Coming up this year,  the NZGBC will be celebrating 20 years of advocating for better buildings in New Zealand. The update of the update of H1 is bedding in, but many builders are turning their attention to roof condensation and overheating. And the market seems to be in a prolonged period of 'cautious optimism'. 

1. Scott Hogan – DEHUM
Scott discusses DEHUM's advanced humidity control systems and their role in maintaining optimal indoor environments for Passive House projects.
https://dehum.com.au

2. Mark Ristevski – XTour3D
Mark introduces XTour3D's cutting-edge 3D scanning solutions for construction, bringing 'digital twin' technology to the residential market.
https://xtour.com.au/

3. Mike Ward – Australian Glass Group
Mike shares insights into high-performance glazing solutions and the importance of energy-efficient glass in Passive House design.
https://agg.com.au/

4. Mark Heyman – Rotho Blaas
Mark highlights Rotho Blaas' construction systems, including airtightness and waterproofing.
https://www.rothoblaas.com/

5. Ashley Griffs – BINQ Windows
Ashley showcases BINQ's locally manufactured timber, alu-clad, and uPVC windows that meet Passive House standards for thermal performance and security.
https://www.binq.com.au/

6. Adam Socha – Kinzel Industries & Aluplast
Adam talks about Kinzel's partnership with Aluplast, delivering innovative uPVC window systems with exceptional energy efficiency and design flexibility.
https://www.aluplast.net/eng-int/company/

7. James Hazelwood – Hygge Windows
James presents Hygge Windows' approach to combining aesthetics and performance in window design, tailored for sustainable living.
https://hyggewindows.com.au/

8. Harley Truong – Logikhaus
Harley explains Logikhaus' commitment to Passive House certified windows and doors, and their role in delivering high-performance building envelopes. Plus a summary of Harley's conference presentation, proposing how we might report and communicate better about Passive House benefits.
https://www.logikhaus.com.au/

Once again, a big thank you to Andy Marlow and Taline Edwards at Envirotecture for making this possible.

Special thanks to Environtecture and the Australian Passivhaus Association for supporting the Passive House Accelerator to be there and bring you these highlights. 

Featured Guests and Exhibitors

Peter Sullivan, Smart SIPs
Peter introduces us to his structural insulated panel system designed to simplify construction while delivering high performance for Passive House and other energy-efficient builds.

Annettee Braagaard, Nordic Blinds
Annettee shares how intelligent Danish blind systems support shading and comfort in Passive House projects across Australia.

Ben Mitchell, SIP Solid and Solcraft

Ben explains how their Solcraft panels can help deliver stronger, warmer homes in the Australian market.

Rohan Madathanapalli, Bondor Metecno
As Principal Sponsor of THRIVE 25, Rohan outlines Bondor's role in advanced panel technology and how one product can serve multiple functions, speeding up products and helping to reduce overall cost.

Klaus Herrmann, Alpine Passive House
Klaus highlights the benefits of Australian-made prefabricated panels design with European experience.

Thomas Paarhammer, Paarhammer Windows & Doors
Thomas shares insights from over 30 years of crafting high-quality windows and doors tailored for Australian conditions and Passive House requirements.

Villy Yordanov, Pro Clima Australia
Villy explains some of the new products available from long-time Passive House support, pro clima.

Rachael Sparnon-Freeman, Pacific Ventilation
Rachael discusses mechanical ventilation solutions, indoor air quality, and how Pacific Ventilation can support both commercial and residential projects.

Joel Seagren, Fantech
Joel speaks about fan technologies and their application in Passive House ventilation systems and energy recovery solutions.

Michael Drage, Reimagined Habitat, Net Zero Plus, Efficient Habitat
Michael talks about communicating passive house in the language of clients, drawing on his experience from the financial sector.

Jason Quinn has waded through the details and provided a handy summary. Check it out, and get your submission in by 28 February 2025.

Elrond Burrell shared his thoughts. 

View the ERP 2 at https://environment.govt.nz/publications/second-emissions-reduction-plan-at-a-glance/

Follow Elrond on LinkedIn and read his review of ERP at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/erp2-building-construction-what-impact-have-elrond-burrell-6ztjc/

I'm now on Bluesky @kakarikicastle.bsky.social 

I caught up with co-founder Monique Kelly to discuss why she does what she does, and their upcoming Summit. 

For more information check out https://www.wao.co.nz/summit2024 

I caught up with Sam Watt, the General Manager of Platinum Homes, Rodney. 

https://www.platinumhomes.co.nz/our-homes/house-and-land-packages/99-waiwai-drive-milldale/

https://formance.co.nz/

Be sure to check out recent episodes of the Passive House Podcast from the Passive House Accelerator for more on building cicularity.

Homestar Headline Benefits
•    Fresh air
•    Dry
•    Comfort
•    Carbon  

Homestar Design Checklist
This is a summary of the basic requirements over and above basic building code compliance for achieving 6 Homestar v5. Inclusion of everything here does not guarantee compliance but is a starting point for what should be considered.

• Homestar Designer: This can be someone within the project team or an external consultant. Engage them in the process as early as possible.
• Energy model: Homestar v5 uses predicted performance criteria rather than a schedule of allowable insulation levels. The performance criteria include estimated energy consumption, winter and summer internal temperature and likely carbon emissions and these can be calculated using the Energy and Carbon Calculator for Homes (ECCHO). Energy modelling used to be a highly specialised process and expensive process. ECCHO makes energy modelling accessible to Homestar Designers
• Continuous mechanical ventilation: Internal moisture is a significant problem for New Zealand homes and there is adequate evidence that the building code requirements of openable windows is not reliable for providing enough fresh air and removing dampness. There are simple solutions available for 6 Homestar that are nearly silent, cost very little to run and will provide much more reliable benefits to homeowners.
• Thermally broken windows: Pay attention to the window frames, not just the glass.
  Slab edge insulation OR above slab insulation: Junctions such as the connection between walls and floors are risk areas for condensation. Some additional insulation detail can help prevent this and can be easily incorporated when considered early.
• Water efficient fittings: These are commonly available. Select the best WELS rated products. 

For more, visit https://nzgbc.org.nz/introduction-to-homestar

https://www.offsitenz.com/

In Europe, over €83b has been recently been committed by the European Parliament as part of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. The ultimate goal is that the building sector will be climate neutral by 2050. Importantly, there are interim goals for 2030 and 2040, which encompass both new buildings and retrofitting existing buildings. 

https://energy.ec.europa.eu/topics/energy-efficiency/energy-efficient-buildings/energy-performance-buildings-directive_en

Over in the US, there is the Inflation Reduction Act which will see a staggering $783b invested into energy security and climate change initiatives. 

https://www.whitehouse.gov/cleanenergy/inflation-reduction-act-guidebook/

Back here in Aotearoa, aside from recently updating H1 Energy Efficiency in our building code, MBIE has laid out a programme called Building for Climate Change. 

https://www.building.govt.nz/getting-started/building-for-climate-change

The implementation plan for BfCC has reporting requirements suggested for 2025. 

