Each winter, many New Zealanders choose between racking up a costly energy bill or the displeasure of a cold home. Fortunately, keeping your home warm does not need to break the bank, as the most significant step you can take to improve your home's year-round comfort is to insulate it. Ensuring your home is well insulated, you can stay cosy and warm without constantly relying on your heating system.
Adequately insulating your home will bring plenty of benefits, including:
- Increased Comfort
- Lower Energy Bills & Energy Consumption
- Prevents Mould and Damage
- Healthier Home
- Added Value to Home
A recent proposal to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) found that the existing insulation requirements for houses in New Zealand are too low and have not kept up with other parts of the world with similar climates.
In fact, the current requirements for the minimum thermal insulation for new housing in New Zealand were set all the way back in 2008. The industry's reluctance to improve a home's comfort has long been associated with a misconception that there are inefficient building systems available in the market or industry paranoia regarding building affordability.
A set of construction details developed by the Passive House Institute New Zealand (PHINZ) & BRANZ suggested that to achieve a high performance wall system, the framing size would need to increase to 140mm to allow for thicker glass wool insulation. This proposed solution was met with resistance by the industry as it meant changes in building techniques and a significant increase in construction costs. For example, most residential builders have traditionally utilised a 90mm frame for their wall system.
Kingspan's solution is their Kooltherm® rigid board insulation, a range of ultra-thin, high-performance, closed-cell phenolic insulation with a fibre-free core designed to suit any roof, wall or floor construction. It is designed to be installed continuously, which means it not only reduces thermal bridging but also effectively manages internal moisture transfer. The Kingspan Kooltherm rigid board insulation can also be utilised in the retrofit wall and ceiling applications with no demolition.
