Building a warm and comfortable home means more than just having
good heating. The key is to keep the heat in and the damp out. Increased demand for
greater energy efficiency means designers are looking beyond the minimum requirements for
insulation and specifying quality materials to cater to a more energy-conscious
market.
AbsoluteEnergy has a range of insulation solutions for new homes. We can advise you on which
products and installation methods to choose for your home, based on its specific location and
design.
Cost versus benefits
Building a house is usually the biggest financial investment you will make. In order to protect
this asset from losing its value, it is important to ensure it is properly maintained. A well
insulated and ventilated home with quality heating is important to combat damp. Not
only does damp cause moisture damage and mildew, your heating system must work harder to warm your
home.
Installing quality insulation can add between $3,000 and $5,000
to the average build cost* of a house. These costs, however, are easily recouped through ongoing
energy savings. With an estimated one-third of your household energy bill going on
heating, the reduced heat loss from proper insulation will result in lower energy
costs. Not only that, but with a lower household energy consumption you
are helping to reduce the energy demand on our environment.
*For details on average build costs and other facts about the benefits of
insulating your home visit www.smarterhomes.org.nz
Legislative changes for insulating new homes
An
R-value
refers to the thermal resistance of materials to heat loss. From November 2007 new houses in the
South Island and the North Island’s Central Plateau will need more insulation to meet the
Government’s increased minimum R-values. This also applies to extensions to
existing
homes.
At AbsoluteEnergy, we only recommend products which exceed the new
R-rating set by the Government for insulating new homes, giving you the best possible
options when selecting the insulation system that is right for you.
Contact us
for more information on how to achieve AbsoluteEnergy Efficiency for your new home.