Holistic Home Building: Building Beyond The Norm
Crafting Holistic and Passive Homes: Shaping the Future of Sustainable Living
Building Beyond the Norm
We are builders with a mission
In the stunning landscapes of Wanaka, where Mother Nature is the star of the show, there's a quiet but powerful movement happening. Want a house that looks good? Great! At what cost? Want a house that feels good? Even better!
Talking about Passive and Performance homes can all sound pretty sexy…but what about waste management? Less of a dinner party topic eh?
As down-to-earth builders of Passive Homes in Wanaka, we've taken on a mission to put sustainable building practices at the forefront of everything we do. But what does that really mean, and why is it so darn important? Let's break it down.
Considering the Whole Picture: Holistic Building
When we say holistic and passive home building, we're talking about a big-picture view. We look at the whole shebang, from the materials you select, the supplier’s methods and ethos, to how comfy, healthy and efficient your home will be - all very predictable these days thanks to modelling.
“It's not just about throwing up a house; it's about crafting a space that makes you feel good.
Not just in terms of aesthetics, but a cosy internal feeling of knowing that unlike many houses being constructed, yours made a minimal impact on the environment, and the surrounding landscape and sent far less construction waste to the skip, than the house next door.
It sounds a stretch, but if we all considered how we could build better, the changes would be immense.”
Saving Energy, Saving Money
In our world of holistic building and Passive Home building, being energy-efficient is crucial. We're all about using less power to save you serious cash on your long-term energy bills. The idea is to save up to 90% of the usual cost of heating a home. Passive Houses consume between 75%-90% less heating energy than a conventional house - whilst remaining at a comfortable 20-25 degrees year-round.
Think good insulation and smart systems like mechanical ventilation systems - to name just a couple of the ways we increase efficiency. Additional factors like the orientation of your home on the site, as well as incredible triple-glazed timber-framed windows, all marry together to create some pretty outstanding results.
Going Green with Materials
For us, it's all about using materials that play nice with the planet. We carefully pick eco-friendly and renewable materials where possible. That means no toxic stuff and a big yes to things like sustainably sourced wood. We want your home to be easy on the eyes and on the Earth.
It’s always a delicate balancing act between the best materials and the absolute best materials for the environment.
One of our favourite products is Terra Lana wool insulation. They use innovative manufacturing techniques to harness the pretty unique qualities of New Zealand wool. They use both wool and recycled wool (often from carpet) in the creation of their insulation. We reckon it’s one of the best, most cost-effective, enduring solutions and it’s made right here in New Zealand.
Sick Building Syndrome is a common and well-documented illness caused by toxins such as formaldehyde vapour emitted over time from common building materials, airborne toxins from mould or mildew and sulphur & nitrogen dioxide combustion by-products from gas stoves or fires.
Thankfully—and remarkably—wool absorbs much of these toxic vapours by trapping them within its cellular structure. It literally filters and purifies the air you breathe for a healthier, non-irritating and non-toxic building environment! Speaking of air…
Breathing Easy: Clean Air
Indoor air quality is a big deal in our book. We're all about keeping the air inside your home fresh and healthy. Our secret sauce? Well, it's not really a secret – it's proper ventilation and non-toxic materials. We're not just about walls; we're about the air you breathe.
“We would need to open doors and windows for about 20 minutes every five hours to get sufficient ventilation through the house to introduce fresh air and expel moisture and pollutants,” says Massimo Biscuola of Solutionair.
Ventilation units with heat recovery are key in terms of energy savings, as they ensure that the warmth carried by the exhaust air is not wasted, but first transferred to the incoming fresh air without the two air streams ever physically mixing. In extremely hot conditions, heat exchangers can also work in reverse so that the heat carried by the incoming air is transferred to the exhaust air and thus pre-cooled before entering the rooms.
Harnessing Light, Naturally
We're fans of the sun and like to let it do its thing. Natural light isn't just good for your mood; it also means less need for electric lights. It's a small change that makes a big difference for your well-being and your power bill.
