Category: Sustainability
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Simple LCA to Measure the Impact of Where Stuff Comes From
How do you measure the impact of where stuff comes from, and why is this important? Life Cycle Analysis Measuring the overall impact of stuff is the objective of life cycle analysis, or LCA. The type of impacts considered in LCA include: Where the raw materials come from How far they have to travel The…
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ZETA Design + Build Modular Homes
ZETA Design + Build produce modular homes and buildings inside a factory. A great video on their website is probably the best way to see just how they’re revolutionising the manufacturing process of buildings and building modules. Howard Koenig, Chief Executive Officer ZETA Design + Build It’s telling that Howard Koenig, CEO of ZETA Design…
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Vector’s Home Solar Power Solution
I’ve been enjoying the benefits of solar electricity since April this year, thanks to Vector’s home solar power solution. I always knew I’d eventually get solar panels installed on my roof, but I figured it’s cost at least $10,000 to get started, and so I’d have to wait a while. Then earlier this year, I…
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The Stretch and Grow House
Phil McLean is a secondary school teacher who’s passionate about design. He was given the opportunity to take six months immersing himself in a new topic, in part to experience being a beginner learner again, to empathise with his students. His chosen new field was building and the result is his open source design of…
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House Planning Help
I first came across Ben’s show when I was browsing for quality podcasts about sustainability and buildings. I’ve been surprised with the relative few results from variations of this search in iTunes and was grateful to stumble across House Planning Help. In particular I first found Ben’s slightly different episode all about content marketing in…
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Is Christchurch in the process of making a big mistake?
Is Christchurch in the process of making a big mistake? Surely not intentionally. But the front page of the Press last Friday did look a lot like urban sprawl. Is there another way to describe 40,000 homes being built outside the current city boundary? This is the vision of the Land Use Recovery Plan. Affectionately known…
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Auckland Unitary Plan
I’m lucky to be working in a building just walking distance from the Viaduct and Wynyard Quarter in Auckland. Today in particular, this meant I could stroll down past the million dollar boats to attend the release of the Auckland Unitary Plan. In short, this plan is the plan to unite all plans. It’s plan…
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Being a Green Architect
What does it mean to be a ‘green architect’? Sian Taylor trained to be an architect in Cardiff, Wales. When she arrived here in New Zealand, like many others who have experienced homes in colder climates, Sian was pretty appalled at the state of New Zealand houses. Since then Sian has gained experience working in…
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Housing Affordability
I worry about the seemingly constant reference to greenfield development and opening up current city limits, in the debate over housing affordability. Another article just today concluded with that sentiment. And greenfield development seemed to be the foregone conclusion even at the outset of the Productivity Commission report last year. What are the other solutions?…