A key takeaway is that we're not prepared. We're already handicapped by having insufficient standards in our building code to deal with our current climate. With the forecast being 'warmer and wetter', the situation is set to get worse.

https://homestylegreen.com/?p=5936

Many people might be surprised to know that the New Zealand Building Code does not require any consideration of overheating in homes. The energy efficiency requirements in our code are based only on the ability of buildings to keep warm without excessive heat loss. There is nothing to prevent homes from being designed with large areas of unshaded north or west-facing glass.

Siân Taylor is an Architect and Passive House Designer based in Queenstown. She has experience creating homes that are designed to perform well all year round, in some of the most challenging and spectacular locations.

Follow Siân on Instagram and check out Team Green Architect's latest work at https://www.teamgreenarchitects.co.nz/.

Benjy credits some of the openness to change to him being from outside the industry. He's come in with a different perspective. "We're beginning to see ourselves as a building performance company not just a window and door company", says Benjy. 

Check out the full range of Stärke products along with their education pages and other resources.

More is not always better, especially regarding the amount of timber in the frame of a house. The more timber there is, the less space there is for insulation. The way this is measured is called timber fraction.

Most homes in Aotearoa are designed using the assumption that timber will make up around 14% - 18% of the area in a wall. A 2020 BRANZ research study found that in reality, the average timber fraction is closer to 40%. This means there is considerably less space available for insulation.

Unfortunately, this is not always picked up during the consenting or pre-lining inspection process. H1 Energy Efficiency calculations are checked at the design stage, usually using the much lower default timber fraction assumption. The result of all this is that many consumers are effectively getting less insulation than they're paying for, and much more thermal bridging. 

PlaceMakers has recently launched a new service providing a detailed report of the actual timber content for any wall frame and roof truss they supply. This accurate figure can then be used to provide true H1 calculations. Alternatively, a designer might choose to adapt their plan to reduce the thermal bridging and increase the amount of insulation.

National Technical Resource Manager, Pete Hammond explains how Framology works. We also discuss the option of using external insulating products like RigidRAP-XT from IBS to eliminate thermal bridges.

Denise Martin has been involved with many of Aotearoa's Passive House projects. As one of the most experienced blower door testers in the country, she's been involved with verifying a range of residential and commercial buildings both in New Zealand and Australia.

I caught up with Denise to chat about how she got into building science in the first place and some of the challenges and opportunities facing the building sector in New Zealand. We also discuss the building code, energy modelling, thermal performance and air tightness.

If you don't already, I highly recommend following Denise on Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn.

This is an emergency, and the problem is complex. The solution will require more than simply building more houses because the underlying issues are more complex than that.

Related to this is a proposal from the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) to review the building consent process in New Zealand. This is something I'd like to look at in more detail because we must get the balance right.

In 2023, MBIE sought public submissions in response to an options paper on a review of the building consent system. This week MBIE published a summary of the 270 submissions received.

At the other end of the spectrum, I caught up with Jonathan Holmes about living in a Certified Passive House Premium home and working on assessing the embodied carbon in our buildings. 

Other links for this week's podcast episode:

• Jonathan Holmes on LinkedIn
• Holmes House, Sustainable Engineering
• Hawea Flat, Home Style Green

Be sure to register for Reimagine Buildings '24

What would a moratorium on consenting new buildings in known floodplains, tsunami or fire risk areas, look like? How would the resulting plummet in land values impact the economy and further inflate the cost of housing?

But if not now, when? The risks are likely to get higher and ultimately we have to ask ourselves if we're prepared to keep making our stop-banks higher or retreat to higher, less shaky ground.

There are fundamental gaps in what the New Zealand Building Code covers and how well it covers the aspects that are included. These reasons should be enough to justify using standards like Passive House or Homestar to go above and beyond the building code.

In this series, I'll be looking at reasons why it's better to ask about the value and risk minisation resulting from higher performance standards rather than focussing only on perceived upfront cost. 

But all is not calm everywhere in Aotearoa today, Waitangi Day 2024.

With building his experience in Europe and Scandanavia Richard Eden is well placed to help New Zealand builders do things better. He can often be found teaching builders around the country how to do a good quality install of good quality windows.

Real estate has long been used as an investment and a means of making a profit in New Zealand. Zola explains how this has tended to undermine the values that we should otherwise associate with where we live. Housing should protect, shelter and foster community, but we've tended towards the commoditisation of housing.

There are solutions that can help provide better housing and helping people implement these solutions is the basis for Zola's social enterprise.

https://www.commonground.net.nz

In this introductory episode, I spoke with Simon about the diversity of his role at Pro Clima and how he talks with people throughout the whole building industry to help change the way we do things.

'Certified Passive House' or 'Passivhaus' Construction has quickly become a speciality for WD Homes.

In this episode, we discuss how Wayne got started as a builder and what he enjoys about building Passive Houses.

Living and working in Wanaka, Beth Chaney is very aware of being part of a place that most people only get to visit on holiday. This acknowledgment provides motivation for looking after the environment through her work as an architect.

In this episode, we discuss how Chaney and Norman incorporate environmental ratings along with PHPP energy modelling from Passive House to create sustainable architecture.

Founder Burkhard Hansen explains some of the problems with typical Australian building practices, and how CarbonLite is using building science and experience to produce fit for purpose homes. 

With so many locally manufactured options now available, there are plenty of reasons why you should consider windows and doors like these for your next project.

Simon finds out about the advantages of using ECO-Blocks and how an airtight construction is already contributing to great performance.

This episode and accompanying article originally appeared on Eboss, https://www.eboss.co.nz/ebossnow/pro-clima-intelligent-air-barrier-tauranga-sustainable-home

What are the most important things to ensure you get the comfortable, energy-efficient home you deserve and can afford?

More at https://homestylegreen.com/212

Brought to you by Endurobuilders and LABDesign.

Music attribution: Carefree by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3476-carefree License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Guy Shaw, Energy Architecture

Guy Shaw of Energy Architecture originally trained in Wellington, New Zealand. But it was his experience working as an Architect in the UK that introduced him to more sustainable design and lead him to become a Certified Passive House Designer.

Upon returning to New Zealand in 2013 he set up his own practice, Energy Architecture. Since then he has focussed on Passive House design and has become an expert on working with Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs).

Theory and Practice

During his initial training, Guy thought New Zealand was pretty sustainable. He learnt a bit of building science, as required by most architects at the time, but it wasn't what we'd probably call building science today.

During his time working in England, Guy was more or less immersed in BREEAM and was then introduced to Passive House. This experience put New Zealand practice at the time, into perspective.

