Choosing a High-Performance Home with Live Green Homes
You’ve probably heard the term high-performance home, but what does it actually mean? And why are more people choosing to build one?
At Live Green Homes, creating energy-efficient, comfortable homes built to last is at the heart of what we do. Here’s what sets a high-performance home apart, why it matters, and how it could work for you.
What Is a High-Performance Home?
A high-performance home is designed to deliver outstanding energy efficiency, comfort, and long-term durability. Every detail, from the design and materials to construction methods, works together to create a healthier, more sustainable space that performs year-round.
The term refers to any home designed to exceed minimum building standards in areas such as:
Energy efficiency
Airtightness
Insulation
Indoor air quality
Comfort and durability
At Live Green Homes, we use this term to describe homes thoughtfully designed for our local climate and lifestyle. By incorporating smarter glazing, better insulation, high-performing materials, and Passivhaus principles, our high-performance homes are built to reduce energy use, improve comfort, and minimise environmental impact.
We also carefully consider the demands of the Australian climate, particularly in the coastal regions of Geelong, the Surf Coast, and the Bellarine, where homes must perform effectively in changing conditions, ranging from cool winters to hot, salty summers.
Why Build a High-Performance Home?
High-performance homes go beyond just energy savings. They’re designed to make everyday living more comfortable, efficient, and sustainable.
Some of the key benefits include:
Lower energy costs: Airtight construction and efficient design help maintain comfortable indoor temperatures, reducing heating and cooling bills.
Increased comfort: A high-performance home stays cooler in summer and warmer in winter, maintaining consistent comfort throughout the year.
Reduced environmental impact: By using less energy, your home has a smaller carbon footprint, contributing to a more sustainable future.
High-Performance Home vs Passive House
High-performance homes often incorporate key elements of Passive House (Passivhaus) design, such as airtightness, high insulation levels, and advanced ventilation systems. However, Passivhaus is a specific, internationally recognised building standard with strict certification criteria.
To be certified as a Passive House, a home must meet exacting benchmarks for:
Airtightness
Insulation
Heat recovery ventilation (HRV)
Thermal bridge-free construction
Extremely low heating and cooling demand
While all Passivhaus homes are high-performance homes, not all high-performance homes are Passivhaus homes. The homes we build include Passivhaus-inspired features without going through the formal certification process, allowing flexibility while still delivering exceptional comfort, efficiency, and performance.
Building Your High-Performance Home with Live Green Homes
Live Green Homes is passionate about building homes that feel great to live in and are designed for the long term. As certified Passive House builders, we have the expertise to deliver energy-efficient homes across Geelong, the Surf Coast, and the Bellarine Peninsula.
Whether you’re dreaming of a fully certified Passivhaus or simply want to incorporate high-performance features into your design, we’ll work with you to create a home that suits your lifestyle while balancing comfort, functionality, and energy efficiency.
Ready to explore your options? Get in touch with our New Home Specialist, Richard, on 0433 220 998, and let’s start planning your high-performance home.