus Premium.

The EnerPHit Standard

EnerPHit has slightly more relaxed requirements as it can be more challenging to meet airtightness targets and heating/cooling loads when working with the upgrade of existing buildings. We’ve designed (and consulted) on numerous EnerPHit projects now, and are thrilled to see the growing number of projects meeting this standard, proving it’s possible in the Australian context, with different building typologies and construction methods. 

Renovate or Detonate?

Sometimes homes really aren’t worth saving due to the amount of issues that require rectification that are not fit for purpose - often with structural failure, mould, toxic materials, impractical layouts, cost implications, etc. In these instances, we can help assess whether a knock-down-rebuild is the most practical option.

However, we find there’s a lot we can do to improve existing homes, instead of just sending them all to landfill! We can ensure the functional brief works for modern life with how rooms are used in the home, with modest extensions if needed (or just re-working the existing space). Draft-sealing, adding insulation, new improved windows and doors, appropriate ventilation and heating/cooling systems,  all-electric homes with contemporary kitchen and bathroom upgrades can make a world of difference, without necessarily having the same price tag of building a whole new home.

Visit an EnerPHit project

A couple of our EnerPHit projects in NSW will be hosting tours in the next month including Hillary and Shibori House, a terrace retrofit under construction. You can also check out the full calendar of events at the Australian Passivhaus Association’s website. If you’re heading along to this year’s THRIVE conference, you can also catch our Director Andy Marlow giving a keynote presentation 

Retrofit launch event

APA are hosting a launch event at Pro Clima in Alexandria, Sydney on the evening of June 10. More details can be found here.

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Launch Event - June 10th 5:30 - 8:30pm

Hillary EnerPHit - June 13th 12:30 - 1:00pm

Shibori House - June 13th 10:00 - 11:00am

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