Designing and Modelling

Guy credits having some good mentors in the UK, as well as having some good projects to work on, for his knowledge of Passive House modelling. He was able to learn to model using the Passive House Planning Package (PHPP) while on the job.

He explains that designing and modelling go hand-in-hand. It's a smoother process to design with some key concepts right from the start, rather than being given a design and asked to model it.

"Once you've been doing Passive House projects for a while, it becomes intuitive," says Guy, "... you understand the implications of various design decisions...". He still checks all his designs in PHPP, but Guy says that nowadays, he's really just double-checking the performance assumptions that he's made along the way.

[Tweet ""Once you've been doing Passive House projects for a while, it becomes intuitive." Guy Shaw, @EnergyArchNZ"]

Voice your Values

I asked Guy about how other designers can attract clients who want to go down the Passive House route, or something similar. With Energy Architecture, he's been very clear from the start about what he stands for. And he wasn't afraid to voice these values. If someone is looking for cheap and 'just-to-code', they're probably not going to seek out a practice like Energy Architecture.

Guy has received positive feedback from being very clear about what he stands for. And it seems his clients tend to self-select. He's only had to turn away one job to date.

While he does acknowledge that it may be more challenging for an existing practice to change tack, Guy says that every client relationship starts by explaining what your values are.

Get Inspired

Energy Architecture is based in Wellington and specialises in Passive House design with leading expertise in designing for SIP construction. Check out Guy's stunning work on their website.

In this chat, we discussed how Jackson got into building in the first place and how Enduro Builders is helping to lead an important change in the Australian residential building market.

Livewel Construction focusses on energy-efficient, comfortable homes and renovations. Ben in Certified Passive House Tradesperson and a member of the Superhome Movement.

Dyann Stewart learnt computer-aided design (CAD) while working as a receptionist for New Zealand sailor Digby Taylor. With this valuable skill, Dyann soon found herself working as a junior designer for Nulook. From Nulook, she worked briefly with Fletcher Aluminium as a Technical Advisor, and then on to Fairview where she eventually become Group Technical Manager.

She is now the Business Development Manager at OMEGA Windows and Doors where she's already helped the company achieve the significant accreditation of becoming the first Red List Free aluminium joinery supplier in New Zealand.

Green Badger is a cloud-based software platform that helps builders and contractors streamline and automate green building compliance. Simplifying these compliance processes allows builders and contractors to focus on building their building properly instead of chasing paperwork.

Now Shay is continuing to help others achieve similar savings and benefits by looking into the feasibility of solar and energy efficiency technologies for building products via his new company Revolve Energy.

Rather than a product-based sourcing method, Revel Woods now applies a project-based method to come up with viable solutions for their customers to choose from. Revel Woods asks customers about their project first. The customer is then only given options that will match their location, intended use, and style preference.

John's story is a great example of putting the customer and the project first. Revel Woods have developed a user-friendly website and an algorithm-driven selection process to make a technical decision, accessible to anyone. How could the lessons of Revel Woods and Trunk Club before them, be applied further across the building industry?

What does the future look like for your product or service, and why don't you be the one to create that future?

Just as we can learn building methodologies from around the world, we can also learn successful business practices so we can continue to enjoy not what we have to do, but what we get to do.

http://warmhealthyhomes.co.nz

Six years on, Ben and his family are enjoying their very own Passive House.

In November 2018, Terry visited Australia as a keynote speaker for The Building Designers Association of Australia (BDAA) and Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH). We took this opportunity to bring Terry to New Zealand for a short visit and workshop at the pro clima HUB, where I caught up with him for a chat about building science, mould and how to build better.

I caught up with lead consultant, Tricia Love recently to discuss how she got involved and what the Headwaters is all about.

The Headwaters doesn't aim to re-invent the wheel. It is however a leading example of how we can learn from what's being done overseas and contribute our own expertise towards a positive effort of creating better places to live, work and play.

WUFI® was created to allow designers to check their designs before those designs become real buildings. By running scenarios with different combinations of products we can fail in the virtual world until we optimise the design. Then we can build with confidence that our real structure will stay dry, healthy and strong for decades.

As project manager for the proposed Lotus Eco Village in Paraparaumu near Wellington, Simon Wallace has some good ideas.

In 1971, Eric Doornekamp led a group of yoga enthusiasts to establish the Lotus Yoga Centre and Retreat in Aro Street, Wellington. Almost half a century on, the Lotus Yoga Centre Charitable Trust is branching out and developing an Eco-Village.

The Lotus Eco Village will be built in on a 3 hectare site purchased by the Trust back in 1985. Project Manager Simon Wallace shared with me how he plans to create affordable, healthy houses alongside a yoga and community centre in a great location.

http://homestylegreen.com/172

http://homestylegreen.com/171

Their multi-generational family home was completed in December 2015 by ehaus and is one of a growing number of Certified Passive House homes in New Zealand.

I asked Harpal how he came across Passive House in the first place, and what he's learnt from building and living in one. 

In this episode, I walk through some building envelope basics and discuss where I think you should invest the most to improve the health and comfort of your new home.

http://homestylegreen.com/166

http://nzbuilders.com
http://homestylegreen.com/165

http://nook.nz
http://homestylegreen.com/164

http://proclima.com
http://proclima.co.nz
http://proclima.com.au
http://homestylegreen.com/163

Wayne Delport is Sales and Technical Manager at The Heating Company International.

http://bit.ly/HSGLunos
http://homestylegreen.com/162

This week I speak with Dustin Jefferson Onghanseng, a cofounder of uHoo, an exciting new product that could be the Fitbit for your home.

http://uhooair.com/
http://homestylegreen.com/161

http://www.healthyhomeexpert.com/
http://homestylegreen.com/160

http://homestylegreen.com159
http://sangarchitects.com/

Passive House expert and architect Elrond Burrell give us his highlights from the 20th International Passive House Conference.

http://elrondburrell.com/
http://homestylegreen.com/158

To find out more about his recent work, visit Hitesh Mehta Design.

http://homestylegreen.com/157

Passive House is now 25 years strong and at the time of recording, Wolfgang was preparing to attend the 20th International Passive House Conference back where it all began in Darmstadt, Germany.

http://homestylegreen.com/156

Some would even go so far as to say, there’s a revolution about to happen!

