We built a Passive House on a Budget. TOP TIPS

Architect Ben Caine gives a breakdown on the main tips to achieve a Passive House on a low budget.
Learn more: www.leanhaus.com.au/blog
Passive House energy efficient home design.
Full timber framed construction with uprated insulation.
Air tight construction with Heat Recovery Ventilation
00:19 - Tip 1: Pick an experienced passive house designer/architect
00:45 - Tip 2: Get a builder involved early
01:13 - Tip 3: The size of the house is going to have the biggest impact on budget
02:21 - Tip 4: Try and come up with a fairly simple floor plan
03:06 - Tip 5: Work to standard material sizes
05:07 - Tip 6: Save money on the roof structure
06:02 - Tip 7: Save money on cabinetry
07:06 - Tip 8: Work with a limited material palette
07:45 - Tip 9: Think about the external additions to the home

[@nathancreeper9859]

Great to hear an architect talking about this. Where the great design smarts go towards efficientcy and cost effectiveness. Demonstrating that high performance and quality construction is within reach of those with a budget.

[@theleanarchitect]

Thankyou. It takes discipline on the part of the client and designer to focus on value.

[@Krunch2020]

We need to improve efficiency over all of humanity. Perfection is the enemy of good. Do what you can with what you have.

[@TimFrench]

00:19 - Tip 1: Pick an experience passive house designer/architect 00:45 - Tip 2: Get a builder involved early 01:13 - Tip 3: The size of the house is going to have the biggest impact on budget 02:21 - Tip 4: Try and come up with a fairly simple floor plan 03:06 - Tip 5: Work to standard material sizes 05:07 - Tip 6: Save money on the roof structure 06:02 - Tip 7: Save money on cabinetry 07:06 - Tip 8: Work with a limited material palette 07:45 - Tip 9: Think about the external additions to the home

[@theleanarchitect]

That's a great summary! I'll copy this into the description!

[@user-ms3zr4cy2b]

I really liked your description and your style. I would liked to have seen more about the actual design of the house. More on the floor plans. You could perhaps have had shots of the house as you were talking. Only minor points. Overall a very informative video.❤

[@theleanarchitect]

Thank you! Will do!

[@drjimbarnes]

Great vid, as usual, Ben. I like your explanation to non-builders like me of the simple principles of affordable design. More strength to your channel!

[@theleanarchitect]

Glad you liked it!

[@soniawoolley366]

Great video - Congratulations ! Some very simple ideas to achieve the passive house standards ...

[@theleanarchitect]

Thanks!

[@willbass2869]

Watching from Texas Gulf Coast. Newly subscribed. Just keep repeating those same tried & true techniques while adapting them to the site specifics. Carry on.

[@theleanarchitect]

Thanks for subscribing!

[@asjeot]

Great tips! Thanks

[@theleanarchitect]

Glad it was helpful!

[@andrewgiles4982]

Very good video and presentation. Exactly what you said is....exactly!!!...what i recommend. Currently building a 300sq.meter home in Magill , Adelaide where i had first view of the plans at $30k into the design process. Practical amendments were advised by us to the client, all of which are being implemented, with a substantial cost saving. I ballparked about $50 k plus!!! And they will end up with a better house. And that is with using VERY!!! EXPENSIVE tripple glazed UPVC windows and sliding doors

[@theleanarchitect]

That's great feedback thankyou. Its actually quite rare to see Architects come up with practical value driven designs.

[@un_ben]

Hey Ben, just want to say that I really appreciate all of the video content you've been putting out. I'm an unqualified building designer in regional NSW and 'as affordable as possible passive house' is exactly what I've been trying to get my head around for a while now. Would you perhaps be able to share the wall and roof system you've used on this project? Have you used the external wood fibre panels on this project as well just with battens and cladding on the walls instead of a lime render, or is there a more cost effective option (assuming the actual design etc is all optimised)? Thanks heaps! Ben H

[@theleanarchitect]

Hey Ben! Thanks for reaching out. We used 120 studs with R3.0 insulation and FC cladding on battens externally. Wood fibre doesn't qualify as a budget product...yet. Colorbond used to be the cheapest cladding but with flashings and trims, additional battens and roofer delays it all adds up.

[@sparkyoc6766]

Glad i stumbled upon your channel, Ben. Very useful information. I'll look through your other vids but are you doing any Enerphit work?

