A record 34 Australian properties — 33 homes and a single commercial office — will open their doors for scheduled tours during the International Passivhaus Open Day, which will run from November 7 to 9, organisers said, marking the strongest national showing yet for the high-performance building standard.
It comes as the Australian Passivhaus Association reports applications for Passivhaus certification in Australia have risen by more than 80 per cent over the past year, and this year’s program will showcase projects – many of them timber-based – across the ACT, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, and Western Australia.
Tours are available by prebooked appointment through the association’s website, with confirmed attendees provided full address details 48 hours before each scheduled visit. Passivhaus, sometimes called Passive House, was developed in Germany in the 1990s as a set of objectively measured building criteria centred on heating, cooling, renewable energy, and airtightness. Supporters argue that these criteria translate into lower household energy bills, reduced emissions, and healthier indoor environments.
“The innovation, generosity, and passion of our members and the wider Passivhaus community are driving a quiet revolution in how Australians think about building performance and sustainable living,” says Stalin Chakrabarty of the Australian Passivhaus Association. “By opening their homes and projects and sharing their experiences, they’re showing that healthy, energy‑efficient housing isn’t a niche idea for the future — it’s a practical, proven solution to our national housing and energy challenges.”
“We invite everyone curious about how the Passivhaus Standard can transform comfort, wellbeing, and energy use to come along, meet the experts, and experience the Passivhaus difference for themselves,” he said. The association, which represents over 17,000 building industry professionals and suppliers across Australia, has been running the International Passivhaus Open Days program since 2013 and states that the event is a core part of its education and advocacy work.
- To learn more about Australia’s International Passivhaus Open Day, taking place from November 7 to 9, click here for more information.