Here are some of my highlights from a well attended and inspiring conference.

http://homestylegreen.com/155

http://www.baranstudio.com/

http://homestylegreen.com/154 

And as for the extra cost? Listen in to find out...

http://www.sustainable.to/
http://homesteylgreen.com/153

In this episode, I speak with David Maunsell from Switch Lighting to uncover the details about why some LEDs are much higher quality than others. Unfortunately it's still the Wild West out there in lighting retail land. Hopefully this can help you figure out what's important for lighting.

http://www.switch-lighting.co.nz/
http://homestylegreen.com/152

http://homestylegreen.com/151

http://harleybuilders.co.nz/

http://homestylegreen.com/150

http://collectivecarpentry.com

http://homestylegreen.com/149

We discuss why this is important and how to do some of the basics.

http://homestylegreen.com/148
http://gehunt.com.au

Real estate developers are often seen as the bad guys, out to make a bunch of money without really caring about the quality of homes of lifestyles resulting from their work. Steve Glenn's philosophy however is that developers have a huge potential to control what gets created in real estate and he's passionate about creating a good product. The mission of Living Homes LLC is "...to create homes and communities that inspire people, foster family and community interaction, and make modern life easier, healthier and more comfortable..."

http://livinghomes.net
http://homestylegreen.com/147

Learning from design homes in the tropics, Angus now uses a combination of orientation, cross flow ventilation, thermal mass and above all - 3D modelling to produce healthy, comfortable homes.

http://homestylegreen.com/146
http://truenortharchitects.com.au/

I initially contacted Dennis for a comment about why he choses to use pro clima products, but when he started to describe his approach to building homes, I had to turn on the microphone!

http://homestylegreen.com/145

http://dcd.co.nz/

http://homestylegreen.com/144

I spoke with Curtis VanDyke from RL Adams Plastics about what they're doing to make foam 'green' and therefore make it an even greater building material.

http://homestylegreen.com/143
http://www.goadams.com/

http://homestylegreen.com/142
http://www.bambooliving.com/

Alliance Green Builders are dedicated to 'building tomorrow's homes for today'. As well as being Passive House designers, they also offer LEED, GreenPoint and Zero Energy Ready homes.

http://homestylegreen.com/141
http://alliancegreenbuilders.com/

http://homestylegreen.com/140
http://ecobob.co.nz

http://homestylegreen.com/139

http://adamtaylor.co.nz

http://homestylegreen.com/137
http://ecocustomhomes.com/

Much of this comes down to two design principles which are similar in name and have some overlap in their detail, but are fundamentally quite different. As Lloyd Alter points out, the 'Superinsulated' house was really the origin and (along with airtightness) is the basis of Passive House design.

'Passive solar' design is what's in question here, in particular the reliance on thermal mass and sun angles.

http://homestylegreen.com/136
http://www.treehugger.com/author/lloyd-alter/

http://homestylegreen.com/135
http://www.pidcock.com.au/

http://www.bioregional.com/

http://homestylegreen.com/134

http://homestylegreen.com/133

http://greenbuilders.com/

If these can be built in one of the harshest inhabited climates on Earth, then what would it take to build one where you live?

http://homestylegreen.com/132

https://verecohomesinc.wildapricot.org/

Cloughjordan Ecovillage contains 129 energy efficient houses. It features a biomass-fuelled district heating system and the whole village is designed for biodiversity. 

http://homestylegreen.com/131

http://www.thevillage.ie/

This week I chat with Christine Alberstsson of Albertsson Hansen Architecture in Minneapolis. 

http://homestylegreen.com/130

http://www.aharchitecture.com/

http://HomeStyleGreen.com/129

To find out more about Eric and his Pittsburg practice check out some of the great images on his website.

http://homestylegreen.com/128

http://homestylegreen.com/127

Green design, eco-architecture, passive solar design, energy efficient design, sustainable architecture, sustainability. 

http://homestylegreen.com/126

The resulting slab has an impressive R-value of up 4.5, about three times the standard. For an investment of only about 10% above the standard slab price, this is well worth the comfort and energy savings.

This week I have Henry Edney on the show to discuss some recent product developments.

http://homestylegreen.com/125

http://homestylegreen.com/124

In 2005 he was named "Best Green Architect" by San Francisco Magazine and in 2012 was named as one of the "Top 10 Most Influential Green Architects".

I hope you too are inspired and find some useful tips from this conversation about organic architecture with Eric Corey Freed.

• http://HomeStyleGreen.com/123
• http://www.organicarchitect.com/

• http://HomeStyleGreen.com/122
• http://www.secondedenstudio.com

• http://homestylegreen.com/121
• http://chrislarsonarchitect.com

http://www.kane-aud.com/

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http://onecommunityglobal.org/

http://homestylegreen.com/listen

Organising Greenbuild is a 12 month long process, so running the annual event is pretty much a full time job for Lindsay. I thought I'd catch up with her just prior to registrations opening so you've got plenty of time to secure your early bird tickets and join the buzz. 

In 2015, Greenbuild is in Washington D.C. and will take place from November 18 to 20. Mark it in your diary now!

http://www.greenbuildexpo.com/

http://homestylegreen.com/116

http://insulslab.net/

Please feel free to contact me if you'd any help with choosing a ventilation system, matthew@homestylegreen.com

You can also find Grant and his team at Fantech, http://bit.ly/1FDK1PT

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http://www.peteroarchitect.co.nz/

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https://www.greenwizard.com/

The Green Home Institute is focussed on empowering people to make healthier and more sustainable places to live. Working closely alongside the the USGBC, the Green Home Institute offers services to help with LEED for Homes Certification and other third party verification provides to help prospective home owners meet their sustainability goals.

http://homestylegreen.com/112

http://greenhomeinstitute.org/

Living in a luxury bus with a family of five, and studying permaculture, has given Andrew some great inspiration for multi-function spaces and features. He now incorporates this thinking into his designs to make stylish and sustainable homes. 

http://homestylegreen.com/111

http://www.bellstephenson.co.nz/

Peter Hogg and Toby Reed are award winning, Melbourne based architects and I spoke with Peter about why he does what he does. 

Be sure to check out there website for more about their recent projects, including the spectacular Precinct Energy Project in Dandenong.

http://homestylegreen.com/110

What I found most inspiring talking to Marnie, was that she knows how to have fun while creating a spectacular home.

http://www.marniehomes.com/

Sustainability House believe that all buildings should aim to have low embodied energy, use energy efficiently, generate electricity, collect and recycle water, be passively thermally comfortable and provide safe indoor air quality.

Sounds reasonable. 

But how do you do it?

I spoke to Business Development Manager, Mark Clayton about their services and the growing demand for sustainable buildings. 

http://homestylegreen.com/107

http://greentomatoenergy.com/

We've discussed the benefits of airtightness previously. In this episode, we're jumping straight in to look at the blower door and airtightness testing.

Matthew Swett co-founded Taproot Architects, LLC in 2001 with his wife and business partner Sarah Birger. Together they operate an integrated architecture and landscape design firm on Whidbey Island. 

