Ways to make homes warmer

Standards New Zealand is preparing a guide to improve the warmth and dryness of New Zealand homes.

It comes after widespread concern about the number of leaky houses, and questions about standards within the construction industry.

In an article in its Standards magazine, the organisation said many New Zealanders accepted their cold living conditions without considering how much warmer they could make their homes.

"[It] is bewildering why so many of us are seemingly happy to carry on ... living in houses that are inadequately insulated and heated," said spokesman Grant Thomas.

"This conundrum is even more inexplicable given that so many Kiwis travel overseas and experience the warm and cosy home environments that our European and American counterparts enjoy."

Many people did not realise Building Code requirements were just a minimum, he said.

The guide, called the Specification Guide For Home Insulation - Roofs, Walls, Windows and Floors, would provide "relatively simple solutions" on how to improve insulation, such as double-glazing windows.

"Spin-off effects from improving the thermal insulation of the average Kiwi's home ... would include reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, improving sustainability and people's health and ... providing greater comfort," Mr Thomas said.

The guide would provide advice on homes with "non-solid" construction - such as timber-framed homes - where insulation is placed in the cavities between wooden framing, and "solid" homes, where less insulation is needed.

Mr Thomas warned that it would not be a comprehensive design guide.

"By providing specific information about energy savings and comfort benefits by opting for better or best levels of insulation, this new document helps people make more informed choices."

A price for the guide has not yet been set.

- NZPA

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Further reading
Feature: Leaky buildings

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