“I’ve seen first-hand many of the health and structural issues with building to the minimum Australian industry standards.
Many homes ‘leak’, which leads to poor air quality, mould and fungal growth literally eating away at the timber framing.
That’s why I became a Passive House Tradesperson and started Conscious Construction Co, in order to build environmentally friendly homes that deliver cleaner, fresher & filtered indoor air, and are the standard by which others are judged.”
– Arran Powell
Book a Free Concept Call
Experience the ultimate in energy-efficiency with a custom-built Passive House. Designed to meet your needs, our Passive homes are as environmentally friendly as they are beautiful.
Build a stunning home that perfectly reflects your lifestyle. We specialise in crafting architectural homes that seamlessly combine innovative design with superior energy performance.
Transform your existing space into a high-performing, modern home. Whether you’re adding a new room or upgrading your entire home, we ensure seamless integration and exceptional results.
By the time you realise it’s a problem, it’s usually too late.
When you build with us, we install premium permeable wall and roof membranes (sarking) for airtightness, creating a ventilated cavity that stops the fungal growth.
What’s more, we leverage correct ‘wrapping’ practices to keep your house dry and protected, without sweating (which can lead to damp and mould issues). We tightly seal and wrap external walls to prevent even the slightest of draughts getting in or out (eliminating cold feet, and keeping the rest of you warm, regardless of the temperature outside).
Originally developed in Germany in the 1990’s, Passive House is a design standard that achieves thermal comfort with minimal heating and cooling by using insulation, airtightness, ventilation systems, specific door and window design, the elimination of thermal bridges and heat recovery in order to minimise air leakage, reduce air pollution, and slash your electricity bill and carbon footprint.
Watch VideoClick below to see passive house principles and techniques.
Eliminate thermal bridges
Eliminating thermal bridges, or "cold spots" in your building envelope, is crucial for energy efficiency, comfort, and preventing issues like condensation and mold. By addressing these weak points in insulation, you can significantly reduce heat loss, lower energy costs, and improve indoor air quality.
Heat recovery ventilation
A Heat Recovery Ventilation (HRV) system provides fresh air while recovering heat from outgoing air, improving indoor air quality and reducing energy consumption by pre-warming incoming air.
Highly insulated building envelope
In architecture and construction, the building envelope refers to all the elements that distinguish the interior of a structure from the external environment. A more well-insulated envelope reduces energy loss and improve efficiency.
Continuous air seal layer
A continuous air seal layer prevents drafts, boosts energy-efficiency, and maintains consistent indoor temperatures by minimising air leaks and moisture build-ups.
High-performance windows
High-performance windows improve energy-efficiency, reduce heat loss, and enhance comfort by providing better insulation and soundproofing.
Water tank
Combining a water tank with low flow fixtures helps conserve water, reduces reliance on external water sources, and supports sustainable living by storing rainwater for non-potable uses, like irrigation and flushing toilets.
Solar panels
Solar panels provide a clean renewable energy source by reducing reliance on the grid, and further enhancing energy-efficiency of a home by offsetting electricity consumption.
Electrical appliances
Electrical cooking and appliances align with a Passive Home's energy-efficient design, ensuring that energy consumption is optimised through renewable sources.
Solar gain optimisation
Maximising passive solar heating through window placement.
External shading
Protects from overheating in summer while allowing sunlight in during winter.
High-performance doors
Well-insulated and airtight entry points.
Thermal mass
Using materials with high thermal mass (like concrete or stone) to store heat and cool down the house.
Indoor air quality
Prioritizing materials with low VOCs (volatile organic compounds) for a healthy indoor environment.
Natural lighting
Maximizing natural light through large windows and skylights.
Sustainable materials
Using locally sourced, recycled, or renewable building materials.
Sound insulation
Using materials and construction techniques to reduce noise transmission.
Maximising solar gain
North-facing orientation is crucial for maximising solar gain during the cooler winter months, allowing the sun to warm the building naturally.
Minimising solar gain
Minimising solar gain in summer is important as the sun is higher in the sky, so shading is crucial to prevent overheating.
Battery storage
With sufficient battery capacity, a passive house can potentially become largely self-sufficient from the grid, especially when combined with renewable energy sources like solar.
1. Free Initial Design Concept Call & A ‘Back of The Envelope’ costing
Have a friendly chat over the phone and tell us what you’re after. We’ll help you understand what to expect and answer any questions and concerns you might have. We’ll ask you questions to find out exactly where you’re at, what you’d love to create and give you a rough idea of the investment required to achieve that dream. Either over the phone or via zoom it’s completely free, with no obligation.
2. Face to Face Meeting, Site Inspection and Planning Session
Sit down over a cuppa with Arran onsite to map out and explore what’s possible for your home, refine your vision, and go step by step through our construction process. Once we both have a clear idea of what’s required, we’ll refine that low level cost estimate, and at your own pace you can let us know if you’d like to go ahead.
3. Concept Sketches, 3D Renders & A More Detailed Estimate Update
At this point we’ll document everything - your ideas, concept drawings and 3D renders along with preliminary agreements so we can begin the necessary surveys, soil tests, engineering quotes and considerations, and gather all the information you need to move forward to create your new dream home.
4. Final Design Review and Fixed Price Estimate
Now’s the time to recap the entire process, apply for necessary permits and create all the final documents, plans drawings and agreements to charge full steam ahead. We’ll also undergo anything necessary from external third parties (like soil and engineering or architecture) Your building contract which includes all your selections, designs and specs is signed off on and everything is finalised for council submission.
5. Building Of Your New Dream Home Commences
Put up your feet and relax knowing all your hard work is done, and it’s time for us to go to work for you. We’ll handle every tiny detail to minimise any stress along the way. From bringing our own site toilet, to handing over your completed home in 6-18months (depending on the complexity) we’ll ensure you’re updated regarding where the construction process is at throughout the build.
It’s the first step on the journey to building your dream home. Whether you’re interested in a Passive House, a renovation, or a high performance sustainable home, our expert team is here to help create the home you can’t wait to show off at your next family BBQ.
This call is not a sales call – just an opportunity to discuss your project and gain practical, personalised advice to help you make informed decisions.
Take the first step toward a smarter, healthier, and more energy-efficient home. Book a consultation today.
Book a Free Concept Call