BUILDING CHANGES FOR A HEALTHIER NEW ZEALAND B U I L D I N G L E G I S L AT I O N C H A N G E S T O I M P R O V E I N S U L AT I O N S TA N D A R D S A R E N O W I N F O R C E . D A M I E N M C G I L L F R O M T H E H E A LT H Y H O M E C O O P E R AT I O N E X P L O R E S T H E H 1 E N E R G Y E F F I C I E N C Y C H A N G E S A N D H O W T H E Y W I L L I M PA C T Y O U R N E X T P R O J E C T.
I
n August 2020, The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) set out a vision in their Building for Climate Change programme as follows: By 2035, New Zealand’s new buildings are using as little energy and water as possible. They are warmer, drier and better ventilated, providing a healthier place for us all to work and live. The wellbeing of New Zealanders has improved; they’re leading healthier lives, and respiratory illnesses from cold and damp houses are uncommon. People also have more money in their pockets due to lower energy bills. To begin the journey towards this vision, the MBIE has increased the insulation
requirements in new homes by updating the acceptable solutions and verification methods. The majority of changes come into force on 1 May 2023. The H1 Energy Efficiency changes have expanded the number of climate zones for calculating insulation requirements from three to six. This allows the insulation calculations to better reflect the range of different temperatures experienced in each zone. The insulating elements that make up a home’s thermal envelope are floors, walls, windows and doors, roofs and skylights. Generally, the more highly insulated these elements are, the more comfortable you will be in your home. Map of New Zealand climate zones
B U I L D I N G C O D E U P D AT E S 31
