Cold comfort

Cold comfort Why are so many Kiwi homes unhealthy?

Shawn McIsaac

This is the view from building science and architectural engineering experts Oculus, live in are healthy enough, especially as the governance and the building industry comes in. Examples include the fact that contrary to popular opinion, heating and ventilation are Co-director of Oculus either isn’t being followed or is incorrect. Oculus believes both of those are true.” Oculus co-director and structural engineering expert, James Powers, says it comes down to Kiwis just not being well enough informed about healthy homes, with messaging from key industry leaders about ‘warm, healthy, drier housing’ focusing on the intentions of the building’s design, but not on educating the occupants about how that home is supposed to be operated. “We find there is this market assumption that ‘code minimum’ homes operate themselves and don’t require user intervention, be nothing could be further from the truth. Our current building stock requires enormous amounts of user input to function correctly,” James says. The Oculus Healthy Home Guide is available in the resource section of their website at www. oculusltd.co.nz/resources , and distributed via LinkedIn and social media. The team also welcomes direct enquiries if people require additional advice.

James Powers

Despite millions in spending and research, there is still a large amount of substandard housing in New Zealand, with respiratory illnesses increasing every year and very clear links between healthy housing and respiratory health.

who’ve released a Healthy Home Guide to help Kiwis make simple changes to their homes, and ask questions about whether the spaces they country recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of their philosophy of questioning about these issues, while educating people about how buildings should be operated by their occupants in ways that are healthy, comfortable and affordable, Oculus saw a gap in the delivery of adequate information — which is where the new Healthy Home Guide The guide outlines the science behind how buildings work: explaining heating, ventilation and moisture in simple terms, dispelling myths and providing suggestions for healthier ways to live in a home. healthier and more effective at removing moisture than dehumidifiers or opening windows, and that studies have shown leaving heat pumps on to regulate temperature can be up to 13 percent more efficient than turning them on and off. However, while the suggestions in the Healthy Home Guide will help, Oculus co-director and architectural engineer, Shawn McIsaac, says the problems with Kiwi housing run deep, and now more than ever is the time to address this. The substandard housing “ in New Zealand has been a topic of conversation for a number of years now and despite spending tens of millions of dollars in research through the

Building Levy, there has been very little in the way of improvement.

- Oculus co-director Shawn McIsaac

“The substandard housing in New Zealand has been a topic of conversation for a number of years now and despite spending tens of millions of dollars in research through the Building Levy, there has been very little in the way of improvement,” he says. “In fact, respiratory illness statistics continue to rise every single year. There is a wellresearched link between healthy housing and respiratory illness so this suggests the information in the public about healthy housing Co-director of Oculus We find there is this market “ assumption that ‘code minimum’ homes operate themselves and don’t require user intervention, but nothing could be further from the truth. Our current building stock requires enormous amounts of user input to function correctly. - Oculus co-director James Powers ”