All posts by Nikki Kruger

PHINZ Appoints New Chair to the Board

News, PHINZ

PHINZ has recently appointed a new Chair to the Board and we are delighted to announce that Joe Lyth, Director of WEL Architecture, has enthusiastically stepped into this role to lead our organisation in 2025 and beyond. He takes over from Guy Shaw who has been in the role of Acting Chair for the past few months.

We would like to take this opportunity to also thank Guy for his outstanding commitment and support. He will resume his role as Treasurer on the Board.

Joe has a vast amount of knowledge and expertise and we know that our organisation is in great hands but we will let Joe tell you more on his thoughts and vision for the next chapter:

“Designing and building lower energy, lower carbon, healthier homes and buildings, is a challenge facing the whole construction industry. This means homes and buildings that use less materials alongside less energy, that work with their context and local environment without imposing on it, and that utilise healthier, less impactful products, systems and materials, for both people and planet.

The Passive House process is a key part of achieving this goal, with measurable performance and a proven track record of producing buildings of higher quality, comfort and durability, in all climates. My family and I have first-hand experience of this, through producing our own Certified Passive House home on a standard budget, and we have seen the results – it does what it says on the tin!

Yet Passive House is one part of the picture, with other bodies, individuals, rating and certification schemes covering areas such as biodiversity, materiality, waste reduction, liveability, and so forth. These are all part of the same pathway towards better buildings and need to be supporting each other towards achieving this goal.

In taking the role of Board Chair at Passive House Institute New Zealand, my aim is to work towards fostering more collaboration, to clarify the place of Passive House and its significance in achieving energy efficient, climate resilient buildings for Aotearoa New Zealand; and to support anyone on their journey, whatever their point on the route. I look forward to working with everyone on the way!”

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PHINZ Submits Response to Building Code H1 Changes – A Call for a Transformative Approach

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Te Tōpūtanga o te Whare Korou ki Aotearoa, Passive House Institute NZ (PHINZ) has voiced its concerns regarding the proposed changes to the Building Code’s insulation requirements (H1) in a recent submission to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE). PHINZ believes that the proposed changes, while well-intentioned, represent incrementalism and are a step in the wrong direction. Instead, PHINZ proposes an alternative approach that they believe is necessary to achieve the desired outcomes for New Zealand’s built environment.

Key points of PHINZ’s proposed alternative approach include:

  • Replacing the current prescriptive and calculation methods with a predictive modeling approach based on ISO 52016.
  • Shifting the focus from minimum R-values to minimum absolute thermal performance levels.
  • Adopting the caps from the Building for Climate Change document.
  • Allowing a transition period to the implementation of the first cap of 24 months.

Predictive Modeling Approach
PHINZ strongly supports the transition to a predictive modeling approach based on ISO 52016. This allows for a more accurate and flexible assessment of a building’s energy efficiency compared to the current prescriptive methods.

Minimum Absolute Thermal Performance Levels
Instead of relying solely on minimum R-values, PHINZ recommends shifting the focus to minimum absolute thermal performance levels. This means setting specific targets for the amount of energy a building is allowed to consume, rather than just specifying the thermal resistance of individual building elements. This approach encourages a more holistic view of building performance and promotes innovation in building design and construction.

Building for Climate Change Caps
PHINZ proposes adopting the caps from the Building for Climate Change document, which outlines a roadmap for reducing emissions from buildings in New Zealand. These caps would set progressively stricter limits on the energy consumption of new buildings, driving significant improvements in energy efficiency over time.

Transition Period
To allow the industry to adapt to these changes, PHINZ suggests a transition period of 24 months or more to the implementation of the first cap. This would give builders, designers, and manufacturers sufficient time to adjust their practices and product offerings, ensuring a smooth shift towards more energy-efficient buildings.

Conclusion
PHINZ believes that their alternative approach is crucial for improving the energy efficiency of buildings in New Zealand. They urge MBIE to give their feedback careful consideration before finalizing any decisions on the proposed changes.

