There is no simple answer to this. However, we can say that the gap is decreasing. The building code is slowly catching up to Europe and the States. Insulation has been increased, with ventilation and air tightness directives to follow, narrowing the cost gap further. MBIE guidelines show that in 2030 the thermal demand for a new home must be designed to achieve 15kw/m2 – the same level required as a certified passive house.
2024, you could work on a rough 5-15% depending on the level of performance you are aiming for, but this will be very much dependent upon your design, inclusions and if like for like can even be achieved. Therefore, it is very hard to answer this.
We prefer to work to your budget to achieve the best performing home for your budget. This may be through the design build process working to your budget, or choosing a plan from our high performance plan range.
It is so important that yourself, the designer and the builder work closely together from the start and the team understands your priorities, your lifestyle, requirements and budget. Put simply, you have several fixed constraints that cannot be changed including your budget, section size/shape etc, and family size. Then you have your build priorities, for example, high thermal performance and a healthy home. Let’s work to achieve the best outcome for your priority within those constraints.