A MORNINGTON home under construction will open its doors to visitors as part of an international initiative showcasing energy-efficient building models.
The property will be among more than 40 Australian communities opening certified Passivhaus homes and commercial sites for tours during International Passivhaus Open Days from 13 to 15 November.
Emerald Building Services is building the Passivhaus home, which will feature high-performance windows, continuous insulation and airtight construction to improve comfort, indoor air quality, and energy efficiency.
The Mornington tour will be hosted by Emerald Building Services director and registered builder Tim Greenham and will provide an opportunity for visitors to see sustainable construction methods firsthand.
The open days are supported by the Australian Passivhaus Association (APA), a not-for-profit organisation representing more than 17,000 building industry professionals and suppliers.
CEO of APA Stalin Chakrabarty said the conversation about Australian housing has been about how many homes are built, not how well they perform, for too long.
“We spend most of our lives indoors, yet we rarely consider how much our buildings shape our health,” said Chakrabarty.
“Poor air quality, moisture, mould and extreme indoor temperatures hit children, older Australians and people with respiratory conditions hardest.”
He said you can read about energy efficiency and compare ratings, but there is nothing like standing in a finished Passivhaus home and realising how comfortable it is without air conditioning running.
“Walk through one mid-construction, and you see exactly why,” said Chakrabarty.
“Finished buildings show you the result. Construction sites show you how it’s done.”
The Passivhaus Standard was developed in the ‘90s in Germany as a set of specific set of building criteria to provide more efficient, healthy buildings.
Passivhaus design tools factor in the specific geographic, climate and environmental specifics of an intended build site, making them adaptive across the globe.
The criteria, which are objectively measured both during construction and upon completion, centre around heating, cooling, renewable energy and airtightness and deliver environmental, cost-saving and health benefits, due to increased air quality and stable temperatures.
The number of certified Passivhaus projects in Australia has grown from 48 at the end of 2022 to 201 in October 2026.
The Mornington tours will be held on 13 November from 2pm to 3pm.
More information can be found passivhausassociation.com.au/open-days.
First published in the Mornington News – 3 November 2026
