Home Style Green - Sustainable Design and Building

What other form of heating provides a coefficient of performance, around 5 - 7? That’s the promise, and the reality of ground source heat pump technology.

This week I spoke to Senior Hydrogeologist at Geoscience Consulting NZ, Huw Williams about this amazing technology. We discuss if it’s suitable for houses in New Zealand and why Huw is so interested in ground source heat pumps as a sustainable technology. 

Links:

Direct download: 63_Ground_Source_Heat_Pumps_with_Huw_Williams.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:12pm NZDT

The key characteristics that Jo and Shay were after when they designed and built the Zero Energy House were:

  1. Comfort and Health
  2. Affordability - of building AND operating
  3. Inspiration 

We also discuss some of the specific features that have made it possible to bring these characteristics to life. 

For more, check out http://zeroenergyhouse.co.nz/

Direct download: 62_Zero_Energy_House.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:01pm NZDT

Ben Adam-Smith discusses EcoBuild 2014, what makes an energy efficient house, constraints versus compromise, new versus retrofit, why houses don't use energy, and population growth. 

Also, find out why Ben hasn't had a bath for a year!

Links:

  • http://www.houseplanninghelp.com/
  • https://www.thesnippetapp.com/web/writers/benadam-smith
  • http://www.ecobuild.co.uk/
Direct download: 61_EcoBuild__Update_from_Ben_Adam-Smith.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:37pm NZDT

Louisa Chase is the Project Manager for EcoFest 2014. The festival runs from March 15th through to April 13th and has everything from films, to gardening and composting seminars, eco-house tours and even a sustainable fashion show. 

We discuss why Kaipatiki exists, the difference one person can make, and ‘Nana Technologies’. 

For more, be sure to check out http://kaipatiki.org.nz/ecofest/ and http://www.ecomatters.org.nz/what-s-on/ecowest-festival-2014/

Thanks to DOC for the dawn chorus on this week’s show. To listen to this, and other native New Zealand birds, go to:

 

http://www.doc.govt.nz/conservation/native-animals/birds/new-zealand-bird-songs-and-calls/

Also mentioned this week:

  • Zero Energy House (coming up): http://zeroenergyhouse.co.nz/
  • Ecobuild: http://www.ecobuild.co.uk/ 
Direct download: 60_Ecofest_with_Louisa_Chase.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:34pm NZDT

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