Tag: affordability

  • 184: From Rocket Science to Building Science

    184: From Rocket Science to Building Science

    Rocket science is so complicated it’s a cliche. But Jason Quinn, New Zealand’s only current Passive House Certifier, considers the science of high performance buildings to be on par, or perhaps even trickier than the science of designing rocket engines. It’s all physics, just applied in a different way. After a first career working for…

  • How Much Does Homestar Cost?

    I read an article in Stuff yesterday that got my heart rate up. I strongly believe that tools like Homestar are needed to help make houses better. And I’m anxious to correct some misconceptions and to address the question of ‘how much does Homestar cost?’ What is Homestar? Homestar is New Zealand’s comprehensive environmental rating tool…

  • Collaborative Construction

    James L. Salmon is the President of Collaborative Construction, an organisation he created to encourage a better way of building. After spending much of his legal career helping sort out disputes between building owners, contractors and suppliers, James is convinced there’s a much better way of organising, communicating and conducting the design, procurement and building processes. …

  • Affordable Housing Policy

    I just listened to a podcast recording of a very interesting interview; Kathryn Ryan from Nine to Noon speaking with David Preston, a consulting economist about public policy and affordable housing. David is also the author of one of the chapters in the new book Homes People Can Afford. Check out my interview (Home Style…

  • Homes People Can Afford

    We are not building enough homes people can afford. This was the focus of a workshop organised by He Kainga Oranga – The Housing and Health Research Programme, from the University of Otago in mid 2012. Since then,  Sarah Bierre, Professsor Philippa Howden-Chapman and Lisa Early have been busy compiling written contributions from a number of…