10 Best Passive House Builders Costs & Checklist

10 Best Passive Home Builders in Melbourne for Energy Efficient Living (2)

Looking to build a comfortable, low-bill home in Melbourne? This guide compares the best passive home builders and energy-efficient home builders in Melbourne, explains Passive House vs 7-Star, and shows how to compare quotes, costs and timelines with a handy checklist at the end.

Passive House vs 7-Star in Victoria: What’s the Difference?

Passive House focuses on five pillars: super-insulation, airtightness, thermal-bridge-free details, high-performance windows/doors, and balanced heat-recovery ventilation (HRV).
7-Star (NatHERS/NCC) is the current regulatory minimum great baseline, but Passive House typically goes further on airtightness and envelope performance for steadier temperatures, cleaner air and very low running costs.
For Melbourne’s climate, think: thermally broken frames, double or triple glazing, correct SHGC by orientation, and an airtightness target (ACH50) ideally ≤0.6.

How We Chose Melbourne’s Best Passive Home Builders

What we looked for:

Credentials & QA – PHI training (Designer/Tradesperson), documented blower door test results.
Built Proof – local case studies, envelope details, commissioning reports.
Transparency – clear inclusions, fixed-price options, warranty and defect process.
Client Experience – reviews, communication cadence, program discipline.
Sustainability – material choices, waste plans, solar/battery readiness.

The Shortlist: 10 Best Passive Home Builders in Melbourne

1. Coy’s Constructions (Melbourne & Greater Victoria)

Custom, passive-ready builds with a strong focus on airtightness, well-detailed window installs and HRV coordination delivered by a team experienced in Passive House trades and high-performance envelopes.

Services: New builds, pre-construction consulting, cost planning, sequencing for airtightness, QA.

Great for: Families who want year-round comfort, low energy bills and a knowledgeable passive home builder in Melbourne.

Request a passive-ready quote from Coy’s Constructions.

2. TZO Homes

Specialist Passive House builders delivering energy-efficient, healthy homes with certified PH expertise; services extend across Victoria including Melbourne.

3. Carland Constructions

Melbourne builder working with Passive House architects/designers; optimises performance and envelopes for comfort and low energy.

4. Inline Construction Group

Passivhaus specialists with off-site manufacturing for precision panels and efficient delivery; architectural builds across Melbourne’s east/south-east.

5. Sanctum Homes

Melbourne builder applying Passive House principles; portfolio of high-performance projects (SIPs/CLT) and documented Passive House builds.

6. Glux Builders

Custom builder positioned as a leading Passivhaus specialist in Melbourne; director’s own home is a Passivhaus Premium case study.

7. Positive Footprints

Award-winning design-and-build practice delivering high-performance, energy-efficient homes; long track record in sustainable, low-energy builds.

8. Ecoliv

Prefab/modular builder focused on sustainable, energy-efficient homes (B-Corp/Climate Active credentials); integrates passive design principles and 7-Star+ outcomes, with Melbourne clients.

9. Hedger Constructions

Victorian builders delivering Passive/Passivhaus-aligned homes with healthy indoor air and reduced running costs available across the state.

10. Habitech Systems

Melbourne modular/SIPs system whose building shells can be optimised to achieve Passive House certification; a pathway for high-performance, fast-build custom homes.

Quick Comparison Table

Builder	Services	Certifications	Windows/Doors	HRV	Service Area
Coy’s Constructions	New builds; pre-construction consulting; cost planning; sequencing for airtightness; QA	Not publicly listed	Well-detailed window installs (per notes)	HRV coordination (per notes)	Melbourne & Greater Victoria
TZO Homes	Not publicly listed in notes	Certified Passive House expertise (per notes)	Not publicly listed	Not publicly listed	Victoria incl. Melbourne
Carland Constructions	Not publicly listed in notes	Not publicly listed	Optimises envelopes with PH designers (per notes)	Not publicly listed	Melbourne
Inline Construction Group	Off-site manufacturing of precision panels; architectural builds	Passivhaus specialists (per notes)	Not publicly listed	Not publicly listed	Melbourne east & south-east
Sanctum Homes	High-performance builds using SIPs/CLT; applies PH principles	Not publicly listed	Not publicly listed	Not publicly listed	Melbourne
G-LUX Builders	Custom high-performance builds	Passivhaus specialist; director’s home = Passivhaus Premium case study (per notes)	Not publicly listed	Not publicly listed	Melbourne
Positive Footprints	Design-and-build for high-performance, energy-efficient homes	Award-winning sustainable practice (per notes)	Not publicly listed	Not publicly listed	Melbourne
Ecoliv	Prefab/modular homes; integrates passive design for 7-Star+ outcomes	B-Corp; Climate Active (per notes)	Not publicly listed	Not publicly listed	Victoria incl. Melbourne
Hedger Constructions	Passive/Passivhaus-aligned homes focused on healthy IAQ & low running costs	Not publicly listed	Not publicly listed	Not publicly listed	Across Victoria
Habitech Systems	Modular/SIPs building shells; pathway to Passive House certification	Not publicly listed	Not publicly listed	Not publicly listed	Melbourne

*Price varies by size, site, finishes and specification. Replace placeholders with verified data before publishing.

Melbourne-Ready Passive Specs That Matter

Insulation & Details

Roof/wall/floor R-values tuned to climate; slab edge insulation; thermal break at balconies.

Windows & Doors

Thermally broken frames, correct SHGC by orientation, verified install tapes & membranes, documented set-out drawings.

Airtightness

Continuous airtightness line, services cavity, penetrations plan, QA photos, independent blower door test.

Ventilation (HRV)

Sized to bedrooms/floor area, silencers/filters specified, commissioning & balancing included, filter maintenance plan.

Renewables & Rebates

Solar PV/battery readiness; check current solar rebates Victoria; smart meter/monitoring.

Checklist for Hiring a Passive House Builder in Melbourne

Use this quick-hit list during quotes and meetings (the full spreadsheet is downloadable).

Do you target ≤0.6 ACH50 (or agreed target) and include two blower door tests?
Who owns the airtightness line and penetration sealing?
Are thermally broken frames and correct SHGC included by orientation?
Is HRV supply & commissioning included, with a balancing report at handover?
Are inclusions detailed, with minimal PC sums and a clear variation process?
Is there a construction program showing airtightness-critical sequencing?
Will we get a handover pack (manuals, test reports, warranty, maintenance)?

Download the Passive Build Quote Checklist (Melbourne)

FAQs: Passive House in Melbourne (Comfort, Costs, Timelines)

Is building a Passive House in Melbourne worth it?

Yes comfort, air quality, and lower running costs. Many clients downsize heating/cooling thanks to a tight, well-insulated envelope with HRV (heat-recovery ventilation).

Do I need triple glazing?

Often double glazing with thermally broken frames is sufficient in Melbourne when paired with airtightness and the right SHGC by orientation. Triple glazing helps in specific orientations, colder zones, or for noise control.

How long does a passive build take?

Typical programs run 8–14 months, depending on design complexity, approvals, and site conditions.

Can I retrofit to Passive levels?

Full certification can be complex, but deep energy retrofits, upgraded windows, airtightness, and HRV deliver big gains in comfort and energy bills.

Choose a Proven Passive House Builder in Melbourne

If you want a home that stays comfortable through Melbourne’s temperature swings with clean, filtered air and ultra-low energy bills choose a builder who can prove airtightness and commissioning.