Morning Report: why are NZ homes so damn hot right now?

Morning Report rang me this week for comment about overheating homes, in the face of record temperature spikes. You can listen to the short segment here, or there’s a print version also. For the physics geeks, here is how I worked out the numbers I provided about emissions. I used an average grid emissions factor of 0.12 kgCO2e per kWh …

New free tool for exploring climate files

I’ve discovered a climate file exploration tool that will be really useful for Passive House designers. Best, it’s open source, so free to use. This is particularly timely given the promised update to the climate files we currently use for Passive House design in Aotearoa. What we currently access contains 30 years of climate data—but NIWA compiled those files 20 …

In the race to net zero, operational carbon remains crucial

Lloyd Alter is a Canadian adjunct professor and writer on sustainability topics. Like a growing number of commentators, Lloyd is brushing off the impact of operational carbon and arguing for the need to radically focus on lowering embodied carbon: building with low carbon building materials and methods that are low or zero carbon and retrofitting and renovating existing buildings rather …

Stepwise energy improvements waste time and money

Neil Savery had a 20 year career with the Australian Building Codes Board, nine years as its CEO. Let’s say that gives him some perspective, and industry experience worth listening to. In a story on Fifth Estate, he’s quoted as saying that Australia would have done better to ‘bake in’ the highest energy codes into its building standards from the …

Air transfer solution: ventilated doors

Australian Passive House designer Matt Purves posted online some intriguing photos of bespoke doors he built himself from leftover spruce wall panelling. These were for his home in Tasmania, which is targeting Passive House Plus certification. Ventilation systems need air to be able to move freely between rooms even when doors are closed. This is most often achieved by the …

New plans for Passive House training and certification

Dr Kara Rosemeier has personally trained and certified almost every Passive House professional in New Zealand and her influence cannot be overstated. Kara is preparing for a gradual retirement and to this end, her Passive House Academy New Zealand (PHANZ) is joining forces with Sustainable Engineering Ltd. The new training entity will honour the historic relationship with Te Whare Korou …

We need accurate planning tools

The UK’s first net zero energy bills have been introduced by several English councils as part of their response to the climate emergency. That’s good. These requirements need to be measured so they can be enforced. SAP 10 (Standard Assessment Procedure) is what they use to show building code compliance in England and Wales, for new dwellings and major renovations.  …

Jason Quinn in Wellington speaking on high-performance glazing

Jason Quinn will be speaking in Wellington on 7 November on the latest developments in high-performance glazing. The industry event, hosted by Metro Performance Glass, is on the waterfront, with drinks, nibbles and CPD points all available. The Sustainable Engineering team has been consulting for various local window manufacturers, including Metro, so Jason has data at his fingertips. He’ll talk …