10 Jun 13 11:18 AM

I have a question for the ventilation experts. I understand that a Passive house will have a highly efficient balanced heat recovery ventilation system. I think I understand the basic principle of h......read more

27 May 13 12:38 PM

Hi Sarah, We purchased the heat exchanger unit from Avon electric, they also go by the name of Cleanaire. Yes it does recover heat from the house (not the roof space). No draughts and you can’t hear ......read more

22 May 13 1:21 PM

these guys look like they could help: http://www.fantech.com.au/Default.aspx offices in Wellington, Christchurch and Auckland...read more

21 May 13 12:16 PM

Do the ribs act as a thermal bridge thus reducing that excellent R8 value?...read more

20 May 13 9:22 AM

Hi Sarah, Excellent questions. I am really pleased someone has raised these questions as I have thought the same thing myself. The option that I chose was mechanical ventilation BUT I would be very i......read more

15 May 13 12:29 PM

Thanks Elrond, Excellent explanation You have explained a lot better than I did, the point I was trying to make with Solarei...read more

8 May 13 12:21 PM

Solarei, The Passive house standard is NOT specific for one climate or style of home/building. Buildings have been built to the Passive house standard all around the world and they aren't even all ho......read more

2 Feb 13 7:28 AM

Hi Jimbob, I thought someone a lot more knowledgable than me might have answered this for you by now but as they haven't I'll add my little bit and direct to a place of huge knowledge. I think you d......read more

9 Dec 12 3:03 PM

Hi KK, as this is house, yet to be built you should be able to carry out detailed heat loss calculations. With these you would be abe to easily calculate how many watts of heat you would need to main......read more

9 Dec 12 7:19 AM

Is aerogel insulation available in NZ? Has anyone used it in a domestic insulation situation? Any idea of cost? Having done a quick google, there were some reports back in early 2012 of the price a......read more

16 Nov 12 8:15 AM

Can anyone recommend a supplier of insulated blinds, preferably canterbury based? I came across this UK company..I wonder if there is anything similar here in NZ? http://www.thermalblind.co.uk/...read more

14 Oct 12 8:23 AM

Hi Dejan, I have wondered this too. My guess is that becasue OSB can't tolerate moisture very well it creates a problem here with most of our houses designed to have drained and vented cavities, so t......read more

13 Oct 12 11:06 AM

Have I missed something...I don't know who GW is or what company or products he represents! I am curious , as , I expect, quite a few other people are. GW's posts have been blunt, that's true, but I'......read more

7 Oct 12 10:38 AM

Hi LL, Have you looked at what Casper and Ellen are doing with there certified passive house? http://www.ahousethatperforms.co.nz/about.php They are using an ICF system. When you say" moi......read more

12 Sep 12 1:01 PM

Hi Red & Black, I think what skamp is suggesting is excellent advice. Everyone's build stuation is complex and unique and the choices are infinite but the budget isn't! I have just gone through some o......read more

8 Sep 12 7:47 PM

I can't really help with the cost difference question but your alternative of using 90mm frame and cavity battens sounds pretty good. However you probably don't need to put the battens onto the studs ......read more

31 Aug 12 7:50 PM

http://www.unicco.co.nz/http___www.unicco.co.nz/home.html These are Stunning looking and no doubt are very high quality windows, I wonder how they compare cost wise to other high end window products ......read more

14 Aug 12 12:09 PM

Do you calculate quantity of pipe required? pipe spacings, etc...read more

27 Jul 12 12:26 PM

Congratulations to Casper and Ellen on getting your Passive house underway. Thank you for posting. It is interesting that there are now quite a few certified passive houses, zero/low energy and very l......read more

11 Jul 12 9:43 AM

Hi GW, R1.0 for windows locally? Presumably this is Triple glazed?...read more

25 Jun 12 7:14 PM

I thought this was interesting and worth posting. however, if anyone wishes to comment please be polite. http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fon.fb.me%2FLd3zfY&h=cAQE7QwnM...read more

23 Jun 12 9:39 AM

I,m looking for suggestions on cost effective methods of increasing the thermal mass of a yet to be built timber frame house. My thoughts at the moment are to add some mass to some of the internal wa......read more

19 May 12 4:52 PM

Ehaus are inviting people to attend this: http://www.ehaus.co.nz/latest-news/another-home-building-ehaus-1-day-workshop/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+co%2FYUcX+%28Eha......read more

16 May 12 12:03 PM

Hi Leo, yes, they look great! Although no technical data on U values and airtightness available on the website. Is this a business opportunity? Have you offered your services for New Zealand distri......read more

