Passive House
Passive House or Passivhaus is the world's leading performance-based building standard, developed in Germany over 30 years ago to create exceptionally comfortable, healthy, durable, and energy-efficient buildings across all climate zones.
Combining building science, intelligent design, quality materials, and meticulous construction practices, Passive House delivers homes that perform as beautifully as they look.
The Five Principles of Passive House
A certified Passive House is designed and constructed to meet strict performance criteria, including:
High performance windows
Heat recovery ventilation (HRV)
Thermal-bridge reduction
Airtight construction
Super-insulated building envelopes
Every Passive House is independently modeled, tested and verified to ensure it performs as designed.
Benefits of Passive House
Superior year-round comfort
Significantly reduced energy costs
Healthier indoor air quality
Improved acoustic performance
Condensation and mould free
Greater durability and longevity
Lower environmental impact
Verified performance through independent testing & certification
High Performance Homes
Not every project is suited to full Passive House certification, however the principles behind Passive House can be applied to create a high-performance home that delivers substantial improvements in comfort, efficiency, durability and health.
A high-performance home is designed and constructed as a complete system, where every element of the building works together. This includes thoughtful orientation, high levels of insulation, quality windows and doors, airtight construction, thermal bridge reduction and carefully considered ventilation strategies.
Unlike conventional homes that often rely on larger heating and cooling systems to compensate for poor building performance, high-performance homes are designed to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures naturally, reducing energy consumption and operating costs.
At IQH, we apply building science principles across all our projects—from renovations and extensions through to architectural new homes and Passive House builds. By focusing on the building envelope and quality construction practices, we create homes that are more comfortable, healthier and more durable for the long term.
Benefits of a High Performance Home
Improved year-round comfort
Reduced heating and cooling costs
Better indoor air quality
Reduced drafts and temperature fluctuations
Improved durability and moisture management
Enhanced acoustic performance
Lower environmental impact
Increased long-term value
Why Build a Passive or High Performance House?
Building a home is one of the most significant investments you will make. At IQH, we encourage our clients to focus on building the best home possible—not the biggest!
A Passive or high performance house represents an investment in thoughtful design, skilled craftsmanship, premium materials, and proven construction methods. The result is a comfortable and healthy home that delivers lasting value for generations.
Whether pursuing full Passive House certification or simply incorporating high-performance building principles, the goal remains the same: build better homes that perform exceptionally well and provide a comfortable living experience every day.
More information
https://passivehouseaustralia.org/