Building Materials for a Passive House in Perth

I am planning a large extension with ideally a low or zero net energy requirement and would like to model it closely on German "Passiv Haus" standards.

My major problem at this stage is deciding on what building material to use. I want something that will last much longer than double brick and would like to do a lot of the work myself and love rammed earth, but it has poor insulating properties and needs external insulation. ICF looks good for DIY as well, but needs some sort of cladding inside and out which increases the work load. Aerated concrete blocks are difficult to lay I hear.

Any suggestions as to what else I should be considering that is suitable for DIY and will pass council i.e. no straw bales, mud brick etc. Not really keen on Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs), inspite if their good insulating and structural properties, as they seem not much better than a cornflake box in terms of long term durability - I want something that looks and is solid and that'll last much longer.

Lastly are there any Perth suppliers of German (not Australian!) made triple glazing?


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