Prior to starting his own practice, Matthew researched and developed sustainable design guidelines for Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum; pioneered cluster development and pocket neighbourhoods with Ross Chapin Architects; and served as a founding member and co-director for the Solar Information Center at the University of Oregon.

http://homestylegreen.com/104

They found a great problem when they moved to North Carolina - builders who wanted to do right thing, but didn't know what the right thing was. Matt, Amy and their team now help builders and their clients to find the most cost effective and easiest way to make energy efficient buildings. They help builders to avoid a costly 'trial and error' approach.

http://homestylegreen.com/102

Is the Home Style Green Podcast turning into the Passive House Podcast? 

http://paultestaarchitecture.co.uk/

Thanks to NUDURA for supporting Home Style Green:

http://energyefficientbuilding.co.nz/

After learning to build cob houses, Chris Brookman now supplies some very cool, modern clay and timber material products to building industry. 

http://homestylegreen.com/93

There are some inaccuracies out there that I think need addressing. 

If being resilient encourages people to invest in rainwater harvesting and solar panels with battery backup, thereby also being more sustainable, then surely that's a good thing for everyone. 

Is one more important than the other, or can resilience be a really handy way of selling sustainability?

Plus, my top five tips for having a resilient home. 

Find out more at: http://homestylegreen.com/84

So what's leaky buildings 2.0? If we've dealt to the risk of moisture coming in from the outside, where else can moisture come from?

http://homestylegreen.com/83

This week, we look at Facebook and LinkedIn

http://homestylegreen.com/82

http://gotogirl.co.nz

Also, we discuss Ian's mass customisation 'IKEA-style' concept for climate adaption, the IDEAhaus.

http://homestylegreen.com/81

http://www.homestylegreen.com/80

Three key factors for designing eco friendly homes are:

1. Size
2. Orientation
3. Materials

Find out more at http://homestylegreen.com/78

The Building Guide was a different publication then and Mark saw potential for how it could help prospective homeowners get better information. So in 2006, Mark Graham bought the magazine. 

He explains to me why he hated advertising - the very industry he worked in for 14 years, and how he now relies on it. What's the difference?

Canopy Housing Project is a self-help housing organisation based in Leeds, U.K., creating decent homes by renovating derelict ones. Steve Hoey has been running Canopy Housing for the last six years and I asked him why he does what he does. 

Also in this episode, the five essentials of self-help housing and Steve's great book recommendation.

http://canopyhousing.org

Ecotech Homes are versatile, modular housing solutions. I caught up with their Major Project Director, Craig Nisbet just before he took off to Ghana to talk about prefabricated, affordable, quality homes.

I found out there are some good reasons to consider factory built, modular homes.

Daiman Otto understands that affordable housing means more than just supplying houses cheaply.

Daiman's involved in a number of exciting projects and he explains them much better than I could, so click on the links below to find out more:

• CABA: Beautiful, affordable architecture
• ARKit: Advanced prefabricated architecture
• Analogue Structures: prefab Skunk Works combining resource efficiency, open source, micro-buildings, 3D & CNC technology and entrepreneurship
• DKOtto.com

For more, go to http://homestylegreen.com/72

If you're in New Zealand, you can find a Homestar Homecoach here: http://www.homestar.org.nz/the-journey/homecoach

If you want help with your new home, get in touch and I'll see if I can point you in the right direction. 

http://www.blackpine.co.nz/

After returning to New Zealand from UK a few years ago, Dan realised there are really only two main options for getting a house built, either going to a building company for a cheaper, mainstream house; or going to an architect for an expensive one. 

Box Living is both an architectural firm and a building company. Dan and his team are passionate about bringing the benefits of architecturally designed homes, to everyone. 

www.boxliving.co.nz

If you'd like advice or recommendations on your future home, please get in touch. I'd love to help. 

Link: http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/features/lifestyle/going-green/9978533/Green-home-design-has-it-all

Get your plans reviewed:

http://homestylegreen.com/house-plan-review/

Murray was recently visiting New Zealand from his home in Canada and I took the opportunity to find out more about ICF and Nudura. 

For more, visit 

http://homestylegreen.com/67

To get in touch with Nudura directly here in New Zealand, contact Chevy Chisholm 

email: chevy.chisholm@me.com

phone: 021 766 117

References:

• http://www.usgbc.org/sites/default/files/ValueofGreenHomeLabelsStudy_July2012.pdf
• http://www.nathers.gov.au/about/publications/pubs/eer-house-price-act.pdf
• http://besthome.org.nz/showhome.html
• http://www.homestar.org.nz/newsroom/value-and-affordability-homestar

Related Episode:

Home Style Green Episode 21: https://itunes.apple.com/nz/podcast/21-upcoming-events-red-tape/id513213105?i=134294625&mt=2

Robin Allison trained as an architect in order to help create a more sustainable future. She ended up initiating what was to be become Earthsong Eco-Neigbourhood. 

To connect with Robin, go to: http://robinallison.co.nz/

Be sure to check out: http://www.earthsong.org.nz/

Book Recommendation: Pocket Neighborhoods: Creating Small-Scale Community in a Large-Scale World http://amzn.to/1hB3xtL

Related sites:

House Planning Help Episode 28, How Co-Housing Helps Build a Community: http://www.houseplanninghelp.com/hph028-how-cohousing-helps-build-a-community-with-mark-westcombe-from-lancaster-cohousing/

Gilo Holtzman of Synthesis Studio: http://synthesisstudio.org/about/

This week I spoke to Senior Hydrogeologist at Geoscience Consulting NZ, Huw Williams about this amazing technology. We discuss if it’s suitable for houses in New Zealand and why Huw is so interested in ground source heat pumps as a sustainable technology. 

Links:

• http://www.nzgeoscience.co.nz/
• http://www.nzgeothermal.org.nz/ghanz.html
• http://www.carbonwarroom.com/

1. Comfort and Health
2. Affordability - of building AND operating
3. Inspiration 

We also discuss some of the specific features that have made it possible to bring these characteristics to life. 

For more, check out http://zeroenergyhouse.co.nz/

Also, find out why Ben hasn't had a bath for a year!

Links:

• http://www.houseplanninghelp.com/
• https://www.thesnippetapp.com/web/writers/benadam-smith
• http://www.ecobuild.co.uk/

We discuss why Kaipatiki exists, the difference one person can make, and ‘Nana Technologies’. 

For more, be sure to check out http://kaipatiki.org.nz/ecofest/ and http://www.ecomatters.org.nz/what-s-on/ecowest-festival-2014/

Thanks to DOC for the dawn chorus on this week’s show. To listen to this, and other native New Zealand birds, go to:

http://www.doc.govt.nz/conservation/native-animals/birds/new-zealand-bird-songs-and-calls/

Also mentioned this week:

• Zero Energy House (coming up): http://zeroenergyhouse.co.nz/
• Ecobuild: http://www.ecobuild.co.uk/ 

Adrian is showcasing his house as part of an eco-house tour in the upcoming Kaipatiki Ecofest. 

