Welcome to the Leading Passive Solar Home Builder in Perth
At Norde Homes, we are known for the construction of energy-efficient homes. The homes that we build have a low energy consumption and thereby fit the ideal of sustainable living. Our passive solar homes combine cutting-edge solar technology with modern construction methods and high-quality building materials. Each home we design and build has a unique character, enabling the desired lifestyle of its occupants. This leads to a comfortable indoor temperature all year round throughout all rooms in your house.
The Core of Passive Solar Design in Perth
Perth’s bright summers and mild winters create an ideal climate for passive solar design. When designing a passive solar house, we make sure your home has maximum sunlight during winter to capture and retain solar energy, reducing the need for additional heating. In summer, shade and natural ventilation keep your house cooler, minimising the need for air conditioning. This significantly reduces the power required for heating and cooling. It is a clever construction method that works well in Australia, utilising the northern aspect of your home’s envelope. It is also more affordable than other building methods that achieve high energy efficiency.
Key Features of Passive Solar Design
Our passive solar homes are designed with the following solar principles in mind to ensure optimal energy efficiency and comfort. Whatever the desired energy rating for your house – we are one of the few builders to design and build up to 10-star energy rating (NatHers), the maximum achievable. This includes 10-star double-storey homes.
A simplified overview of the main elements of Passive Solar Design with Norde Homes:
Minimum 8-Star Energy Rating
A home with an 8-Star NatHers energy rating is both subjectively and comparatively a very comfortable, energy-efficient home. You’ll have a more energy efficient building than 90% of the buildings in Perth.
North-facing Site Orientation
With the majority of rooms north-facing we can utilise natural sunlight in winter to warm the home, while avoiding direct sunlight as much as possible in summer with shading devices, overhang and eaves. High ceilings will ensure natural light in your home whatever the season.
Thermal Mass Materials
One of the important ways to create a stable indoor temperature year-round, is to allow thermal mass materials such as a concrete floor and brick walls to gain solar heat gain in winter. In summer these materials are thermal bridges that cool the house, as the Perth ground and earth temperature is relatively stable between seasons.
Double Glazing
Double glazing works well because the gap between two glass panes functions as insulation. In most houses, the windows are a source of solar heat gain and thermal bridges that can impact the indoor temperature significantly. Double glazing, especially when used in combination with modern uPVC frames, are one of the best options to negate this effect.
Appropriate insulation
Having the appropriate levels of insulation in walls, ceilings, roofs, and floors increases the indoor comfort, and keeps the heat out in summer and the cold out in winter.
Ventilation and orientation
In Perth we have this wonderful wind, named the Freo Doctor. One of the wonderful ways passive solar homes stay cool in summer is by allowing natural ventilation cool down the homes in the afternoon and evening. Other ways ventilation isincreased is through the design and ceiling fans in all rooms and areas.
High-Efficiency Solar Panels and Heating Systems
We can help you switch to 100% renewable energy for family homes through solar power and battery storage, and heat pumps for warm water supply.
The exact specifications for your house depend on the level of desired energy efficiency. For example, not all Passive Solar Homes need double glazing. In some situations, we can achieve high energy efficiency using single glazing in windows. Similar caveats apply to the level of insulation required. This will be informed by the passive solar design of your home, and your design brief.
The Benefits of Passive Solar Buildings
The average home emits roughly 7 tonnes of greenhouse gas annually. Passive solar homes significantly reduce this figure, enhancing sustainability and reducing your carbon footprint. Passive solar design lowers energy costs and increases the market value of your home, making it a wise investment. With Norde Homes, you get a future-proofed home that excels in energy efficiency even in a world with a changing climate.
Your Future-Ready Passive Solar Home Awaits
Partner with Norde Homes to step into a home designed for sustainable living. Embrace passive solar design to live in a home with a comfortable environment year-round. Contact us today to learn how we have helped countless clients before you, and how we can help you achieve your dream of owning a passive solar home in Perth, Australia.
Why choose Norde Homes?
Expertise in passive solar design and construction.
Unlimited design choice.
Experience that exceeds your expectations.
FAQ about Passive Solar Design
What our clients have to say
Our home was not one we loved to live in before Marco, and his team worked their magic. Marco saw our vision & executed the renovation with the utmost professionalism. His team was always friendly & professional & were here Monday to Saturday for five months until we had our new home. We highly recommend this company to anybody looking for a professional, honest builder. Thanks, Norde Homes!
I love my new kitchen! It is so much more functional. I love cooking in my new kitchen as I can have several dishes on the go with much more bench space to spread out. I love that my kids can sit at the breakfast bar and do their homework or chat with me while I’m cooking dinner. I love how much more storage space I have and how the drawers make it so easy to access things while I’m cooking. Thanks again to you, Marco & team.
