Passive houses will be industry norm

Kya deLongchamps says new energy standards will mean carbon neutral construction for house building, ensuring no harmful gases.

IF you are building or renovating a house you will inevitably hear the term ‘passive house’ or ‘passivhaus’, the word ‘passiv’ with a Teutonic clip of its ‘e’.

For the uninitiated, this term, and the cheery declaration of ‘passivhaus standard’ slapped on a range of energy-efficient products, can be confusing.