15 May 12 10:40 AM

Hi Langers, Sorry if I missed something but why have you ruled out PVC and timber frames?...read more

13 May 12 11:22 AM

Be careful how you calculate that "payback" A house (double glazed) around my area that would sell for around $430K would actually only fetch around $370K if it was only single glazed, (unb......read more

3 May 12 12:22 PM

Do you know if the 1Kg of pellets providing 5kW of heat energy for an hour is a measured value or a calculated value...if calculated do you have the calcs available?...read more

28 Apr 12 7:04 PM

Also came across a whole load of technical articles and building science papers which may interest some of you. Some may not be relevent to New Zealand buildings but I think there is some interesting ......read more

23 Apr 12 7:15 PM

I couldn't resist posting this link http://www.stonewood.co.nz/christchurch-lincoln-show-home On the one hand it is good to see a mainstream group housing company at last recognising the market for ......read more

19 Apr 12 1:17 PM

Hi Passivehouse, So, would you have any recomendations for window suppliers that are more helpful?...read more

19 Apr 12 12:25 PM

"In a thermally efficient and correct design the windows MUST be in line with the insulated part of the wall. This is not possible with NZ style aluminium windows but normal practice with the Eur......read more

19 Apr 12 9:01 AM

Hi Dejan, Can you explain more about positioning the windows back into the insulated part of the wall instead of on the outside, cold part. I can understand the theoretical advantages of putting the......read more

16 Apr 12 7:05 PM

I came across the buildingscience.com website today. there is a lot of information, most of which is beyond my understanding, but one article that I thought might interest others can be downloaded at ......read more

15 Apr 12 8:49 AM

Although only a 90mm frame I think they will have a service cavity (perhaps 50mm) which may reduce this thermal bridging and also have some more insulation. They haven't shown this part yet....read more

15 Apr 12 8:09 AM

I thought this was interesting http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqJPreSAFOM I wonder whether Australia might be able to do something like this? Somewhere in Northern Territory? ...read more

14 Apr 12 8:45 AM

Where is the best place for a hot water cylinder? Well, ideally I assume within the warm space of the house (not outside or in roof space) AND centrally located so that pipe runs to the hot water out......read more

1 Apr 12 7:10 PM

I found this short youtube video with a brief summary of the importance of airtightness and reference to possible mould issues..it is part of a Proclima marketing but I nevertheless still worth postin......read more

13 Mar 12 11:26 AM

This link is to a paper that explains the basics of the breathable wall concept. I found it very informative. Although a European publication it is very relevant to our climate. http://www.baubiologi......read more

11 Mar 12 6:15 PM

Would a granite kitchen bench provide any effective thermal mass?...read more

11 Mar 12 8:16 AM

Hi JD, Is this product any use? http://www.hpwf.co.nz/index.php?page=collection&subpage=lateral ...read more

9 Mar 12 12:21 PM

Grand designs mentioned an interesting product which might be related to your mystery film, JD? It was called heat mirror http://www.southwall.com/southwall/Home/Products/Commercial/HeatMirrorInsula......read more

9 Mar 12 11:17 AM

Doesn't sound likely with the outdoor temperatures we experience. Perhaps this is in florida? Can you ask these people for a bit more info?...read more

20 Feb 12 6:30 PM

Hi Allen, I think you will find this thread very interesting http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=7998&page=1#Item_0 Others who have insulated their fridge!!...read more

17 Feb 12 6:52 AM

I think you'll find it called extra-low voltage and in this case, provided it is isolated from the 230volt system could be done as non prescribed work ...read more

17 Feb 12 6:43 AM

Electricity regulations http://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2010/0036/28.0/DLM2763501.html ...read more

16 Feb 12 11:25 AM

Apologies if this has been raised before but I believe All recessed light fitting used in NZ must be marked with either IC-F, IC or CA symbols Or if no symbol then they should be marked as NON IC and......read more

11 Feb 12 8:54 AM

I stumbled across this website today http://www.rusfa.com/ in my attempt to learn more about interstitial condensation. I downloaded the free trial version of the dew point calculalator Some of th......read more

9 Jan 12 7:51 AM

This should interest a few of us http://passivehouse1nz.blogspot.com/...read more

5 Jan 12 5:59 PM

Hi Lisa, Try these two links specifically about earth walls http://www.arc-architects.com/downloads/Materials-World-Article-Jan-2006.pdf http://www.communitiesscotland.gov.uk/stellent/groups/publ......read more

11 Dec 11 7:38 AM

There is a group being set up in Christchurch, which is similar to what you are proposing... http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/christchurch-earthquake/6084620/Trust-plans-to-reduce-section-costs ...read more