Design of a healthy home

Here are some steps you can take to create a warmer, drier, healthier and more comfortable home and reduce or eliminate the problems of moisture, mould, mildew, dust mites, poor air quality and inadequate heating.

Passive Design Passive design is about making the most of local conditions to make your home more comfortable and reduce heating bills. In many instances you can achieve good ventilation and temperature control without the need for heaters and fans. “Passive” design elements work all the time without needing to be turned “on” consuming energy and money.

1. House Orientation
2. Window Location and Glazing Type
3. Windows with built in vents 
4. Higher levels of insulation
5. Heating and Cooling
6. Ventilation

House Orientation

Consider how the house is orientated to make the most of the sun in the winter and the cool breezes in the summer. A home that is well positioned on its site delivers significant lifestyle and environmental benefits. Discuss carefully the orientation of your home and orientation of various rooms with your designer. • Rooms to the North – warmest, best for living areas • Rooms to the South – coolest, best for bedrooms • Rooms to the West – gets afternoon sun • Rooms to the East – gets morning sun, best for breakfast rooms and kitchens • Locate laundries, bathrooms and garages to south, west and east. • Avoid west facing bedrooms where possible that can overheat in the evening.

Higher levels of insulation

 Every time you turn on a heating or cooling appliance in a poorly insulated home, your money disappears into thin air. Always use higher levels of insulation in walls, ceilings and floors than what the building code requires. This can make a big difference to your living environment and can reduce your energy bills for heating and cooling needs by up to half. Complementing passive design with mechanical devices

Heating and Cooling

 Keeping a home between 18-24°C throughout the year will help reduce condensation, mould and mildew, making it more comfortable and healthy for the occupants. Good passive design including higher levels of insulation reduces the amount of mechanical heating required. However, in most places in New Zealand, there will be times when you’ll need to turn on heating or cooling. Some choices to consider include: • In slab floor heating – popular under concrete slabs and tile areas. • Air-conditioning – centrally or wall mounted units – can heat and cool. You need to decide early in the design stages whether airconditioning is to be used to allow for this in your design. • Ceiling mounted fans – can cool in the summer, and in the winter if turned on in reverse can circulate the warm air at ceiling level down to ground level. • Electric Heaters – portable and fixed. • Gas heaters – portable and fixed – ensure these are vented to the outside. • Wood and other solid fuels burners eg Fireplaces – ensure these are vented to the outside.

Ventilation

Ventilation is the best way to remove airborne moisture and help minimise the problems it can cause. To keep the air in your home fresh and reduce the level of moisture, your home should be ventilated in a way that ensures all the air is renewed at least once every two hours. This is just as important when you’re out of the house as when you’re in. Appropriate window joinery with built-in vents may be sufficient. Additionally, other mechanical ventilation systems and air conditioning are available on the market and can be installed, where required, to ensure adequate ventilation levels. Discuss your requirements with your designer or builder.