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Passive House & Thermal Performance
Our director, Daniel Perrem, is a Certified Passive House Tradesperson, so we know how to build airtight, well-insulated, thermal-bridge-free homes properly on site. We design and build high-performance homes across Batemans Bay and the NSW South Coast.
Our director, Daniel Perrem, is a Certified Passive House Tradesperson. That is the Passive House Institute's certification for people who build, and it means we know how to put an airtight, well-insulated, thermal-bridge-free envelope together properly on site. Daniel is also a licensed builder and a building designer registered with the BDAA, so the same person is accountable for how your home is designed and how it is built. We design and build high-performance homes across Batemans Bay and the NSW South Coast, whether you are aiming for Passive House or simply want a home that performs well above the BASIX minimum.
What Passive House means
Passive House (Passivhaus) is a building performance standard set by the Passive House Institute in Germany and used around the world. A Passive House needs very little energy for heating and cooling, because the building itself does most of the work. It rests on five principles.
Continuous insulation around the whole envelope: walls, roof and floor.
Airtightness, with a planned air barrier and every joint and penetration sealed.
No thermal bridges, meaning no weak points where heat leaks out through framing, slab edges or fixings.
High-performance windows and doors, carefully installed.
Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, which brings in fresh, filtered air while keeping most of the warmth in winter.
The result is a home that holds a steady, comfortable temperature, with fresh air and very low running costs.
Tradesperson certification and building certification are different
This is worth being clear about. The Certified Passive House Tradesperson credential belongs to a person. It is earned through training and an exam under the Passive House Institute, with a focus on either the building envelope or building services. It shows the holder understands how Passive House buildings are put together and how to build them properly on site.
Passive House building certification is separate, and it applies to a specific home. The design is modelled in the Passive House Planning Package (PHPP), the build is documented, and the finished home is airtightness tested. An accredited Passive House certifier reviews the evidence and certifies the building if it meets the standard. It is optional. Some clients want the certificate. Others want Passive House level comfort without the formal process.
We can build either way. If you want formal certification, we work with your Passive House designer and certifier from the start. If you do not, we still apply the same principles and detailing, and an airtightness test can confirm the result.
Why it matters on the South Coast
The South Coast climate is mild, so people sometimes assume performance does not matter much here. It does. Winter nights are cool, summer days can be hot and humid, and coastal winds find every gap in a leaky building. A well-sealed, well-insulated home is quieter, free of draughts, less prone to condensation and mould, and cheap to heat and cool. Add rooftop solar and the running costs drop further.
Why design and build helps
High-performance homes are won or lost on site. One unsealed service penetration, a gap in the insulation at a steel beam or a badly installed window can undo careful modelling. Because our design team and builders work under one roof, the people drawing the air barrier and insulation details are the people installing them. Details are agreed before the price is set, and then built as drawn.
We also help you choose a wall system that suits the goal. SIP panel homes give continuous insulation and fewer joints. Tilt panel construction adds thermal mass and bushfire resistance, with insulation added to the envelope. Well-detailed timber frame works too. See sustainable home building for the wider picture, and our passive design guide for design principles suited to our climate.
What to expect
Every new NSW home must meet BASIX, which since 1 October 2023 means thermal performance consistent with a 7-star NatHERS rating (NSW Planning Portal). A Passive House approach goes well beyond that. We will talk through your goals, whether that is formal certification, Passive House principles without the paperwork, or a strong result above BASIX, and design the envelope, glazing and ventilation to match. Call 0483 948 931 to start the conversation.
Common questions
What is a Certified Passive House Tradesperson?
It is a certification from the Passive House Institute for people who build. It is earned through training and an exam, with a focus on either the building envelope or building services. It shows the holder understands how airtight, well-insulated, thermal-bridge-free buildings are put together and can build them properly on site. Our director, Daniel Perrem, holds it.
Is every Perrem home a certified Passive House?
No. Passive House building certification is a separate, optional process for a specific home. The design is modelled, the build is documented and airtightness tested, and an accredited certifier assesses the result. If you want a certified Passive House, we work with your Passive House designer and certifier from the start. If not, we still build to the same principles.
Is Passive House worth it in a mild climate like the South Coast?
For many people, yes. The coast is mild, but winter nights are cool, summers can be humid, and coastal winds find every gap in a leaky home. An airtight, well-insulated home with heat recovery ventilation stays comfortable year round, has fresh air, is less prone to condensation, and costs very little to heat and cool.
Does a Passive House need air conditioning?
Usually very little. The standard aims to cut heating and cooling demand so far that a small system is enough. On the South Coast, a modest heat pump split system is often all a home needs, and it may only run on the coldest nights or the most humid days. Ventilation with heat recovery supplies fresh air all year.
Can you build to Passive House principles without certification?
Yes. Plenty of people want the comfort and low running costs without the cost and paperwork of formal certification. We apply the same principles: continuous insulation, a sealed air barrier, minimal thermal bridges, high-performance windows and heat recovery ventilation. An airtightness test can still check the result, even when the home is not formally certified.
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One team, from concept to completion, across the NSW South Coast.
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