From the start of the design process, holistic home designers work to balance natural light with passive home principles of reducing heat loss and maximising solar gain where you want it. The best of both worlds.
In our world, we're big believers in using sunshine to keep your home cosy. We use passive solar techniques to soak up the sun's heat and keep things cool when needed. It's all about working with what nature gives us.
We are also always happy to talk solar POWER. Solar panels will reduce your power demand from the grid, in turn saving you money. They can also help you become more self-sufficient, especially when combined with a battery. When combined with a battery, solar panels can provide backup power against grid outages.
Building in Harmony with Nature
When we pick a spot for your home, we're picky. Once you have your section in place, we will work with you and the architect. An architect who specialises in Passive and Performance home design will be able to advise the best place and direction for your house on the section. Yep, it all starts this early on. Cool eh?
When you're building a new home, you've got one shot to get the basic solar design right. It's a cost-effective way to significantly boost your home's performance over its lifetime.
No Waste Left Behind
We're serious about reducing waste. We don't want to see good stuff end up in the trash. We recycle and repurpose as much as we can. It's not just about building; it's about building responsibly.
“The construction and demolition industry is one of the largest waste-producing industries in New Zealand. Construction and demolition waste may represent up to 50% of all waste generated in New Zealand, with 20% of the waste going to landfill and 80% going to clean fill sites.” BRANZ
You use a combination of smart planning to reduce excess waste, operating a lean building project management method to reduce unnecessary steps in construction, on-site sorting and working with partners to reuse and recycle any materials possible.
We also work with sustainability consultants and constantly work to up-skill our team on minimising our waste, wherever possible.
Testing, Testing
We don't just talk the talk; we walk the walk. There are a number of tests that we perform throughout the building process to make sure your house truly performs as a passive house should. Not only saving you a tonne of money in heating and cooling, but also providing you a healthier home with better air quality.
A blower door test is a diagnostic tool used to measure the airtightness of a building. In a passive home, the purpose of the blower door test is to determine how well the building envelope (walls, roof, and floor) is sealed against air leakage.
“For me, building Passive Homes wasn't just about creating incredible living spaces but also about rigorously testing our skills. As builders, beyond the routine council inspections, our skills are not always pushed to their limits. But Passive Home Certification and tests like the Blower Door Test provide a real and accredited assessment of our workmanship.”
Built Tough for the Long Haul
Our homes are built to last. We use tough construction techniques and materials to make sure your home stands strong for generations. It's not just about you; it's about the legacy you leave.
Tough as Nails
In a world with changing weather patterns, we're all about making homes that can handle whatever Mother Nature throws our way. Your safety, comfort and peace of mind are our top priorities.
Together for a Greener Future
Holistic building isn't just about homes; it's about building better communities. We want everyone to get in on the action and live more sustainably.
This is why we share as much information as we can for free. We want to build a better, more sustainable, healthier, happier Wanaka for future generations. Whilst much of the New Zealand building industry keeps their blinkers on, we’re determined to keep the conversation going, until it can no longer be ignored.
Local Love
Supporting locals is a no-brainer. We source as much of our materials and labour from nearby communities, giving a boost to local businesses and cutting down on our carbon footprint. Where we aren’t able to source what we need from New Zealand, we get as close as we can.
It isn’t always possible - our timber framed windows are crafted by a company in Germany - we sincerely hope, with more homeowners owners choosing Passive Principles, this will soon change.
Crafting a Better Way to Build & Investing for the Future
We get that the upfront costs might raise an eyebrow or two, but trust us, the long-term savings and environmental benefits make it a smart investment. Holistic homes are an investment in a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future.
Building sustainable homes isn't just about us; it's about the kind of world we leave for our kids and grandkids. We're on a mission to make home-building a force for good, and we'd love for you to join us on this journey to a greener, healthier, and more responsible future.