The Ivaniers are in their 7th winter in the first passive house certified in New Zealand, and they still have miniscule power bills. READ MORE* Pioneering passive house generates own power* Passive house open home* Dunedin family downsizing to passive houseWhen the couple came to build their house in Auckland, they wanted to make it warm in winter and eco-friendly, but one thing led to another and they became the first homeowners to build a certified passive house in New Zealand – a house that's still ticking every box seven years on. Kara Rosemeer of Passive House Institute says it is difficult to compare costs for a passive house, but says recent overseas research by a quantity surveyor showed a 10 per cent premium. "Everyone who is a certified passive house designer is hiring people, because they can't keep up with the demand." Passive house designer and certifier Jason Quinn of Sustainable Engineering notes the current number of completed certified passive houses in New Zealand is 26.

Source: Stuff July 11, 2019 02:23 UTC