With the purpose of Maximising Energy Conservation Through Design, EcoRate Ltd provides a range of professional services relating to the Passive Solar design of standalone dwellings, medium-density housing, apartments, etc., using AccuRateNZ thermal simulation computer modelling.  These include:

  • The provision of assessments, (during the design and construction documentation stages), of proposed dwellings to check for compliance with the NZ Building Code – clause H1 (Energy Efficiency) by the Modelling and Verification Methods using AccuRateNZ thermal simulation software.
  • The exploration of alternative materials, construction methods, fenestration arrangements, and even planning and orientation options.
  • An objective analysis of the dwelling to establish the Network Energy deficit, (electricity, gas, oil-based fuels, etc), required to bring it up to internationally recognized comfort levels. This is for both heating and cooling,
  • The extraction of the calculated hourly temperatures, (over a year), for each room, the roof & subfloor spaces, and the garage as used by the software to establish the network energy deficit. This spreadsheet can be used as a Brief for the design of the Occupier’s preferred heating/cooling systems and appliances.

These services are provided as secondary consultancies to Architects and Designers, or by direct engagement with Developers, Builders and home Owners.

The AccuRateNZ thermal simulation computer software used was adapted by EECA, (Energy Efficiency & Conservation Authority), from Australia’s AccuRate software (after substituting NZ climate data and living styles) for Government's former HERS (Home Energy Rating Scheme) programme of the late 2000s.  This sophisticated design tool is used to analyse the energy requirements for each space, (including the roof, sub-floor and garage), in a dwelling for each hour of the day for each day of the year.

If a building just achieves minimum NZBC-H1 compliance now, then in the future it will not comply as the NZ Building Code and NZ Standards are revised over time. The original NZBC-H1 began in 1992, the second edition in 2000, and then the third edition in 2007. When will the next up-grade be?   NZBC-H1 is a minimum based on NZS 4218 rather than being 'best practice'.  In the future these mandatory minimums will be raised and it will be difficult and expensive to effectively up-grade, as is being realised with the current housing stock.  AccuRateNZ given a comprehensive objective measure of passive thermal performance which can be used to inform, in detail, various options for the effective and financially efficient improvement of thermal performance beyond that required for Code Compliance.

Keith is an accredited Homestar® Assessor, (Reg#6868), and also an accredited Homestar® Practitioner.  Homestar® is an initiative of the New Zealand Green Building Council, and others, with the objective to “… improve the performance and reduce the environmental impact of new and existing New Zealand dwellings, making them warm, healthy, comfortable places to live.”

Some Territorial Authorities offer a remission of Rates to Developers if a minimum number of housing units are constructed to achieve particular Homestar® Ratings.

There are many urban myths surrounding passive solar design and sustainable architecture, especially with regard to insulation, glazing and thermal mass; to name just a few of the primary influences. There is no simple formula, (due to the multi-variable inter-related fctors), to define the ideal relationship between the three; instead each design, (in its location), needs to be specifically analysed. This is where Keith can, using AccuRateNZ and his architectural experience, provide an objective measure of your proposed design, and suggest improvements that are practical, buildable and liveable.

Check out my latest article on EBOSS     https://www.eboss.co.nz/detailed/keith-huntington

CONTACT DETAILS: Please feel free to contact Keith for his C.V. and summary of experience                          tel:  04 499-3015     mble:  021 890 251     e-mail: keith@settlement.co.nz

Keith Huntington - B.Arch, Dip.Urb.Val, Dip Bus.Stud(Disp.Res), FNZIA, FAMINZ(Med), LEADR Registered Architect (RAB# 1372) and NZGBC Homestar™ Practitioner & Assessor (reg# 6868)