Call us today to discuss your Home Extension or Custom Home project
High Performance Homes
Engineered to Last
We don't just build homes — we engineer living environments grounded in passive house principles and building science. Healthy environment, consistent comfort, and dramatically lower energy bills.
Our Philosophy
A Home That Works As Hard As You Do
A truly high-performance home isn't just built — it's engineered. Grounded in the principles of building science, passive house design brings together thermal envelope, airtightness, mechanical ventilation, and solar orientation to create homes that work with nature, not against it. The result: spaces that stay consistently comfortable year-round, with dramatically lower energy demand and healthier indoor environment.
The Five Pillars of Passive House Design
At RedKem, we design and build homes that go beyond code — optimising every layer of the building envelope to minimise heat loss, eliminate moisture risks, and reduce reliance on mechanical heating and cooling.
- 1Thermal EnvelopeContinuous, high-performance insulation wraps the entire building — walls, roof, and floor — eliminating cold bridges and keeping temperatures stable.
- 2AirtightnessA rigorously sealed building envelope stops uncontrolled air leakage, which accounts for up to 40% of heat loss in a standard home.
- 3Mechanical Ventilation with Heat RecoveryFresh, filtered air is supplied continuously while recovering up to 90% of the heat from exhaust air — no draughts, no compromises.
- 4High-Performance Windows & DoorsLow-emissivity glazing and thermally broken frames eliminate condensation and heat transfer at the most vulnerable points in the envelope.
- 5Thermal Bridge-Free ConstructionEvery junction and penetration is designed to eliminate the cold spots that cause condensation, mould, and energy loss.
Energy Efficiency
What Makes an Energy Efficient Home?
Your home becomes a precision system: quiet, resilient, and built to perform for decades. Here is how we engineer that outcome.
Solar Orientation
We orientate your home around the sun — capturing warmth in winter and shading interiors in summer. Done well, orientation alone can reduce heating and cooling loads by up to 25%.
Thermal Comfort
Superior building materials and a continuous insulation strategy create a consistent indoor temperature all year round — no cold corners, no overheating, no compromise on comfort.
Renewable Energy Integration
Solar panels, battery storage, and smart energy management are woven into the design from day one — not bolted on as an afterthought — maximising return and reducing grid dependency.
Colour & Material Selection
In Brisbane's Climate Zone 2, lighter exterior colours and reflective roofing materials dramatically reduce heat absorption. We guide you through selections that perform as well as they look.
High-Performance Windows & Doors
Low-emissivity glazing and insulated frames minimise heat transfer. Strategic placement of openings is designed with your home's overall energy model in mind — not just aesthetics.
Shading & Passive Cooling
Carefully designed eaves, louvres, and pergolas provide shade exactly where needed in summer while allowing low winter sun to penetrate — reducing cooling costs without sacrificing views or light.
Healthy Living
What Makes a Healthy Home?
Lower energy bills are just one benefit. A high-performance home also delivers meaningfully better air quality, cleaner water, and a deeper connection to the natural environment.
Ventilation & Indoor Air Quality
Designing your home for natural airflow means you can open windows for fresh air without sacrificing thermal comfort. When windows stay closed during rain or extreme heat, we install filtered mechanical ventilation systems that continuously supply fresh, clean air — reducing allergens, CO2, and pollutants.
Clean Water
Tap water can contain sediment, chlorine, heavy metals, and other impurities. We integrate high-performance water filtration systems and recommend alternative piping materials over plastic — so your family's water is as clean as your home's air.
Natural Light & Connection to Nature
Biophilic design principles are built into every home we create. Carefully placed glazing maximises daylight without overheating, while landscaping, courtyards, and open-plan living spaces maintain your connection to the natural world — proven to reduce stress and improve wellbeing.
Non-Toxic Materials
We carefully vet the materials we specify — selecting low-VOC paints, formaldehyde-free timber products, and natural finishes wherever possible, so your home doesn't off-gas harmful chemicals into the air you breathe.
Sustainability
Built for the Planet, Not Just the Present
Our commitment to sustainability goes beyond the homes we build. From the way we manage waste on site to our partnership with GreenFleet, we take responsibility for our footprint at every stage.
Construction Waste Management
We partner with waste collection companies that use modern separation technology to redirect skip bin material into dedicated recycling streams — producing recycled timber, drainage gravel, road base products, and more.
Carbon Offset with GreenFleet
RedKem Constructions plants native trees with GreenFleet to offset the carbon emissions generated during construction. Every project contributes to Australia's reforestation and long-term carbon sequestration.
GreenSmart Accredited
As accredited GreenSmart professionals, we are trained and assessed in sustainable building practices — from water efficiency and material selection through to energy performance and site management.
Designed to Last
The most sustainable home is one built so well it never needs to be demolished. We use durable materials, robust detailing, and proven systems — so your home performs at the highest level for generations.