Ecofest Website:

http://kaipatiki.org.nz/ecofest/

Ecofest House Tour:

https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/ecofest-2014-good-life-tour-tickets-10444211919

Adrian Feasey on LinkedIn

nz.linkedin.com/in/adrianfeasey

Adrian’s Book Recommendation:

The Transition Handbook: From Oil Dependency to Local Resilience, http://amzn.to/1pwJvIo

Submissions for abstracts is open until March 9th, so if you're interested, check out their website for more details.

http://www.buildingabetternewzealand.co.nz/

Also in this week's show:

• NZ Tallest building announced: http://www.3news.co.nz/Plans-for-NZs-tallest-skyscraper-unveiled/tabid/423/articleID/331915/Default.aspx
• Ben Adam Smith's new Snippet Book: http://www.thesnippetapp.com/writers/benadam-smith/
• Grand Designs - New Zealand http://architecturenow.co.nz/articles/grand-designs-new-zealand/

For more, visit: http://idealhouse.org

In this episode of Home Style Green, we discuss why asthma is the norm in Kiwi kids, how thermal mass can go wrong, the economics of spending a bit more up front, the problem with teenage daughter and having cosy feet.

Dean is also involved with MagRoc. Find out about the benefits of this exciting new product. 

Find out more about Dean at:

http://www.dbarc.co.nz/energy-efficient-architecture/

And MagRoc at:

http://www.magroc.co.nz/

Dean also mentioned the site sorted, for looking at the cost of mortgages:

https://www.sorted.org.nz/

It is of course, prefab. And this week I talk with Melissa Savage from Metrapanel.

http://www.metrapanel.co.nz/

I'd love to get your questions, comments and feedback:

http://www.homestylegreen.com

https://twitter.com/mcutlerwelsh

https://www.facebook.com/HomeStyleGreen

http://www.pinterest.com/homestylegreen/

https://plus.google.com/101260690494539970922/posts

email: matthew@homestylegreen.com

No, you haven't tuned into the wrong podcast. It is something a bit different today as I talk with Paul Blais from Doubt the Doubts. 

Paul also has some great experience selling and installing efficient lighting. 

Links: 

• http://www.doubtthedoubts.com
• http://www.gotogirl.com

Book Recommendation

Paul's book recommendation is The Power of Habit. 

Where to Find Paul Blais and Doubt the Doubts

• Facebook
• Twitter
• iTunes
• LinkedIn

I also wanted to know, why Damien felt the need to create the Go Green Expo. 

If you're in Wellington this week, head along to the TSB Area. I'm going to be there, so come and say hello!

http://www.gogreenexpo.co.nz

(Please note, views expressed in this show do not reflect the views of any past or present employer)

Architects, like all building professionals, need to run a good business to be effective.

Mark R. LePage is an Entrepreneur Architect. He's passionate about the business of architecture, so much so that he writes, podcasts and coaches other architects how to run successful businesses. 

I spokes with Mark about his journey, what makes his architectural practice, Fivecat Studio different, and the influence that architecture can have on people. 

How much time do you spend finding out what your clients need or want?

Links:

• http://www.entrearchitect.com/
• http://www.fivecat.com/
• http://www.houzz.com/

Mark's book recommendation:

The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It

Upcoming Events

• Go Green Expo - Wellington 12 - 13th October, 2013
• Canterbury Home Show - Christchurch, 18 - 20 October, 2013
• Earth Song Eco-Neighbourhood Public Tour - 2nd November, 2013

Also check out some of Chris' stunning photography:

http://chrismckayphotography.com/

Resources mentioned in the show include:

• http://ecobob.co.nz
• http://www.enasolar.co.nz

As Chad Keven from Heavy Duty Curtains explains, it's not just about the drapes, the curtain track that supports the curtain can also play a big role in improving the insulation properties. 

So how much extra does it cost? Tune in to find out. You might be surprised!

For more, visit: http://www.heavydutycurtains.co.nz/

Other links from this episode:

• Chad's book recommendation: Status Anxiety, by Alain De Botton
• http://www.brct.org.nz/our-projects/cosy-homes/
• Cluster NZGBC PrefabNZ NZIA Wellington event
• Green Building Week
• CEN Conference - Achieving Affordable Warmth for All New Zealand Families

In this week's show, I read a short audio essay about why we should dream and why we should ask for, and build better homes. 

Links:

• http://homestylegreen.com/greenhomedreamteam/
• http://solarking.co.nz/
• http://www.customconstruction.co.nz/

Growing up on a farm helped shape Alex's appreciation for the outdoors. He went on to study Mechanical Engineering and while working in remote north Western Australia, got an opportunity to get into the solar panel business. 

One day someone asked Alex if it was true that solar panels consume more energy to make that what they produce in their lifetime. At the time he didn't know the answer, and set out to find out. 

eTool is now available to help answer that same question for all types of products and materials that go into building your home. 

References:

• http://etool.net.au/
• http://www.homestar.org.nz/
• http://www.bioregional.com/oneplanetliving/what-is-one-planet-living/
• http://www.oneplanetliving.org/index.html
• http://www.usgbc.org/leed/homes
• http://living-future.org/lbc

Book recommendation:

Making Your Home Sustainable, by Derek Wrigley

Other Podcasts:

http://www.entrearchitect.com/category/podcast/

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/geoff-mcdonald-ideas-architect/id673000099

http://www.houseplanninghelp.com/category/podcast/

https://itunes.apple.com/nz/podcast/rnz-nine-to-noon/id174829950

https://itunes.apple.com/nz/podcast/rnz-this-way-up/id207987745

The book was put together by Sarah Bierre, Philippa Howden-Chapman and Lisa Early from He Kainga Oranga, the Housing and Health Research Programme.

I discussed with Sarah, why they wrote the book, what housing affordability actually means and why it's important. 

Reference

The Poetics of Space

Links:

• WikiHouse NZ Website: http://spacecraft.co.nz/
• TV3 News item: http://www.3news.co.nz/Chch-developers-plan-jigsaw-puzzle-house/tabid/423/articleID/307657/Default.aspx
• http://blog.ted.com/2013/05/23/how-to-print-out-your-own-house/

Supporters:

• http://www.health2000.co.nz/
• http://www.madeonjupiter.com/
• http://www.pfc.co.nz/
• http://www.jnl.co.nz/
• http://www.massey.ac.nz/massey/about-massey/news/article.cfm?mnarticle=fab-lab-wellington-officially-opened-28-08-2012

In this short, sharp episode of Home Style Green, I answer a listener question about insulating the edges of a concrete floor slab, what to do if you can't afford to install solar hot water, thermally broken windows, getting extra insulation in your walls and LED lighting. 

