Energy efficiency is essential. But can we afford it?
H1 Provides for the efficient use of energy and sets physical conditions for energy performance.
Are the recent changes to H1 clause just a small step along the road to adopting the International Passive House standards across New Zealand, like other members of the OECD experienced? Robert Whitehouse believes they are.
Building High-performance Homes with Airtightness Layer to Reduce the Running Costs Forever
RESIDENTIAL – Cam and Bob Huxley are a father-and-son team building a high-performance home using the latest technology in triple-glazed UPVC windows, mechanical heat recovery ventilation (MHRV), and airtight & weathertight wall construction.
Innovative Offsite Manufactured Build Includes INTELLO® Airtightness System
COMMERCIAL – For the New Zealand construction industry to meet the required number of new houses per year to be built, prefabrication is the way forward. One new and exciting company in this space is Flexi House.
Energy Efficiency and Comfortable Living on a Challenging Terrain
RESIDENTIAL – This home is the designers’ response to proposed new insulation requirements and exceeds the regulations in interior comfort. pro clima INTELLO® PLUS was chosen to create an airtightness and vapour control layer on the inside of the building envelope.
Specifying for Airtightness and Testing
The goal of the guide specification is simple. Help you define what you want (a demonstrated level of airtightness), and to get a fair price to prove it. You’d be surprised how often these seemingly obvious requirements are poorly defined in project specifications. So here’s…
‘Airtight’ vs ‘Breathable: What’s it all about?
This month we look at ‘airtight’ vs ‘breathable’ building. Is it possible to achieve both within the same build?
Designing for Steam in Modern Buildings
We pipe water inside buildings, so what happens when we turn it into steam?
Renovating and Insulating Masonry Walls
Why strapping and lining masonry walls on the inside is not a good idea, not for renovation, not for new builds. In my previous article ‘Adding Insulation and Wall Underlay to Existing Walls’ I referred only to timber-framed walls, but many renovations also include block walls;…
Adding Insulation and Wall Underlay to Existing Walls
How can we safely add insulation to existing walls without risking trapped moisture and compromising durability? Whether you design for renovation work on a daily basis or you need to renovate your own house, it’s a very rare opportunity to make great improvements to the…
Renovation Opportunity and R-Values
In this article, I’m tackling real-estate adverts, renovation by paint, and discussing one area of cost for whole-house renovation and the connection between health and wealth. In the previous article, ‘Achieving Winter Warmth in New Zealand homes’, I made claims about house performance for renovations — making…
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