Thank you to Marco, Laila and their team for a job well done. From our first phone call to Norde Homes to the final works to our home, we consistently experienced the team as responsive, efficient and professional. Marco was accommodating and ensured that we were satisfied with the work completed. We recommend Norde Homes to anybody looking for a productive and attentive custom home builder. Recommended!
Throughout the renovation process, Norde Homes have kept our family as their prime consideration. Communication, Consideration and Professionalism are the three words that come to mind when I think of Norde Homes. I tell everyone that I will never leave our wonderful new home now that the renovation is done. Our house had good bones and a good location, but it was dark, cold, outdated and had some structural issues. Now it is light-filled, open, is structurally strong and shows our personality.
We were referred to Norde Homes after a disappointing experience with another building company. After meeting Marco, we felt confident in his genuine partnership approach. An invaluable benefit was Marco’s wife, Laila, a leading interior designer. Her eye for style and elegance gave our bathroom a finish we couldn’t have achieved on our own. The renovation process was smooth; Marco’s hands-on approach, excellent tradespeople, and high craftsmanship were outstanding!
After competitively tendering a sizeable renovation while still living in our home, we can honestly say our project was very successful. We set Marco a tight schedule with high-quality expectations and active project management. Marco kept us fully informed, maintaining high standards and working seamlessly around our needs. We have used Norde Homes for two sizeable renovations recently, and they deliver on their promises. We sincerely recommend Marco and his team.
My wife and I discovered Norde Homes through a friend of our building designer and were impressed by their professionalism. The project started quickly with demolition, site clearing, and new foundations completed in just a week. MK delivered high-quality results within our budget, and any variations only enhanced the final finish. We would definitely use Norde Homes again and recommend them to everyone. They are open, honest, and dedicated to achieving the best outcome for your project.
Norde Homes were excellent to work with to build the Garden Studio I had designed for my backyard. They provided the best quote and added a great range of extras for the bathroom. They were always available at the end of the phone to problem solve any issues. It was a great experience working with Marco and the team, and I would recommend Norde Homes to people seeking good quality, friendly service. Highly recommended!
Norde Homes were the ideal builder we spent quite some time looking for. As we were looking for a tailored solution to our difficult block/situation, Marco was on-site managing the trades and ensuring a top finish was achieved. We are happy with the result and can hopefully use them again on future projects.
Marco and Laila worked excellently as a team, always concerned about achieving the best price for products and labor. Their honest and open communication was refreshing. They went to great lengths to understand our wishes and offered creative suggestions for the best outcome. We chose to work on a cost-plus basis. After a couple of months, I raised Marco’s margin due to his excellent suggestions that saved us money and improved the project.
Marco and the team at Norde Homes did an outstanding job with our new build in Floreat, completed during Covid in 19 months (May 2021 – January 2023). Despite the high-end, custom nature of the project and a strict budget, the process was far less stressful than expected. I highly recommend Norde Homes. After living here for over a year, we are delighted with the result!
You can tell Marco Klous from Norde Homes knows what he’s talking about. Of the many specialist builders that we have spoken with for our Passive House project, we’ve chosen to work with Marco because of his expertise in this area. It’s a great house to live in. Wonderful style, great finished and craftsmanship, and a comfortable indoor climate year-round. They have a refreshing no-nonsense and transparent approach. Highly recommend.
We highly recommend Marco and the team at Norde Homes for a high-quality, energy-efficient build in Perth. We came to Norde Homes with a rough sketch, a tight budget, and an awkwardly shaped triangular block. Despite the challenging period in the Perth building industry, they worked hard to make our build a success. We are thrilled with our 8.5-star rated home, achieved within budget through clever design and MK’s guidance. MK’s honesty, reliability, attention to detail, and care set them apart.
How lucky were we in choosing Norde Homes to build and design our very special space… boy did we hit the jackpot. They were so honest and patient with our slow pace and decision making. We wanted to get things right and they accommodated us extremely well. The final product is a dream come true and everyone who visits asks who the builder was. We are super proud of everything we have achieved together!de sure they delivered the best to me. Highly recommended!
A selection of the passive solar homes we built.
Custom energy efficient homes that are second to none.
SQ M2
375
Beds
5
baths
5.5
Cars
3
Floreat, WA
This stunning, custom home has all the features and design elements that we love. High ceilings, spacious rooms connected through a central stairs with a large open vide.
SQ M2
375
Beds
5
baths
5.5
Cars
3
North Perth, WA
This beautiful custom designed addition is based on passive solar design principles and has an energy rating of 8.6 NatHers. The owners wanted an open space, with kitchen, living, dining.
Talk with passionate experts about your project.
Talk with our friendly team of passionate experts about your project. Whether you have questions, need some advice, or want to chat about ideas, we’re here to help. Let’s connect and see how we can help bring your vision to life.