What advice can you give to homeowners who want to start making their homes sustainable?

What advice can you give to homeowners who want to start making their homes sustainable?

June 30th, 2010 by Mary Ginn

Easy steps to sustainable homes. Benefits to all now and the future. Save the planet. Save energy. Save water. Save $$$.

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Start with what you really need, rather than all the bells and whistles. People put more thought into the fittings which can be replaced and often are, than those areas of the house that are not so easily accessed once built.

Sustainability need not cost the earth, ignoring to make simple steps could cost the earth for our grandchildren. Choosing products that suit your way of life carefully and getting the right advise is a priority and will most certainly add value to your home and lifestyle.

In a relatively short period of time we have become accustomed to several bathrooms, a drive through garage, cars housed to the same degree of comfort as the homeowners and large bedrooms in order to give children a double bed experience and the list goes on. Only twenty years ago, we were once comfortable even with larger families having one bathroom, maybe a carport or separate unlined garage smaller bedrooms and maybe one open living space where families remained connected, with an average home size of 100-120m2.

Houses have become too large and complicated, adding costs which make them less affordable for many, so lets keep it simple; rectangles actually work very well and keep roof structures easily constructed and minimize problems and costs.

The long narrow home facing North saves so much in energy, allowing the sun to to do the job and it's FREE! Orient the home for maximum use of the sun, with eaves to shade excessive summer sun from the East and West while allowing the low lying winter sun to penetrate in with window placement mainly to the north and minimal to the south. An energy audit will highlight in the early design stage if there are too many openings, or too little insulation, and give an estimate of energy use and savings.

Use of insulation with a high R value is at the top of the priorities. This is what is going to give your home the comfort level you require without pumping lots of energy into it to keep it warm or cool. Research by BRANZ (Building Research Austraila New Zealand proved that "the amount of insulation has a direct relationship to the health of the inhabitants".There are many good products in wall insulation such as the Structural Insulated panels of the Cornerstone Building system, which is also considered and Insulated Concrete form work, as are the Polystyrene blocks of which there are a number of companies with this style of construction. These are all solid wall systems, which don't have anything to rot or break down, giving peace of mind into the future. Polystyrene is one of the best insulators & is especially formulated for the construction industry with fire inhibitors. Wool fiber and recycled materials are also worth considering for insulation, especially in the roof cavity where heat loss is at it's highest. Whatever is chosen, make sure that you go above the requirements as this is just a minimum.

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27 June 2011 - 1:26am — Newbee

Building on a "good foundation".

With all the uncertainty for some who still need to await results after further significant aftershocks, and others who have to decide now that they have been relegated to the "Red Zone" the industry will at least be able to make a start as far as accommodating the people finding themselves in the unenviable position of relocation.
12 Points to consider :-
1. How much will I have to relocate?
2. What land is available within my available dollar value outcome?
3. ANZ & Kiwi banks have offered attractive packages, but are the insurers definitely coming to the party?
4. Then we are in a position to look at the sections, projecting into the future as well to make sure the foundation is on solid ground?
5. With desired section in sights design or pick an existing standard plan to suit the site orientated to the sun to save in energy costs.
6. If possible choose a less complex design to keep costs down.
7. Consider what is important, for instance is it necessary or just desirable to have 3 bathrooms.
8. The structure is the "bones of a building" and is not something that can be added to easily, but is a really important decision as it affects the occupants safety (After the Earthquakes we all want something that will be as Quake resistant as possible). Polystyrene systems such as the "Cornerstone Building System" have performed well, along with many other systems using polystyrene which absorbs shock.
9. The level of comfort involves the choice of insulation. In some cases this can be achieved with Structural Insulated Panels (SIP) or Insulated Concrete formwork such as the Cornerstone Building system, Poly Block combinations for walls & founds, and Polystyrene slab & Foundations systems like the "Cornerstone Insulfloor", "Firth Ribraft" etc which have proven themselves through the Christchurch Earthquakes (The higher the insulation in floors, walls and ceiling the less energy input is required for heating or cooling the space.)
10. Consider how the water heating is to be achieved. While electricity is convenient, options not dependant on the grid could be a more future proof option for electricity shortages. Boilers such as the te "Wera" which double for space and water heating, & Solar Panels are a couple of alternatives to consider.
11. LED lighting will minimize the draw on energy along with choosing the most energy efficient appliances.
12. Carefully consider the cladding material, and understand the maintenance requirements of each product and what that will mean for you the homeowner.
I hope that many people will find the best possible outcomes for their new future, maybe something more sustainable than they have now. If I can help you to a better future please email mary@4-cornerstone.com as "Cornerstone Building System" is offering a reduced price for Earthquake affected people from the "Red Zone" or just those moving on affected from these terrible events.
Contact 0800 426 763

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About the author

Mary Ginn

Cornerstone Building System

http://www.4-cornerstone.com

Having been in the building industry across the board for 25 years plus as an Architectural Designer, starting out in the true kiwi manner of DYI practicing on my own homes in the early 1980's where I gained my hands on experience in design, build, quantity survey, through to the interior decoration.
This led me to question the way things were done in the industry, get involved with developing homes for the elderly in Oxford, North Canterbury, my focus well on energy efficient building, I became involved in the invention of the Cornerstone Building system through to a Licenced Building system currently operating in most areas of NZ.
Sustainability in general has always been a priority living in the country & this passion flows through into the building process.
By developing a building system with a very high insulation value and high in bracing against earthquake and wind at the same or less than the cost of the standard construction 4 x 2, offers homeowners a warm healthy home which gives them the comfort without the high energy costs and the comfort of knowing their family will be safe in adverse weather conditions.