Who can help me?Print

​​​Architects and designers
Your design team will play a key role in achieving your objectives around comfort and health. 

​​

By analysing and understanding your site’s potential, they will be able to produce a building that responds to those specific conditions and makes the most of them. Passive design uses natural resources to help you heat, cool and ventilate your home for free and so engaging an architect or designer that has a clear understanding of the subject can save you thousands of dollars over your home’s lifecycle. Designers can suggest details and specifications that contribute towards your objectives and can integrate systems so they are used in the most efficient way while blending in with the design. 

Sustainability consultants
​Testing the performance of your house at different ​moments of the design process can promote its optimisation and provide reference points to determine if your objectives and targets are being met. Sustainability consultants can facilitate the creation of an energy model and can offer advice on the selection and implementation of rating schemes. They can also help you choose healthier materials, develop construction details for improved performance, and integrate systems so they work better together. 

Eco Design advisors
​The Eco Design Advisor​ service is an initiative of BRANZ. Advisors work within several councils across the country and provide free, independent advice on how to improve the use of natural resources in our homes. Through experience acquired from thousands of visits, Eco-Design Advisors have a clear understanding of the most common issues your home faces in terms of comfort and health and can provide guidance on how to improve its performance. They can also work on projects during the design stages and advise on strategies to improve aspects such as insulation, moisture control and materials. ​

Builders
​The quality of your home’s construction process is another key aspect of its performance over time. Your builder will be in charge of following plans provided by the architect/designer and installing products according to manufacturers’ specifications to achieve a final result that matches your expectations and objectives. There are certification schemes that validate a tradesperson’s ability to deliver high-performing buildings. A certified professional can be of help if you are pursuing stringent envelope performance targets. A house that is properly built is more likely to be weathertight, durable and comfortable. 

Suppliers
​Experience gained on site has given suppliers valuable practical knowledge about systems and products. Adopting an integrated process, in which suppliers are involved in the project while it is still in the design stages, can result in greater efficiencies and reduced risk of changes during construction, as they are likely to advise on the most efficient and practical ways of installing systems.

Provide Feedback Next Page   Previous Page