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PHINZ Welcomes Joe Lyth, Director of WEL Architecture to the Board.

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Joe is no stranger to our Passive House Community but we have asked him to share a little about himself and his goals with our members.

“I’m Director of WEL Architecture, a Homestar Assessor & trainer for NZGBC, a Certified Passive House Designer & I have led the Auckland PHINZ Chapter since its inception. I’m dad to three ‘lively’ Kiwis, and husband to my amazing wife Sarah.

Originally from North Yorkshire in the UK, I grew up exploring the rural farms, moors and woodland around my childhood home. Through this experience I have a deep love of nature and the outdoors. After almost pursuing a career in sculpture, I moved to London in 2007 to study and work in Architecture, which added a love of urbanism & the built form to my passion for hands-on creating, before heading to NZ with my wife in March 2016 ‘to travel for a few months’!

We swiftly decided to stay and started our family; but after watching our children get sick in cold, mouldy, minimum code buildings, my passion grew for building performance and occupant health. To provide a better, healthier life for us I embarked on a journey to create our own Passive House Certified home – Lower Saddle Passive House, on a minimal budget. I believe that homes should achieve a standard far above what the NZ Building Code achieves, but that this doesn’t necessarily mean significant additional cost if this is prioritised and considered holistically throughout the design process, as we proved with our own project.

My passion, and the primary aim of my practice, is to get more people into healthy, low energy and low carbon homes and buildings through my own designs, through helping others as a consultant, and through teaching. I feel that Passive House is one of the best ways to achieve low energy, durable and comfortable homes, supported by other pathways and tools such as Homestar and Living Building Challenge, to cover the wider project context and elements such as water use, embodied carbon, biodiversity, healthy materials, the list goes on.

I have presented, lectured and taught building performance and energy modelling, and enjoy enabling others to learn. I have aimed to use the PHINZ Auckland Chapter events to educate and demystify building performance and Passive House, while also utilising my own experiences and journey to help others connect with and understand both elements.

In joining the PHINZ board, I hope to break down some of the perceived barriers around Passive House, show that healthier buildings can be achievable to those who feel that they are out of reach, demonstrate how Passive House is an appropriate way to achieve energy efficient, climate resilient buildings for New Zealand; and push for more education to allow more people to achieve Passive House Performance through their designs and work.

I have hands-on real-world experience with designing, building, and living in a Passive House, so can show that I’m not just talking the talk but also walking the walk. Through this I can discuss the positives and negatives of each stage, and how to approach them based on personal experience, all of which I hope to bring to the role.”

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PHINZ rolls out Webinar Series for 2025

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We are excited to bring to you the PHINZ 2025 Webinar Series, with 20 webinars over the space of 10 months tailored for both the Designers in our community as well as Builders and Tradespeople.

The overarching webinar theme for the year

  1. Designers webinars : How to Build a Passive House
  2. Builders Social webinars: Everything Passive House

Whatever your interest in Passive House or level of expertise, there is something for everyone in this series. 

Each month we will present 2 x 1.5hr webinars on the selected topic for the month. The first webinar will be a Designers Webinar with a Host/moderator, technical speaker/s and a Q&A session.

The Builders Social will be more informal with the host providing a brief overview and perspective on the topic followed by a Q&A with the builder/s.

ENVELOPE

FebruaryAvoiding Lock-In Effects in Floor Slabs and Foundations
MarchAlternative Wall systems – SIPS’s, straw
AprilWeathertightness vs Airtightness
MayWindow Selection & Installation
JuneOpen discussion – Energy modelling insights

SERVICES

JulyHeat Pumps for space heating & hot water
AugustPassive House & Solar
SeptemberVentilation Design & Installation
OctoberHot Water & Plumbing
NovemberOpen discussion – I wish I’d known/You only do this once

View our Events page for details of individual webinars as they become available.

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