Plans are evolving … now have them on CAD.
And for those a little more technically inclined….
C01 CONCEPT PLAN
No self respecting wanna-be eco house would be complete without using solar power. We’re hoping to have our underfloor heating and hot water at least partially powered by the sun.
The guys at Digital Self Heating Homes seem to know their stuff.
Check out the ‘Solar Energy Map’ for our place:
Very impressed with Matthew who listened and responded and has come up with an awesome design for us. 
Ahuroa concept view from North West
Ahuroa concept floor plan
Ahuroa concept view from East
Any feedback? We’re working out what changes to be made. Key one is off-setting a bit to fit the building space better. True north is best for passive design but there’s a 15 degree ‘leeway’.
Our new driveway is completed and the lovely people at Traverse (who we bought the property from) did a great job. Pics are on the photo page.
Good learnings early in the piece for us:
– assume nothing (e.g. don’t think your husband’s cost estimate will be anything more than guesswork!)
– assume nothing re timeframes (I suspect all things in building & construction take longer than expected)
– embrace change, our lovely unspoiled piece of paradise quickly turned into a mudbath as excavation started… all part of the process of course.
She may be a princess, but a bit of dirt don't phase our Jay
A great document on passive design is this one
Designing Comfortable Homes
Current favourites re building materials are litecrete (concrete and pumice hybrid) or good old rammed earth.
Lots of things to find out about and understand – including whether our initial design is feasible (north-facing thermal mass wall versus north-facing window).
Top of design is North.
all comments (constructive of course) welcome.
Great piece in the Dominion Post. Global corporates may actually be changing the world.
NZ & other Govt probably need to catch a wake-up
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/opinion/4870753/Tree-huggers-unite-you-can-also-profit
I believe in the power of the individual – perhaps not to change the whole world, but definitely to change our own worlds.
This is the story of our little adventure into building a home in the country – and a chance for me to channel some of the noise in my head and indulge in writing for the sheer pleasure of it.
welcome!
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Musings on being a pragmatic activist 