Off Grid Eco Stay Accommodation

What is your definition of eco housing? Or sustainable housing for that matter?
And does it currently exist in New Zealand?

The biggest factor that I see missing from nearly all so called “eco homes” is the sustainable price tag!
i.e. they don’t cost the earth to build or maintain.  One of the main reasons I did not go mud brick, rammed earth or straw bale was basically costs.  Not that these methods should be more expensive, logically they should be cheaper, especially if sourcing materials on site.  However the labour costs if not doing it yourself were prohibitive when I investigated building using these methods.

So what else then?  Well, I took a standard off the shelf  “kitset home” and tweaked it.  Thus a “cheap” entry level house (or bach) which cost maybe 10-15% more for “sustainable” features. i.e. super insulated etc.  It is not rocket science to build a house that can have a radically reduced heating and cooling requirement, I am amazed though at the number of so called architects who do not even understand basic passive solar design principles.

So what to do if you are designing or building a home to make it more sustainable?

Just keeping asking questions!  If your architect, builder, supplier or consultant says something “doesn’t work”, double check with someone else!  All too often people say something “doesn’t work” when they don’t know anything about the particular issue rather than appearing stupid!

Remember there is no such thing as a stupid question – just stupid people who never ask questions!