We’ve been discussing this book inside our consulting firm for years. We knew New Zealand needed a clear, physics-based guide to fixing our housing stock, but moving from internal technical discussions to a published handbook is a massive undertaking. I am thrilled to announce that this vision is finally becoming a reality.

I want to extend a massive thank you to the New Zealand Green Building Council (NZGBC) and the Energy Efficiency & Conservation Authority (EECA). Their partial funding was the catalyst that moved this book from a “someday” project to a “right now” reality.

I also want to thank the many industry colleagues who reviewed our earlier drafts; your “heaps of feedback” was invaluable. Finally, a huge thanks to the NZGBC for taking the lead on the graphic editing and official release.

While this is not strictly a Passive House or EnerPHit book, it frequently refers to those standards. In our view, EnerPHit is likely the optimum target over a 50-year horizon when considering both human health and carbon footprints.

However, this handbook is designed to be standard-agnostic. It focuses on the fundamental building physics—the “scales” of building science—so you can safely “improvise” on any New Zealand home, from a 1960s bungalow to a century-old villa.

We believe so strongly in this science that we are integrating this material into our Retrofit Expert Course. While the book is agnostic, the course is specifically designed for those wanting to master EnerPHit retrofits to meet the rigorous Passive House Institute standards.

You can learn more about the course here: https://sustainableengineering.co.nz/retrofitexpert/

Deep Energy Retrofits for New Zealand is our positive vision for healthy, energy-efficient homes. It’s about achieving a Triple Dividend:

  1. For People: Creating warm, dry sanctuaries that support health and well-being.
  2. For the Planet: Radically reducing carbon emissions by upgrading instead of demolishing.
  3. For the Country: Reducing the seasonal strain on our national electricity grid.

What’s Inside

  1. The Four Control Layers: Managing moisture and heat for long-term durability.
  2. A Fabric-First Approach: Prioritizing the building enclosure over mechanical systems.
  3. Proven Workflows: A 10-step process from assessment to blower door testing.
  4. Real-World Case Studies: Technical breakdowns of actual New Zealand retrofits.

We are working hard with our editor on the final draft and are moving quickly toward a release date. Sign up for our newsletter to be the first to know when the book is officially released.