Category: Uncategorized
-
267 Architecturally Designed Modular Homes Built in New Zealand
Mariano Croce is an Argentine entrepreneur who relocated into Queenstown with his young family just before the first COVID lockdown in 2020. He has a background in prefabrication, having co-founded a modular building company in Argentina when he was 24. More than 15 years on, Mariano has created Modulo.nz to provide architecturally designed, high-performance, modular…
-
266: It’s Time to Speckel!
Darren O’Dea is a self-confessed building physics nerd. Along with co-founder David Carroll, he has helped to create Speckel, a platform for designing low carbon, healthier, durable and energy-efficient buildings. Having proven popular with architects and consultants in Australia, Speckel is now available in New Zealand. Find out more at https://www.speckel.io/ Upcoming webinar Find out…
-
264: How to Control Air
In this third session with Simon Cator from Pro Clima we cover the reasons for and the application of an airtightness system. As I’ve discussed previously, airtightness is a good thing. This is independent of ventilation, which is also a good thing. The opposite of an airtight building is a leaky one and sometimes this…
-
250: The 2 key principles of home performance
Stuart Lee loves what he does, which is mostly building Passive House homes in Victoria, Australia. He was an early adopter of sustainable building and it was during a Master Builder Green Living event that heard Clare Parry speak about Passive House. It all made a lot of sense and Stuart enrolled himself on a…
-
183: Living in Your Own Passive House
It’s been a six year journey and now Ben Adam-Smith and his family are enjoying their very own Passive House. Ben’s background is professional radio and video production. During the past few years he’s put these skills to use producing podcasts and videos to showcase other people’s building projects. House Planning Help In 2012 Ben…
-
178: Cutting Edge Craftsmanship
In the early 1800s there was a rapid migration westward across the United States of America. Newer, faster ways of building were needed to house people in the booming towns of the “early west”. The craft of careful timber framed construction quickly gave way to mass production of stick frame housing. Tedd Benson refers to…
-
How to Keep Your Windows Warm
Windows are the Weakest Link Even double glazed windows are colder than the surrounding walls. Where are code compliant wall today will have an R-value of about 2.0, a typical double glazed window will have an R-value of just 0.26. For an older house with no wall insulation, the wall will have an R-value of…
-
116: Cut Heat Loss at the Slab Edge
Concrete slab edge insulation is one of my hot topics. It seems to spark debate, firstly about if it’s worth doing, then secondly about how to do it. I recently spoke with manufacturer and experienced business owner, Mike Peters of Fort Wayne, Indiana who’s come up with an easy solution for builders to cut heat…
-
Nudura Insulated Concrete Forms
Nudura is a type of Insulated Concrete Form (ICF). This particular flavour of ICF was created by Canadian former builder, Murray Snider, who is now President and CEO of Nudura. “The forms are interlocking modular units that are dry-stacked (without mortar) and filled with concrete.” Wikipedia Like other types of ICF, Nudura Insulated Concrete Forms are basically like…
-
What’s the Value of a Rating for Your Home?
How much would you value a rating for your home? What if, just by getting that rating, your house become more valuable? Aside from the extra confidence you’ll gain from having another professional look at your home, and of course, all the comfort and health benefits you’re likely to get from having a ‘good’ home,…