Hi, I’m Rowan Thompson, the person behind Performance Building Consultants. I’m a building performance consultant based in Wānaka, working with homeowners, architects, builders and developers across Wānaka, Queenstown and throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.
I’ve always had a strong appreciation for the outdoors, a healthy lifestyle and the environments we spend our time in. Combined with a long-standing interest in physics, building science and sustainability, this naturally led me towards a career focused on improving the performance of homes and buildings.
Why building performance matters
I’m passionate about helping create buildings that are warmer, healthier, more comfortable and energy efficient, while also being durable and cost-effective over the long term. For me, good building design is about more than numbers on paper — it’s about how a home feels to live in every day and how it supports the wellbeing of the people inside it.
Through travelling to many countries, I’ve seen firsthand that standard New Zealand construction often falls short of what is possible. In many parts of the world, higher-performing homes are already the norm, delivering better comfort, lower energy use and healthier indoor environments.
The good news is that we can do much better here too. New Zealand designers, architects and builders have the skills to deliver exceptional buildings. People simply need to ask for it and consider building performance from the outset.
How I can help
That’s where I come in. I provide energy modelling, H1 compliance modelling, Homestar and Passive House consulting, airtightness testing and thermal performance analysis, helping clients make informed decisions about the performance of their buildings.
I’m a Certified Passive House Designer and ATTMA Level 2 airtightness tester, with experience using tools including PHPP, DesignPH and thermal modelling software to assess and improve building performance.
My work is focused on finding practical solutions that balance comfort, energy efficiency, compliance and cost. Energy modelling can help identify where investment will have the greatest impact, where unnecessary costs can be avoided, and how to achieve better long-term value from each project.
Whether you’re designing a new home, working through an H1 compliance pathway, pursuing Homestar or Passive House certification, or simply looking to understand how to improve the performance of a building, I can help.