Videos

A 15 year old volume built house in Torquay, Victoria has been stripped back to its bones and we have taken photographs and video during the process, so that you can see what you get from a volume built house and how this one held up after 15 years. The house has then been retrofitted to Passive House (Passivhaus) standards (with the exception of insulating the concrete slab) and a new home created that adheres to Building Biology principles for the Building Biologist and his family living in the home.

A close look at every aspect of the building has been detailed with photographs, video and a Building Biologists’ professional viewpoint and commentary has been included from the floor, roof, insulation, membranes, glazing, bathroom, cabling, low EMF and EMR considerations, smart meter, bedding, couches, appliances and more.

These various segments will continue to be released as they are finalised and will provide detailed information for anyone interested in creating a healthy and green home that will enhance the well being of everyone living in the space.

Whether you are a builder, designer, architect, tradesperson or someone planning a renovation or new build of your own these segments are here to provide you with as much detailed information as possible.

Introduction

An introduction to Building Biology and the project of renovating and retrofitting a 15 year old (2006) volume built house to Passive House and Building Biology standards (12 minutes)

Pre-Purchase Tips and Planning Considerations

Some pre-purchase, pre-lease and new build considerations discussed with photographs (21 minutes)

Smart Meters

Concerns and Solutions discussed with photographs (28 minutes)

Volume Built House to Passive House (Part 1)

31 minutes

Volume Built House to Passive House - 3 years down the line (Part 2)

Three years after the passive house retrofit, we explore and summarise how it all went (25 minutes).

Air Conditioning Split Systems and Cleaning

How they work and how they should be cleaned

External Render

Detailed video and interviews on site in relation to cement and lime render mixes and the full application process as it happened on site

Wall Cavities

The wall cavity and the importance of insulation and vapour permeability is discussed in some detail with photos, an interview with our passive house builder and on-site explanations.

Outdoor Deck

A discussion with photographs and video showing the issues discovered with the old timber deck that was demolished and how a new timber deck was installed including detail on the construction and treatment of the new deck as well as the drainage and Geofabric put in place.

Windows

The often confusing topic of windows, including double glazing, the thickness of glass, the air gaps between the glass, different window frames, the installation of the window and condensation issues are discussed in great detail with photographs, interviews and on site explanations.

Insulation

This video goes into great detail about how the house was insulated and the installation process. The passive house wall and ceiling wraps are discussed as well as roof and wall cavity bulk insulation and different types of insulation options including wood fibre insulation / Life Panels. How to avoid and fix any penetrations in the membranes, electrical and plumbing cuts and holes in the walls, as well as drilled holes and minimising staples is all graphically depicted and explained. There are also interviews with the passive house builder in relation to some of the insulation utilised, including wood fibre boards used in place of fibre cement sheeting above windows and doors.