This article is a summary of the podcast conversation 35. “Choosing to Build a Passive House Standard Home with ReNewy Living Community Member Jess Bollinger“. Listen to the full episode on Spotify podcasts or Apple podcasts, and go here for the relevant links mentioned in the podcast. Read on for the summarised topics from the episode.

Choosing to Build a Passive House Standard Home

Choosing to knock down and rebuild a house is a big decision. But instead of a standard project home, what happens when you choose a passive house – a design built for comfort, efficiency, and sustainability?

In this episode, I’d love you to meet ReNewy Living community member Jess Bollinger from Lake Macquarie, NSW. Jess works in environmental sustainability for her day job, yet finds most meaning in making everyday choices that matter – for her family, her place, and her community.

We talk about her family’s journey to live lighter on the planet, what sustainable housing in a temperate climate means to her, and how her decision to build a passive house offers ideas and inspiration for your own lasting impact.

Overview of the Conversation

Craning in day of Jess’ new house Photo supplied by Jess Bollinger

Internal panels for Jess’ new house Photo supplied by Jess Bollinger

What passive house means to Jess – an energy efficient home that’s also a healthy home.
Touching on the 5 Passive House Design principles, such as excellent insulation and window glazing, yet still accessing fresh air
How Jess discovered passive house design, starting with Renew magazine, then diving deeper through the Undercover Architect podcast.
Impact of mould growth in a home

…we did talk to project home builders. And we had one that couldn’t get out of here fast enough! We’d got ourselves into an informed position that we’d already made up our minds that a project home wasn’t going to be the journey we were going to take.

Interior of Jess’ new house Photo supplied by Jess Bollinger

Partially completed exterior of Jess’ new house Photo supplied by Jess Bollinger

Key things to consider when building, including choosing the right architect and builder for you, plus keeping the footprint small
Description of how passive house mechanical ventilation system works and what a cross section of an external wall looks like
The importance of being intentional with space during the design phase
How Jess hopes her home will positively influence the local streetscape and become a beautiful place for her family to enjoy together

Jess shares her simple tips for a sustainable re-build…

✓ Arm yourself with knowledge…because once you know, you can’t un-know.

✓ Understand the aspect and position of your home and land and make use of these natural aspects.

✓ If you can, live in a home for a while before renovating or redesigning so you can understand how light moves across the place.

This episode of The ReNewy Living Podcast was recorded on Awabakal country. I wish to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land and waters in the Lake Macquarie NSW region of New South Wales.

I hope you’re feeling more confident about doing better for our people and planet by taking a start where you live approach to living sustainably. If this episode has spurred you into action, please feel free to share the episode with your friends. It would mean the world to me!

Listen into the stories and voices of this story here at Spotify podcasts and here at Apple Podcasts… And you can also sign up to my regular emails here… I look forward to sharing more stories with you next time.

Apple Podcasts ↓

Spotify Podcasts ↓

You Tube ↓

Choosing to Build a Passive House Standard Home (S5 Ep35)

Links from the Podcast Episode (S5 Ep35)

Morton Pederson Design Passive house certified designer
Passive House Institute (International)
5 Principles of passivhaus design
Renew magazine (an affiliate link in which I may receive a commission if you choose to make a purchase #isubscribe)
Get it Right with Undercover Architect podcast with Amelia Lee
Evan Graham Master Builder Passive home building experts (Newcastle NSW)
Sick building syndrome

Relevant Blogposts & Podcast Episodes with ReNewy Living

All summaries of the podcast episodes with links from The Renewy Living Podcast

Other Sites of Interest

Australian Passivhaus Association an independent not for profit organisation in Australia with a vision that all Australians live and work in healthy, comfortable, low-energy, resilient buildings.
What is thermal bridging? Australian National Construction Code
Understanding Passive House on the Australian federal Government “Your Home website – Australia’s guide to environmentally sustainable homes
Passive House Standard Method by the NSW State Government