References

• http://www.designnavigator.co.nz/index.html
• http://www.energywise.govt.nz/resource/design-sun
• http://www.ecotect.co.nz/PDF/eecapsfs.pdf
• http://www.waitakere.govt.nz/abtcit/ec/bldsus/pdf/energy/designsun.pdf

With so much 'eco' marketing out there, how can you tell what's truly green?

To help, Lisa created Ecodeals.co.nz

links:

• http://www.ecodeals.co.nz
• https://www.facebook.com/ecodeals
• http://www.environmentalchoice.org.nz/
• http://www.unpackit.org.nz/
• http://greenideas.co.nz/products-page/subscription/new-subscription/

David Bartlett leads the IBM’s Smarter Buildings initiative, helping clients create more green, cost-efficient cities, campuses, corporate offices, commercial sites, casinos, hospitals and neighborhoods worldwide.  As IBM’s “Building Whisperer,” he is a vocal advocate at industry events and in media for using data analysis to better control buildings’ function and tame wasteful energy practices.

Links mentioned in today's show:

• Find more interesting people on Twitter with Vtricity: https://soapbox.vtricity.com/
• Biomimicry by Janine M. Benyus (Amazon Affiliate link): http://amzn.to/16lXaoY
• Dave's book recommendation, Abundance: The Future is Better Than You Think (Amazon Affiliate link): http://amzn.to/10KjD0d
• Follow David on his own blog at: http://asmarterplanet.com/blog/2012/10/meet-david-bartlett.html

Useful links:

• http://www.zetabuilt.com/
• Michelle Kaufmann PreFab Green: http://amzn.to/12HYjJq
• http://www.ccanz.org.nz/news-ccanz.aspx?id=210
• http://earthship.co.nz/events/
• http://www.buildexpo.com.au/

Plus, a question about reducing VOCs and toxicity in a new home:

1. Don't be fooled by the name 'eco..'
2. Look for known, third party verification like ISO 14001, Environment Choice or FSC and looked for reporte figures on VOCs
3. Use Envirospec 
4. Ask your designer, supplier and builder, to specify, supply and use low VOC and non-formaldehyde products

Links from the show:

• http://homestylegreen.com/buildnz-designex/
• http://www.gelighting.com/LightingWeb/apac/
• http://buildnz.com/buildnz.htm
• http://homestylegreen.com/insulated-concrete-floor/
• http://www.lifemark.co.nz/home.aspx
• http://www.splashmonitoring.com/
• http://www.fibaro.com/nz
• http://www.resene.co.nz/

Sound too good to be true?

I spoke with creators and owners of the company, Christina Gomes and Stephen Pinkney.

For more information check out: www.aridon.co.nz

You can also check out Aridon, and me this weekend at BuildNZ | Designex: http://buildnz.com/

http://buildnz.com/certifiedbuilders.htm

Christina and Stephen's recommendations:

• Grand Designs: http://amzn.to/1as4VPn
• Every%20Bastard%20Says%20No" target="_blank">Every Bastard Says No: The 42 Below Story

For more information about their system, check out http://vector.co.nz/solar

Useful Link: 

EECA Report Investigatin quality of insulation in new build residential homes:http://www.eeca.govt.nz/node/11719

In episode 30, I spoke with Elrond Burrell and asked if Passive House was really relevant to New Zealand. This sparked some great debate and I subsequently caught up with New Zealand based Passive House designer, Jon Iliffe of eHaus.

eHaus is New Zealand's first building company solely dedicated to building homes to the Passive House Standards.

Among other things, Jon discusses:

1. How Germany is managing to decrease energy consumption while growing their GDP. 
2. What was good about 1920s houses and are they still good?
3. How can you justify the cost of building better?

Related Posts:

• Is Passivhaus Relevant to New Zealand

References:

• eHaus: http://www.ehaus.co.nz/
• Jon's book recommendation: Insanely Simple, by Ken Segall (Get the Kindle version for only $9.99)
• IPHA: http://passivehouse-international.org/
• PHINZ: http://phinz.org.nz/
• Homestar Training: NZGBC Education Calendar

Phil McLean is a secondary school teacher who's passionate about design. He was given the challenge to go and find a topic that would put in the shoes of a beginner learner. 

The result is a fresh perspective on solutions for our building industry. Phil's made his outputs freely available, including a Google Map of the most innovative houses in New Zealand, plus a SketchUp model of his 'Stretch and Grow' concept. 

Links:

• Phil McLean: smarterhousingforabetterworld@gmail.com
• Innovative Housing Projects NZ: http://bit.ly/Za0AOn
• Phil's Design Process and 'Stretch and Grow' House: http://bit.ly/13E5G1r

Other Resources:

• Tiny Houses on DesignBoom.com: http://www.designboom.com/contemporary/tiny_houses.html
• SIPS manufacturer, KnightBuilt: http://www.knightbuilt.co.nz/
• Tiny House Floor Plans (from Amazon): http://amzn.to/11UgoXd

• Higher quality, with improved finishing and attention to detail without deterioration from being exposed to the elements
• Produced quickly, being assembled in a matter of days or even hours
• Very resource efficient, producing little construction waste (a big environmental problem for the sector)
• Affordable!

So why are we not doing more of it? 

Bell has lead PrefabNZ since it was conceived and then incorporated directly as a result of her research as part of a Masters in Architecture. She's arguably New Zealand's most expert voice in the industry and is motivated to share the many benefits and some of the challenges of prefab. 

Links: 

• http://www.kiwiprefab.co.nz/
• http://www.prefabnz.com/
• http://www.homeinnovation.co.nz/

Pam's Book recommendations:

• Massive Change, by Bruce Mau: http://amzn.to/1285lEt 
• Refabricating Architecture, by Stephen Kieran and James Timberlake: http://amzn.to/ZXlGL0

Listen in to find out what Attic Island is and how it can help ensure insulation stays effective, while providing much more usable space if your attic. 

http://www.­atticisland.­co.­nz

In this week's show, I also mention:

- Great comments and discussion happening both on homestylegreen.com: 

http://homestylegreen.com/what-is-the-best-form-of-heating/

and also over at Ecobob.co.nz:

http://www.ecobob.co.nz/Forum/ForumPosts/13187/Re-Is-Passivhaus-Relevant-to-New-Zealand.aspx?ShowForumPostId=13207#ForumPost13207

- Want to buy Ingo's house? Ingo Ratsdorf, who we interview in episode 19 is putting his passive solar house on the market. Let me know if you're interested and I can put you in touch. http://homestylegreen.com/passive-solar-house-riverhead/

- Big thanks for Thomas van Raamsdonk and Pro Clima for hosting an extremely informative workshop on WUFI and house ventilation this week. I hope to bring you more about this in the coming weeks. In the meantime, check out http://www.wufi-pro.com/

Elrond currently works as an Architect in the Herefordshire branch of Architype: http://www.architype.co.uk/

In this episode, we also cover:

• What is Passive House?
• How can designers and builders of high performance homes compete with the mass market?
• How important is indoor-outdoor flow and can you still achieve Passivhaus with it?
• Can Passivhaus be mass produced?
• What's the role of social media for building professionals?

