About
Passive Hive is Passive House advocacy group, which apart from typical architectural design and documentation services, offers consultancy and educational seminars and presentations about the key principles of the Passive House concept. We are an indoor generation and we need a sustainable, healthy and comfortable living environment to avoid common illnesses, and we know how this can be achieved in built environment.
We all live in a house or apartment, but most are not aware how unhealthy the indoor environment can be. Polluted air or mould and mildew can lead to asthma and other serious health problems.
Within our buildings we also use a lot more energy than necessary to keep them warm or cool because of poor building standards.
In Australia, buildings account for more than 23% of carbon emissions. Due to the lack of awareness of the problem standardised building methods are not sustainable, energy efficient and healthy. While building codes are slowly changing towards this direction, the possible solutions for both, professionals and community can bring the awareness of the world-wide adopted standards locally.
We are not aware of the problem within the structure, and Solar Passive design is not enough to address the matter. Our assistance will improve overall energy efficiency reduction and common condensation risk problems. We relay on recent NCC changes and apart for promoting the public awareness, we aim to help government policy making and speed up the process towards our sustainable future.
Passive Hive consists of two Passive House designers with a passion for promoting sustainable, healthy and energy efficient building standards.
We have studied architecture in Europe and strongly believe that Passive House standard is the way forward for the building industry in the future.
Apart from that, Passive Hive is independently promoting Passive House Design Principles and actively working on marketing strategies to bring the awareness of the solution to the problem. If you can help this important office establishment, we will be pleased to meet with you.
We are looking for funds so we can establish a central office within Perth CBD, from where we can provide free Passive House Design consultations for general public and professionals 2-3 times a week.
Apart from that, Passive Hive will be independently promoting Passive House Design Principles and actively working on marketing strategies to bring the awareness of the solution to the problem. If you can help this important office establishment, we will be pleased to meet with you.
Project Background
The Passive House is a rigorous, voluntary standard for energy efficiency in a building, which reduces the building’s ecological footprint. It results in ultralow energy buildings that require little energy for space heating or cooling.
Passive Houses deliver a healthy indoor environment that is comfortable in temperature and humidity, while using very little energy.
The technical definition is a building that can achieve thermal comfort by heating or cooling only the fresh air required to maintain a healthy indoor air quality.
If the decision makers and community understand the importance of the Passive design principles, the benefits will be manifold: local Government will be able to make informed decisions when investing in projects and can be leaders in the process of change.
By implementing this project, we could have a big positive impact on our environment and help the pursuit of the Act against climate change, bearing in mind that in Australia buildings are responsible for 23% of the total carbon emissions.
Project Description for WA Local and Federal Government
Our project aims at making people aware that we need to use less energy in order to stop climate change. We are encouraging the public to look at their living arrangements and make some positive changes around their homes, with the end goal that they will build a Passive Houses in the future.
We all live in a house or apartment, but most are not aware how unhealthy the indoor environment can be. Polluted air or mould and mildew can lead to asthma and other serious health problems.
Within our buildings we also use more energy than necessary to keep them warm or cool because of poor building standards.
As a solution to those problems we want to show the public and Member of Local Governments how better indoor climate and air quality can be achieved and the basic principles to build a highly energy efficient home that uses 90% less energy than the current building stock in Australia.
Project benefits
If the community understands the importance of a healthy and energy efficient living environment, the benefits will be numerous: a community that has less health problems will be happier and with less bills to pay, they will be able to afford a better lifestyle.
Once the community starts to work together towards a goal (such as making a positive impact on the environment) they will have a better sense of belonging, feel satisfied and are more likely to engage in other positive projects.
Overall objectives
Certified Passive Houses deliver a healthy indoor environment that is comfortable in temperature and humidity, while using very little energy.
The technical definition is a building that can achieve thermal comfort by heating or cooling only the fresh air required to maintain a healthy indoor air quality.
If the decision makers and community understand the importance of the Passive House design principles, the benefits will be manifold: local Governments will be able to make informed decisions when investing in projects and can be leaders in the process of change.
Specific objectives for the community
1) Better health – once the public is aware of the issues an unhealthy indoor environment can have, they will be encouraged to make positive changes to their living arrangements. These will be suggestions for all budgets and greatly benefit their health.
2) Saving energy for a better planet – living in a more energy efficient home can have a big positive impact on our environment and help to act against climate change. After all, in Australia buildings are responsible for 23% of the total carbon emissions.
3) Saving energy for lower bills – paying less money for your bills means that the community is able to afford a better lifestyle and possibly invest in other energy saving measures (like PV).
Together with typical Architectural & Passive House Design services we will focus our activities around Architectural Advocacy targeting professionals and the public about the New Generation of Sustainability in House Design. Saying this, we have grouped main activities as following.
Our Aim:
1. Providing funds for provision of services for the passive houses design improvement which will be open for wide public to bring in plans and discuss an improvement of their homes
2. Development of web page information for building of Passive Houses
3. Performing a survey to access data about the comfort of living in the existing homes
4. Doing research with a goal to prove the return on the investment of a Passive House in WA
5. Developing a marketing plan for next 24‐36 months
6. Investigate the air quality in schools in Perth and providing a solution for improvement of the existing buildings
7. Development of Toolkit with information on Passive House design
Set of training for professionals, decision‐makers and wide public
Together with typical Architectural & Passive House Design we offer building design consultancy consisting of informative sessions which can educate professionals and the public about the New Generation of Sustainability in House Design:
Training 1: Passive House Seminar – the Basics
Training 2: Healthy homes – Sustainable Building Assessment
Training 3: Building a sustainable House – Design Improvement Workshop
Training 4: Heart-based Home Design Seminar
Description of Training for Design Professionals, Sustainability Officers and wide community
Training 1: Passive House Seminar – the Basics
Learn more about the basics of Passive House and the Importance of building a sustainable house for our future.
The three main driving forces we are promoting are health, sustainability and comfort. It is of great importance to have these in mind when designing or upgrading our homes. This educational session includes information about the impact of bad air quality, energy waste, air leakages and lack of comfort we and we are presenting the main 5 principles of Passive House standard as a solution to the problems we face in a typical Australian home.
Training 2: Healthy Homes – Sustainable Building Assessment
This seminar focuses on the houses we currently live in and gives an overview of the health risks you might be exposed to like bad indoor air or mould.
After explaining how buildings work and what contributes to a comfortable home you will be able to identify the cause of the problems.
We will then present solutions for every budget on how to improve your indoor environment and make positive changes to your life.
Training 3: Building a sustainable House – Design Improvement Workshop
For those looking at building a sustainable house but not sure where to start, this is a great workshop.
We will go through the 5 basic Passive House Principles and explain how they will make a positive impact on your new building, your health and the environment.
We will also talk about important factors like orientation, shading and compactness.
There will be an opportunity to bring your own plans if you already have any and get some initial ideas from us.
Further 1 on 1 consultation sessions can then be booked if required.
Training 4: Heart-based Home Design Seminar
The house we live in is a gift and we should use it to retreat from the demanding world outside and the fast pace of living.
We believe that a home is a sanctuary that we need to connect with.
By doing so, we can increase the quality of our lives, our enjoyment in the present moment and reconnect with ourselves in a space which shapes our daily reality.
In this seminar we will introduce you to the center of peace, calmness and joy you can always access and present solutions to build not only sustainable but also healthy homes for your mind and body.
We look forward to hearing from you!