Originally we set up this blog to describe the build of a PassivHaus. We really believe that a true PassivHaus will give the best comfort, and energy efficiency. In a new build, this adds a relatively modest amount of cost and we planned to construct a new home.
Circumstances beyond our control meant we ended up changing our direction and could no longer proceed with a new build. Instead we are working to try and improve the performance of our current home and move to sustainable energy sources. Although it is possible to bring an exisiting home to PassivHaus standard, it is more complicated than starting with a new build.
We moved to Melbourne from London 10 years ago. Our first winter we discovered that it was the coldest home we had ever lived in.
The home stays very cool in the summer. We have an evaporative cooling system which we use only a few days a year. It works when the temperature gets near 40, and the humidity is very low.
But in winter, the home is really uncomfortable. The home has ducted gas heating, which is expensive to run. It will heat up the house relatively quickly, but as soon as the heating stops running the house cools down. The house has an older double brick (with no insulation) construction part and a newer extension which is a single layer of brick cladding and then stud walls with no insulation and plasterboard interior walls. The windows are largely single glazed throughout. The loft has poor covering of insulation with a mix of blown in and bats.
This year, the gas heating which is 30 years old died, and we decided it was time to act and start work on making this home more performant, and less reliant on non-renewables.
We will be keeping track of how we go here and hope these notes will serve as a useful record of our journey.