Session · Resilience · Designers and consultants

Compliant Isn’t Comfortable: Tropical Passive House Down Under

Marcelo Haag, Maxa Design · January 20, 2026 · Chapter · PHGC (Passive House Gulf Coast)

Marcelo Haag of Maxa Design compares a Passive House with a minimum-code home in hot, humid Cairns, Australia: the performance gap, the debates over airtightness and ERV dehumidification, and strategies for optimization and on-site solar.

Key points

• The climate conditions that drive building performance in hot and humid climates: temperature, humidity, and solar exposure.
• The performance gap between a certified Passive House and a minimum-code home in the tropics.
• The most effective design and optimization strategies there, including ventilation, shading, and airtightness.
• Managing interstitial condensation in Climate Zone 1 to reduce moisture risk in assemblies.

Learning objectives

• Identify the key climate conditions that influence building performance in hot and humid climates, including temperature, humidity, and solar exposure.
• Analyze the performance gap between a certified Passive House and a home built to minimum energy-efficiency code requirements in tropical climates.
• Evaluate the most impactful design and optimization strategies for achieving high-performance in hot and humid climates, including ventilation, shading, and airtightness.
• Apply interstitial condensation management techniques appropriate for Climate Zone 1 to reduce moisture-related risks in building assemblies.
• Determine optimal solar panel orientation and strategies to maximize on-site energy generation and self-sufficiency in hot and humid conditions.
• course_name

Topics: Summer comfort