Resources:

• The Whole House Book: http://amzn.to/16gXqdG (Amazon Affiliate Link)
• Brute Force Collaborative: http://www.bruteforcecollaborative.com/

My general advice:

1. Do you need a new system? Obviously if you're building new, then you've got a great opportunity. Otherwise, if it's not broken, does it need fixing?
2. Two main types, storage vs continuous flow. Storage tends to be better for any more than two people in the house
3. Four main fuel types
1. Wood
2. Sun
3. Electricity
4. Gas
4. Larger homes or long thin homes may benefit from more than one system

Resource:

http://www.energywise.govt.nz/products-and-appliances/water-heating

WIth Ekokit, Jamie's team have applied the same sustainable philosophies to a modular, cost effective set of house plans.

Their features include:

• Modular design, allows owners to expand the home inline with family needs
• Non toxic materials
• Douglas fir timber
• Water efficient toilets and showers, including the Methven Kiri Satinjet, which boasts an impressive 8.5 L/min, 3 star WELS rating: http://www.methven.com/nz/range/kiri/satinjet-wall-shower-on-upswept-arm/tech-spec/
• Mohawk premium carpet made from recycled PET bottles: http://www.mohawkflooring.com/flooring-products/carpet/everstrand.aspx
• Laminated timber beam flooring system with poured and exposed concrete flooring
• High efficient LED lighting
• Very high levels on insulation, much higher than building code
• High performance, thermally broken, low-E, argon filled double glazing from APL: http://www.aplnz.co.nz/34/our-brands/thermal-heart 
• Quality control during construction

For more information and to contact Jamie, go to http://www.ekokit.co.nz

Listen in to find out what we have in common with people building and renovating houses on the other side of the world. What are some of the biggest issues for housing in the UK and how is it similar or different to NZ? And why should we all be following Wolfgang Feist?

Ben's own very good blog site can be found at: http://www.houseplanninghelp.com

You can also find Ben all over the web:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HousePlanningHelp
• Google+: https://plus.google.com/116757818387809474216/posts
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Houseplanhelp
• Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/houseplanhelp/
• YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/houseplanninghelp

Resources that Ben mentioned

The Sustainable Building Association: http://www.aecb.net/

Professor Wolfgang Feist:

• Passive House page on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passive_house
• Wolfgang Feist on GreenSource: http://greensource.construction.com/people/2011/1102_Dr_Wolfgang_Feist.asp
• Wolfgang Feist on GreenBuildAdvisor.com: http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/blogs/dept/musings/conversation-wolfgang-feist

I also speak with Thomas van Raamsdonk from Pro Clima about airtightness, blower doors and how to seal a three dimensional joint in framing around a window sill, using one piece of tape.

Links:

• http://www.bbarc.com
• http://www.eversunhomes.co.nz
• http://www.proclima.co.nz
• http://vector.co.nz/solar

A highlight for me was Wade Lange, Director of the Lloyd Ecodistrict in Portland, Oregon. 

Later in the week, while in Christchurch, I attended a great lecture by Associate Professor Susan Krumdeik. Aside from being fun to go back to my old University at Canterbury, this was an inspiring lecture, with some great similarities to the vision that has now become a reality in Portland.

The main event in Christchurch was of course, the rebuld and renovate show. This week I report on my interview with Lifemark and Metro Glasstech.

I was inspired by Monique's story after hearing her presentation at the recent Green Cities conference in Sydney, Australia. I really wanted to ask Monique about why Pollinate Energy was created and to see what learning might be applied to housing in Australia and New Zealand.

Also in this week's show:

• http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz
• Vector Energy solar pilot, http://vector.co.nz/solar/solar-electricity-system
• http://www.plugin.org.nz
• Auckland Unitary Plan, http://homestylegreen.com/auckland-unitary-plan/
• Rain!
• Upcoming interview with Ben Adam-Smith from http://www.houseplanninghelp.com/
• Rebuild and Renovate Christchurch Home Show, http://www.canterburyhomeshow.co.nz/
• Green Property Summit 2013

Big shout out to JMore36. Thanks very much for your iTunes review! Love it.

Matthew Cutler-Welsh

comments@homestylegreen.com

Since then Sian has gained experience working in prestigious firms such as Warren and Mahoney Architects and joined Queenstown firm, Green Being in March 2012. Sian has been heavily involved in a number of Passive House projects in and around Queenstown.

Demand for high performing homes has grown rapidly and now Sian and her own team of dedicated architects have formed the specialist practice, Team Green Architects. 

At the time of publishing, Team Green is still awaiting their website, but you can find Sian through Green Being. http://greenbeing.co.nz/2013/03/architecture-spreads-its-wings/

In this interview, Sian discusses, among other things, how it's easy to justify spending a bit more up front, on the things that really matter. In some cases, houses they design in Queenstown may require only as little as 10% of the heating cost of a regular (code compliant) house of the same size. This adds up to huge electricity savings right from year 1 of living in the home. 

A couple of references from Sian include:

• The Lorax, by Dr Zeuss, Click here for Amazon link.
• Ishmael, by Daniel Quinn, Click here for Amazon link.

The show, which is on from Friday 22nd - Sunday 24th March at CBS Canterbury Arena, is a response to huge demand in Christchurch for information about building a home.  

I spoke with Amanda about why there's room in the exhibition calendar for another show in Canterbury and how you, as someone interested in building, can get the most out of the show, including how to get a great discount on the entry!  

Also in this week's show:

Check out Ben Adam-Smith's site: http://www.houseplanninghelp.com/ 

Ben and I compared notes recently about eco-building and also podcasting. I look forward to bring you an interview with him soon. (Thanks also Ben for mentioned Home Style Green on your show!)  

James Schramko: http://www.superfastbusiness.com/ 

Anyone interested in online business and marketing probably knows James already. And if you don't check him out online. He's not hard to find. I tune in to James for tips on podcasting and all things internet and really appreciate the advice on using https://auphonic.com/.

What do you think of the sound quality of this show? Write and let me know: comments@homestylegreen.com  

Breathe - The new urban village project

Awesome event with Kevin McCloud as one of the judges. I was privileged to be at the announcement of the four finalists last week with Mayor Bob Parker and Minister for Building and Construction, Hon Maurice Williamson. Check out all the entries here: http://www.futurechristchurch.co.nz/breathe 

Green Cities I'm looking forward to reporting back on the latest from Sydney, where I've got a small speaking slot! http://greencities.org.au/ 

As always, I'd love to get your comments, questions and feedback:

Contact me on, comments@homestylegreen.com