1 February 2010, Build 116, Feature article
The Sustainable Habitat Challenge (SHAC) set out to prove that sustainable living is practical today. Organised by Otago Polytechnic, it challenged tertiary/professional teams to ‘collaborate to develop innovative housing that is simple, affordable, efficient, adaptable and desirable’.
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1 February 2010, Build 116, Feature article
A retrofit of a 1950s state house was a winner at the inaugural Sustainable Habitat Challenge awards. This renovation offers lessons for others with similar projects.
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1 February 2010
Opportunities abound. Can you sleep at night?
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By Greg Overton
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1 February 2010, Build 116, Feature article
Thermal (or infrared) cameras are becoming more and more affordable, and their use in building surveys is becoming widespread to identify problems and areas for improvement. However, understanding the results involves more than just looking at pretty pictures.
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By Lois Easton
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1 February 2010, Build 116, Feature article
Twelve months into a 22-month study, the Homesmart Renovation project has provided homeowners with a tailor-made plan for upgrading their homes’ sustainability performance and gathered feedback on what drives owners to retrofit.
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By James Firestone
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1 February 2010, Build 116, Feature article
Sprinkler systems are proven to control fires and minimise damage. Developments in technology mean that home sprinkler systems can be a viable addition to homes of all ages, as this example of a system designed for an 1891 villa demonstrates.
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By Nick Smith
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1 February 2010, Build 116, Feature article
Want the benefits of double glazing but without the high price tag? A recent research project assessed secondary glazing to see whether it is a cost-effective alternative to replacing existing single glazing in older houses.
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By David Hindley
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1 February 2010, Build 116, Feature article
Many questions about house renovation will be answered later this year with the launch of a new BRANZ website and a series of books on the topic.
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By Albrecht Stoecklein
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1 February 2010, Build 116, Feature article
Often hot water cyclinders are replaced in a rush with little thought to different options. Renovations provide the opportunity to consider the alternatives and potentially significantly cut energy consumption.
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By Christina Mackay
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1 February 2010, Build 116, Feature article
A Victoria University of Wellington research project studying 30 villas is looking at the patterns of alteration over their century of use and aims to identify successful renovation approaches.
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