[@theleanarchitect]

Thanks! We haven't had to do an Enerphit project. Honestly, most housing stock where we are located is entirely unsuitable for retrofit (being brick). Also its rare to find an existing home with good basic design that is worth the investment over starting new. Read our blog post on the topic here: www.leanhaus.com.au/leanarchitect/2021/11/4/renovation-or-new-build

[@sparkyoc6766]

@theleanarchitect Thanks for the reply. Yes, when I look at the costs and choice of products in Aus, compared with US/Europe, I wonder if we are a few years away from widespread Enerphit. I see some people have done it in Aus but the costs are not clear. Hopefully, products will come into our market (better external wall insulation, thermal barrier material) and make it more feasible for those who don't want/cannot knock down and start again from scratch

[@memak3022]

Love your work!! Any chance you'd want to help on a new build on the Olympic Peninsula?

[@theleanarchitect]

It is a possibility. We are looking at opening an office in SF to service the west coast. Please send an enquiry via Leanhaus.com.au

[@pxlaidan]

Hi Ben, I’m loving your mix of ‘Lean’ and Passive house designs, thanks for sharing on YT. My wife and I recently sold and are looking to build. We’re getting prices between $2.5-3k/sqm (Dec 2023, NthQLD). I’m guessing the passive house technology drastically increases the square meter cost, can you share a rough ballpark of the square meter cost to go passive or even ‘Lean’?

[@theleanarchitect]

We ball park $3500/sqm for a simple low cost passive house and $4500/sqm for a more involved custom design. However, we achieve good cost efficiencies through design and procurement. Inexperienced designers and builders may cost more as they have to learn everything from scratch.

[@TheCrimzor]

Hi, Can you share how much this house cost comparatively and does your firm do drafting work for houses outside WA?

[@theleanarchitect]

Hello, We don't do just drafting. We need to be involved early in the design process for best results. This home cost less than $3500/sqm

[@babybutterjesus]

To save money, I’m thinking about hiring someone from a service like Upwork to do the initial design of a house then bring it to a passive house architect to refine. The Upwork architect would design layout and exterior. Do you think this could work? What should I look for ? What format should they give me the design in so that someone else could easily use? Thanks would you design a house in the states?

[@theleanarchitect]

I would definitely advise against this approach. Like the 80-20 Pareto Principle; 80% of the cost and performance outcomes are made in the first 20% of decisions. So find the best qualified designer and see if they can offer a reduced scope of services to get the best value from their intellect.

[@criostoirashtin11]

Is it passive solar as well?

[@theleanarchitect]

Yes. The house is on a narrow block and is overshadowed by the north neighbour. We introduced the clerestory window for north light, and the owner can also make use of afternoon sun into the east facing living room.

[@markthomasson5077]

Of your tips only tip 1 applies only to Passivhus. All others apply to any house. I was hoping to hear more of the construction types that are least expensive.

[@theleanarchitect]

I cover construction methodologies in my other videos. Part of our trade secret is the most efficient application of structural frame sizes, membranes, cladding and insulation in order to achieve the desired performance.

[@icykool21]

Hi Ben, Do you have a price tag on this budgeted build?

[@theleanarchitect]

This home cost less than $3500/sqm AUD

[@icykool21]

@@theleanarchitect thank you. How does the HVAC system work with smoke? I notice Perth gets smoking days from the bushfires in the region. Does the HVAC get rid of the smoke and smell?

[@G0F15H]

​@icykool21 If it's a passive house, it will be very air-tight, which means there's an ERV. Some models have the ability to add a carbon filter, so you can filter out things like environmental pollution / smoke

[@markthomasson5077]

In EU, UK, all windows are made to order, so no standard sizes.

[@theleanarchitect]

True, same in Australia. However costs increase dramatically if your window and doors sizes require an upgraded glazing specification which results in more weight and potentially an increase in frame specification. Then there is the opportunity for cost saving in install time for more manageable sizes that can be lifted by hand, repetition of production efficiency, and also module sizes for reduced frame and glass wastage.

[@gregcarroll9723]

Great video, full of very useful, practical info - thank you for posting. Well worth incorporating these features as part of a standard build in hot climates. We used a very similar approach for our house, from design through to construction. Ours isn't a passive house, but is both aesthetic and practical for a tropical climate. Using the right materials and a functional design made a considerable difference to the overall cost and comfort during mid-summer. Total cost AUD$220.0K for a 220m2 home. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mp6WaH9jbtZ6gtU

[@theleanarchitect]

Amazing to build so much for so little. Well done!