SEAI last week announced that Better Energy Homes, its home energy upgrade grant programme, would continue through 2014.

The International Passive House Days, during which passive buildings around the world open their doors to the public, took place this year from November 8-10. This year marked the 10th anniversary of the event. 

In Yellowknife — the capital of Canada's Northwest Territories — January temperatures average -27C. So warm, low energy housing isn't just about cutting carbon, it's about staying alive.

See The Light, Ireland's passive house conference, takes place next Friday October 25 in Dublin. Passive House pioneer Prof Wolfgang Feist will be the keynote speaker. 

The Irish Independent reported earlier in the week that the Irish construction sector is set for a stimulus package in next week's budget, including a cut to the 13.5% rate of Vat. 

This is Villa Lagenkamp, the first certified passive house ever built in Denmark, finished in 2008. 

Check out this video from X-Floc UK on the installation of one of their insulation blowing machines at the factory of timber-frame company Oakwrights. 

Construction has begun on what is expected to be Ireland's first certified passive house pharmacy. The project in Clonmel, Co Tipperary, was designed by Paul McNally Architecture.

The Passive House Institute has certified two new windows and a new skylight as suitable for use in passive house buildings in cold climates. 

Wolfgang Feist, one of the creators of the passive house concept and a founder and director of the Passive House Institute, will speak in Dublin on 25 October at the 2013 See The Light conference.