Improving Your Quality of Life with an Eco-Home.

As Kiwis, we are truly blessed to live in one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Surrounded by beautiful scenery, rugged untouched landscapes and a very low population density, most New Zealanders believe they live a quality of life that many other countries can only dream of. 

But what exactly defines quality of life? When it comes to housing standards, NZ houses can be considered to have rather low to moderate comfortable living standards. Bare minimum insulation values, wrong house orientation and poor choice of materials often lead to houses being damp, cold, and uncomfortable to live in, especially during winter.

If you are looking to build a new home, it is the perfect opportunity to consider building an Eco home. Quinlan Quality Homes believes that the principles of an eco-homes  design should be a central part of any new house design.  Read below to see how these 3 simple design principles can drastically improve the thermal performance of your home, and your overall quality of life.

​Principle 1: 
Exposed  concrete slab floor
We all love the look - raw, industrial, full of character. But other than aesthetics, what can a concrete floor really do to your home? A fully insulated concrete floor can be a great source of passive heating. This means there is less heat being lost through the floor, and more heat retained to keep the house warm. Who would've thought you could save on your heating bills and live more comfortably at the same time? For more details, check out leading NZ suppliers like Firth RibRaft or MaxRaft. 

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Principle 2:
​High Performance Thermal Windows
​Not all windows are created equal. Timber windows, aluminium windows, steel windows, PVC windows, single glazed, double glazed, triple glazed, thermally broken, low-e coating...and the variables go on and on. Choosing what type of windows, how big they should be, and what material they are made of can have a big impact on your overall project cost, but most importantly on the thermal performance  of your home. The most common window joinery type in New Zealand is double glazed aluminium joinery with a powder-coated finish. For Eco Homes, we recommend thermally broken joinery, which means that even though there may be temperature differences between the inside and outside, there is no condensation build up on the windows. Less condensation means a drier, healthier and more comfortable home for you and your family.

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Principle 3:
Highly Insulated Building Envelope (Walls, Floors, Ceilings/Roof)
Building Insulation is probably one of the most important aspects in creating a high performance thermal home. The important thing to note, is not just what material the insulation is made of, but what insulation (R-value) it provides. The higher the number, the more effective it is in retaining heat, and hence will keep your house warmer. Remember, you don't need thermal insulation in the internal walls of your house, only external. We are happy to recommend to you which type of wall insulation, floor insulation and roof insulation is best suited to your home

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The key to building an Eco Home is that you are investing into your own future, and your family's future. Not only do Eco Homes save you running costs well into the future, but they are simply healthier, more comfortable and will no doubt improve your quality of life. Here at Quinlan Quality Homes, we pride ourselves as premium sustainable builders in Auckland. If you have any other questions like "How much does an eco home cost?", "Can I do an eco home on a budget?", please free to give us a call. We are truly passionate about our clients, and making their lives better through what we do. 

Got any questions about building an Eco Home?

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