The concept of sustainable green technologies in construction industry has drawn considerable attention among researchers in recent decades. Considering the significant role of passive cooling technologies in enhancing the thermal performance of residential buildings, this study explores the challenges and barriers towards the development of high-performance building envelopes incorporating passive technologies in Australia. This article is a part of an ongoing comprehensive research aiming at facilitating the adoption of high-performance passive envelopes in Australian residential sector. Through an in-depth investigation of the literature followed by interviews with construction professionals, the major barriers and their significance have been revealed. While the existing literature puts emphasis on the technological aspects of passive cooling, the results of this study reveal the crucial role of policy and regulations in mitigating the existing challenges. Insights from this research provide the construction industry managers with a comprehensive understanding of the major barriers to the adoption of passive cooling technologies and solutions to develop high-performance building envelopes.