Hello and Guten Tag,

My name is Simone and I’m the owner, founder and certified passive house designer at Gruen Eco Design.

I’ve always been passionate about sustainability and our environment. I’m a little bit of a hippie at heart.

As a young girl growing up in Germany, I’ve enjoyed watching nature documentaries with my mum. I couldn’t understand how people could be so wasteful of energy or water. Or how anyone could harm our planet or the animals. This was where my interest in sustainable architecture and environmental issues began.

The PassiveHaus movement started in Germany in 1990. So, energy efficient design was a big part of my architectural studies.

On moving to Australia in 2007, I was shocked at how cold our rental place got. People kept telling me that you don’t need double glazing in Australia. But I wasn’t buying it.

Something was just not right. I felt it was my mission to educate people about the benefits of the German way of designing and building homes. I felt the industry needed a shake up and I was game to question how building was done here.

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Over the years I’ve designed over 300 homes for Australian clients.

I’ve helped them achieve their comfortable and energy efficient dream homes. By creating spaces that are safe, resilient and unique to their individual needs.

And while we integrate passive solar design into all our projects. We aim for the passive house standard as best practice to deliver a guaranteed high performing home.

The Passive House Standard is an internationally recognised, rigorous, but voluntary standard for energy efficiency in a building, which reduces the building’s ecological footprint. Passive houses need up to 90% less energy than a standard 6-star home.

The Passive house standard is one holistic construction certification standard that looks at the actual performance of a house, rather than just on paper, like the current energy rating scheme in Australia.

It results in ultra-low energy buildings that require little to no energy for space heating or cooling, even for the coldest and hottest parts of the world. This results in a guaranteed high-performance home for the owners/ occupants from a thermal comfort, health and energy efficiency standpoint

We have a specialised passive house team that looks after all the additional details and calculations required for the passive house certification and to optimise the performance of all our projects.

However, the most important thing for us is to design homes that are as energy efficient as possible within our client’s budget. It is more important that the build is affordable and exactly what our client needs than coming up with an extraordinary design that could win awards but would break the bank.

Don’t get us wrong, we love, love a beautiful design. And we’re designing beautiful homes. Yet, when building on a budget, you must pick and choose your features wisely. Not everything can be a feature. We advise our clients use as many off-the shelf products and materials as possible while concentrating on a few wow factors. Otherwise, a budget can blow out.

Affordability is key for us. And therefore, we work closely with our clients and the builders right through the design process. Making sure the houses can be built in the most cost effective and simplest way. Using off the shelf products and materials, rather than getting everything custom made.

To make sure the money can be spent on actual performance of the house, rather than the bling. Quality over quantity. Less is more.

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However, nothing makes us happier than getting a call from a former client. Or even an email from someone who followed our blog post. Telling us how well their home performs. What a difference it has made.

This is why I started this journey in the first place. To help others live a more sustainable life.

I’m passionate about sustainable design. Because sustainable design can and must be affordable for everyone. As a matter of course this needs to be integrated throughout the whole design process. Rather than designing something and trying to make it sustainable later.

Our mission is to make energy efficient homes a staple in the Australian landscape. Everyone should have the right to live in a comfortable house that does not cost the earth!

Our team has diverse skillsets and backgrounds with one thing in common, a passion for sustainability and the environment.

The close colaboration with builders is important to us. Right from the design through to the construction documentation where possible.

Making sure that our designs are beautiful and energy efficient, but also affordable.

 When it comes to building an energy efficient and healthy home, there is no way around the passive house standard.

If you haven’t heard about it yet. I can recommend watching this video on YouTube called Passive House in 90 seconds.

Once you’ve looked into it, there is almost no turning back. It makes so much sense and you will wonder why everyone is not building to PassiveHaus standards.

Most of our current projects are passive houses. Some of them going for certification, others following the same passive house principles.

But we are also doing some small renovations and retro fits and town house developments. 

No matter how big or small a budget, you can always improve the efficiency of any home.

We always try to incorporate as much of the good things into each project as we can. We go as far as the budget allows. 

As you’ve gathered by now: Affordability is important for us.

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We know that building a new home or doing an extension can be daunting. It can be scary to sign up a designer or builder.

Because you don’t want to end up paying lots of money in fees to find out that what you want is way above your budget.

Over the years I’ve spoken with so many families who wanted to build their dream home or do an extension. But they were too scared that they couldn’t afford what they wanted to achieve.  

Keeping them stuck in limbo, often for years.  

To overcome this uncertainty and give you some peace of mind we now offer a Feasibility Design Review.

We first prepare some simple concept sketches. According to your needs and requirements.  

We then get estimates from a few builders or from an estimator.

Once we have feedback about the potential build cost, we come up with a masterplan. 
A summary of the things you can achieve, in cooperation with you. A rough sketch and scope of works on what you can do within your budget. Before embarking on the full design and build journey.

This process ensures you can afford your dream home. Instead of wasting money and time. Only to find out after the tender process that you can’t afford your home.

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My family is also on our own journey to building a passive house / our family home.

We call it The 20/20 House.
I’ve started a blog post, so you can follow along.

Please check out my latest posts below.

Because I’m going through the motions myself, I get it. Designing and building your home can be very overwhelming and scary at times.

So, I hope this can inspire you, while informing you of the highs and lows of building your dream home. 

When you have a look at our own home and our project page you can see a wide variety of projects and styles.  

We have come up with lots of different solutions and designs. Depending on your individual tastes. Ultra-modern, Hampton Style, Eco-Shacks. You name it.  

Because we believe in design flexibility. No matter what style or finish you are after. We can handle any style and turn it into an energy efficient, sustainable and healthy home.

One of our projects have just been sold. Winner Sustainability Award 2019. Please check out the video below.

https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-blackburn-139482379

We are here to help guide you through the building maze. To make sure your design is not only beautiful and energy efficient but also affordable. 

We would love to do the same for you. 

Do you want to get started with your dream home?

Or do you want to know more about our design philosophy? Want to have a chat about whether we can help you to achieve your dream home?  

Please follow the link below and book in a Free Discovery Session with me. (valued at $200). 

Would love to hear from you.

Highly Commended – Sustainability Awards Single Dwelling New 2023

Recognized Leader in Sustainable Home Design 2022 (Australia)

Best Passive House Designer 2021 (Australia)

Passive House Designer of the Year 2020 (Australia)

People’s Choice Making A Difference Environmental Award 2020