Since we purchased our home in 2004, the following improvements have been completed to the house
- Bathroom renovated in 2004
- House repainted 2005
- Kitchen renovated in 2006
- Dishwasher plumbing installed in 2007 (no dishwasher currently)
- Weiss ventilation system installed 2007
- Weiss heat exchange system installed 2007
- Extractor fans installed to Kitchen and Bathroom 2007
- Ceiling insulation installed in sun room in 2007
- Fan heater installed in bathroom 2008
- Roof repainted 2009
Environmental
The ceiling and walls are well insulated to keep the house warm in winter and cool in summer. Bedrooms, hallways and living room are carpeted with insulating underlay.
The deep eaves on the north side of the house keep the deck dry with plenty of shade in summer, but allow heaps of sunlight to flood the living room floor on a winters day.
The ventilation system blows dry warm fresh air from the ceiling cavity into the house in 2 locations to create a continuous positive air pressure. This drives condensation and stale air out of the house. The ventilation system only costs as much to run as a common light bulb and adjusts itself automatically depending on the temperature.
The heat exchange system takes warm air from the living room and moves it to the bedrooms. This creates a current that spreads the warm air throughout the house. A temperature guage ensures that the living room reaches a minimum temperature before it starts up, and in the night when the heat runs out of the fireplace, it will turn off again to avoid moving any cold air.
The kent log fire is deep and roomy and generates plenty of heat. 2 controls ensure the heat is delivered in a controlled manor and gets the most out of every log. The kent fire is also a wet back to heat the houses hot water supply. This cuts the cost of heating the house.
The hot water cylander is located immediately above the shower, for an instant hot shower, and mimising any heat wastage through the pipes. Hot water piping to other parts of the house is insulated, as is the cylander itself. The hot water is also aided by the wetback on the fire place.
The extractors fans in the bathroom and kitchen ensure steam is extracted from the house quickly, to ensure the house remains warm and dry.
Cold water in the kitchen is automatically filtered through a mains filter system. This makes safe and great tasting drinking water all the time, with a good water flow to fill your glass quickly. The unit takes a standard filter, and should be replaced once a year. Filters are not neccessary in Tairua, but like anywhere, they do improve the taste of the water.
The true test of an energy efficient house is the cost of the power bill. Our power bill has averaged betweem $60-$100, despite a big TV and computers running all day.
Gardens
750 sq meters of sloping landscaped gardens
A number of native trees have been planted on the property including kauri, kowhai and pohutakawa in addition to giant flax and tree ferns
You can hear tuis all day long in the trees and drinking from the flax bushes.
The deck overlooks a jackaranda tree that flowers beautiful blue flowers in summer.
There are a number of tropical plants around the property.
Fruit trees include passionfruit, feijoa and lemon trees. Also a small shrub of unique "orange berries". The banana trees have not yet fruited.
Lawns are gental sloping with steeper parts retained with paths connecting grassy areas.
Connectivity
Vodafone and Telecom mobiles work well. Vodafone 3G is available in some parts of the house.
ADSL broadband connections are good as we are close to the exchange.
Water and Wastewaster and Electricity is connected to the mains.
Water is not metered and is included in rates.
