Factors Influencing Passive House Adoption in New Zealand

Itohan Esther Aigwi¹, Chen Ye¹, Amarachukwu Nnadozie Nwadike¹

1. Auckland University of Technology

Published in Proceedings of the International Conference on Smart and Sustainable Built Environment (SASBE 2024), edited by Ali GhaffarianHoseini, Amirhosein GhaffarianHoseini, Farzad Rahimian and Mahesh Babu Purushothaman. Springer Nature, Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, volume 591, 2025, pages 849 to 864. DOI 10.1007/978-981-96-4051-5_82.

Abstract

Passive houses are globally recognised for their exceptional energy efficiency, occupant comfort, and positive impact on climate conditions. However, the adoption of passive house systems in New Zealand is still in its early stages compared to other developed countries with more established initiatives. This study thoroughly examined the factors influencing passive house adoption in New Zealand. By using a qualitative approach combining a narrative literature review and interviews with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) for data collection, the study uncovered ‘improved health and comfort’, ‘policy and government influence’, and ‘sustainability and energy efficiency prospects’ as the primary drivers for adopting passive house systems in New Zealand. On the other hand, ‘lack of awareness and education’, ‘financial and regulatory challenges’, as well as ‘market dynamics’ were found as significant impediments influencing passive house adoption in New Zealand. These findings can serve as a crucial benchmark for the development of policies, educational initiatives, and training programs aimed at promoting sustainable passive house adoption in New Zealand.

Keywords

Session

Presented in Recorded Presentations, Session II, Friday 8 November 2024, 16:30 to 19:00, room WG 201, Auckland University of Technology. Session chair Dr Kamal Dhawan.

How to Cite

Aigwi, I. E., Ye, C., & Nwadike, A. N. (2025). Factors Influencing Passive House Adoption in New Zealand. In A. GhaffarianHoseini, A. GhaffarianHoseini, F. Rahimian, & M. B. Purushothaman (Eds.), Proceedings of the International Conference on Smart and Sustainable Built Environment (SASBE 2024) (Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, Vol. 591, pp. 849–864). Springer Nature Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-96-4051-5_82

About the Conference

Presented at SASBE 2024, the International Conference on Smart and Sustainable Built Environment, held in Auckland from 7 to 9 November 2024 and chaired by Professors Ali and Amirhosein GhaffarianHoseini, founders of GDI Academy. The version of record is published by Springer Nature; this page is the conference archive record kept by GDI Academy.