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Smart guide
Passive heating
Design
Passive heating – harness the sun
By combining good design with effective insulation, you can collect and store the sun's energy to provide your home with warmth day and night, throughout most of the year.The two key aspects of passive heating are to capture the righ...
Smart guide
Passive cooling
Design
Keeping your cool
Overheating is a common summer problem in many New Zealand homes. Passive cooling can help you keep your home comfortable throughout summer without using an air conditioner or other mechanical assistance.Passive cooling works by:
using shade and insul...
Smart guide
Downlights and recessed lights
Power, lighting and energy saving
Downlights – make smart choices
While downlights, also known as recessed light fittings, have been a popular option in recent years, some types that are on the market can undermine the effectiveness of your ceiling insulation.Choose the type of downlights you install...
Smart guide
Glazing and glass options
Construction and materials
Windows – much more than a view
Once you’ve insulated your ceiling, floors and walls, the next biggest culprits for heat loss are the windows and other glazing such as skylights and glass doors.Today most new houses and additions will require double glazing to comp...
Smart guide
Choosing a site for your home
Siting and location
A property isn't just a piece of land
A property isn't just a piece of land. It's part of a neighbourhood, a wider landscape and an ecosystem, and can also be your home.By choosing your property carefully (or getting to know the property you already own), you can desig...
Smart guide
Choosing a home to suit you
Design
Everybody has different priorities when it comes to choosing where they want to live. There are pros and cons associated with each different housing type and location. Think about your and your family’s needs both now and into the future before deciding where you want to...
Smart guide
Designing room by room
Design
Room by room
What will you use the room for, does it have multiple uses, how many people will use a particular room at any one time? The answers to these questions can influence the size, layout and ideal orientation of a room, how the rooms link and work together and...
Smart guide
Designing an adaptable home
Design
A home that adjusts to your needs
To get the best value out of your home make sure that it will meet your needs and those who live with you not only now but also in years to come.This could be as simple as being able to push a pram easily into and around the house, or...