Category: Blog
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Passive Solar and Passive House
I’ve been enjoying a mostly plant-based, whole food diet for the last two years. I’ve maintained a healthy size and weight, I’ve avoided getting sick and my blood pressure and cholesterol are all good. I know this because after turning forty a few years ago, I decided to check on these things. Not because I…
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10 Things I learnt from a doTerra Conference about How to Change the Building Industry
What do a couple of thousand, mostly women, attendees at a two day conference on the Goal Coast, have to do with making healthier places to live? I wasn’t really expecting anything at all. I’m a tag-along. A conference partner of Natalie who is attending a doTerra Leadership Convention. I’m here because Natalie suggested a…
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How to Become a Certified Passive House Professional
Are you interested in becoming a Certified Passive House Designer, Consultant or Tradesperson? It’s a tough road that usually includes a challenging exam. But I for one would like a world where there are more Passive House Professionals. Here’s how to do it. Certified Passive House Training My brain feels stuffed with fluffy insulation. I’ve…
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Residential Tenancies. It’s Time to Act.
It’s time for us all to have a say in helping to make better rental places to live, by commenting on proposed changes the the Residential Tenancies Act 1986. I’m used to criticising government housing policies. I often state my case that our building code is woefully inadequate, I berate the state of our existing housing…
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Why I need a Ventilation System
I woke up at 3:00 am this morning and was vaguely aware that something wasn’t right. It wasn’t an emergency, but something was off. I was warm, but it felt stuffy and I suspected my lack of ventilation was causing me problems again. Breathing without Ventilation At 3:00, in a drowsy stupor, I was aware…
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Home Ownership is the Goal of KiwiBuild
When did home ownership become the holy grail? KiwiBuild is stepping up today, with Hon Phil Twyford’s announcement of the criteria for the Government’s ‘affordable’ housing programme at Buildnz | designex summit. There’s talk, and even some decent plans, for making space and resources available. Prefabrication is being suggested as a likely pathway for New…
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How to Reduce Mould in the Home
Mould Mould comes from fungi naturally occurring in the air. Fungi can be our friends. It includes mushrooms and the yeasts we use for making bread. But mould in our homes makes us sick. Just like activating yeast, fungi needs a food source and moisture to grow. This a clue as to how we can…
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Your House is Probably a Prototype
What does a new house in a subdivision, and a test car on a racetrack have in common? They’re both prototypes One of them goes through lots of iterations to discover imperfections and a whole team of designers and specialists work together to get it right before it’s finally made available to purchase. …The other…
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Health and Safety at Home
Most people think that occupational health and safety is a bit over-the-top in the workplace, with so many rules, policies and procedures, yet most homes go the other way and are very unsafe. Last year, over 45% of the total ACC claims were for injuries and accidents at home, costing New Zealand a staggering $950m. There…
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Why I Bought an SUV
Technically, I didn’t purchase my new SUV. It’s a work vehicle. But I did get to choose the make and model, and I’m still slightly surprised as to why I selected an SUV. How did my search for the best electric vehicle come to this? I’d always considered ‘sport utility vehicles’ as the worst environmental…