Passive house, design and consultancy

Passive House & Low‑Energy Design Consultancy

Here at Gondwana, we’ve been promoting low‑energy new‑build and retrofit construction for more than twenty years. We recently expanded our services to include Passive_House_design and consultancy. While Passive House certification itself isn’t rare, it’s far less common for heating engineers to be certified—giving us a practical, hands‑on perspective that many design‑only consultants simply don’t have.

Energy‑efficient homes in the UK are often poorly executed. Architectural design tends to prioritise appearance or minimum compliance with local building standards. We value good architecture, but we also know that thermal comfort, health, running costs and long‑term performance depend on correct design, correct materials and correct execution. Sometimes that requires on‑site management and training to ensure the project is delivered properly.

Below is an outline of the Passive House and low‑energy services we provide. If you are only interested in heating_consultancy, please see the relevant page.

Passive House & Low‑Energy Services

• Initial_design_assessment — early‑stage review to identify improvements in thermal efficiency, comfort and cost.
• Thermal_bridge_reduction — windows, doors, foundations and junctions.
• Insulation_selection — types, thicknesses, pros/cons, cost and environmental impact.
• Glazing_strategy — quantity, window/door types and performance.
• Orientation_and_shading — solar gain control and comfort.
• Airtightness_design — barrier placement, tapes and detailing.
• MVHR_design_and_commissioning — ventilation layout, balancing and performance.
• Heating_and_hot_water_systems — heat pumps, solar, biomass and integrated solutions.
• On_site_training — for contractors or self‑builders, covering airtightness, MVHR and low‑energy construction.
• On_site_checking — ensuring correct materials and correct installation to Passive House and low‑energy standards.
• System_installation — MVHR, heat pumps, solar thermal, biomass and hot‑water systems.

If you’d like more information about any of the services above, just send us an email explaining your project and the support you need.