New Zealand is one of the worst-performing countries in terms of home health and insulation, our homes were never built for the warming summers, and cooling winters, meaning kiwis are spending more and more trying to climate control their homes. 53% of the energy use in kiwi homes comes from heating the water we use; however, with sustainable design and materials, new kiwi homes won’t have these kinds of issues.
Insulation – an absolute necessity in any new kiwi home, insulation is a key element in sustainable home design. Insulation is one of the most efficient and cost-effective ways to make your home warmer in winter and cooler in summer, so it’s a no brainer having good insulation installed in your new home. Insulation in the roof makes the biggest difference; without it, you could lose up to 35% of the heat from your home as opposed to the 5% lost in a home using high-quality insulation.
Glazing: Homes can lose up to 50% of heat through your windows, not ideal in the colder winter months. Opting for double glazing on your windows can significantly impact the cost of heating your home in the winter months. Maximise the heat you get throughout the day in winter and keep your home warm and cosy throughout the night without the hefty power bill at the end of the month. When you’re planning your new build, consider the double glazing option for your windows to help with the heat loss.
Heat pumps: Among the most energy-efficient form of heating your home, heat pumps are a great sustainable addition to any new home. By warming up your home in winter or cooling it in the summer, heat pumps are ideal for almost any home. However keep in mind heat pumps work well for one room, so if you want more than one area of your home warmed up or cooled down, you might want to invest in a central heating ducted heat pump system. Our tip is to look for an energy-efficient heat pump to ensure your costs stay as low as possible thought the year.
Solar water heating – if you’re building an environmentally conscious home, a solar hot water cylinder might be just what you’re looking for. Many high-pressure hot water cylinders are available “solar ready”, which means you have the option of running them off a solar system if you want to. This is great if you can’t afford to install a full solar system now, but may want to in the future. Solar hot water systems provide low day to day costs, although the initial installation costs can be relatively high.
If you think 2021 is your year to build your own sustainable home – have a chat with our design experts. Get in touch with us via our contact us page to have a no-obligation chat about how we can make your dream sustainable home a reality.