80 | No power costs in ‘Moonlight’ Compound Group is strongly focused on innovation in sustainable housing. Photo: Larkin Photography T T Russell Fredric Compound Group BUILDING “I haven’t had a power bill for two years.” For Queenstown builder and co-director of Compound Group Josh Atkins, this statement is testament to the reality he enjoys from living in his high-performance home, where a net-zero electricity account is the norm. “In summer, I build a credit with a five kilowatt solar system which stores power to a Tesla battery, and in winter the credit covers the monthly bills,” Josh says. Josh’s June 2023 electricity charges were just $69.00 including heating. “This is the beauty of building a highly energy-efficient home and combining it with solar.” Owned and operated by Josh and his brother Drew, Compound Group is strongly focused on innovation in sustainable housing. Josh is a certified passive house builder and Drew a qualified quantity surveyor, alongside a team of eight tradesmen including Todd Swanson who is also a certified passive house builder. Located in Arthurs Point and envisioned by Sian Taylor and Mark Read of Team Green Architects, Josh’s 178-square-meter, two-level dwelling dubbed ‘Moonlight’ exemplifies the seamless integration of artistic design, building science, and functionality. Facing budget constraints like many of their clients, Josh and Drew navigated several challenges to ensure the home met their wants and needs while maximising energy efficiency, even with unexpected costs incurred during the construction process. Perched on a steep site, the home’s design optimises natural light and shade throughout the seasons. Aided by utilising the Passive House Planning Package (PHPP) software, Sian and Mark calculated performance impacts, ensuring the home met or surpassed high-performance criteria. Although not fully certified as a passive home, its performance metrics including heating and cooling demand, airtightness, and renewable energy usage endorse the house’s high efficiency. Another key element in a high performance home is a mechanical ventilation system which operates quietly and continuously to extract moist, stale air from kitchens, bathrooms and utility rooms while supplying fresh air into bedrooms and living spaces. “This is the beauty of building a highly energy-efficient home and combining it with solar.” “Our Moonlight project achieved an airtightness blower door test score of 0.21 ACH (air changes per hour) at 50 pascals.” A blower door test is a key tool for measuring a building’s airtightness; the lower the number the better the performance. While the average home typically falls between three to five ACH@50Pa, a passive house sets the bar at 0.6 ACH. “Our Moonlight project has exceeded our expectations with an outstanding score of 0.21 ACH@50Pa. This exceptional level of airtightness ensures significant energy savings, enhanced comfort, and superior overall performance.” Clad in cost-effective Metalcraft Kahu profile coloured steel, the home features a thermally broken insulated floor and striking architectural elements inside and out. From generous north-facing overhangs to Western Hemlock heartwood panelling and light-toned European oak laminate stairs, every detail of the house reflects Compound Builders’ commitment to quality craftsmanship. The construction process of Josh’s house features on Compound Group’s YouTube page and has attracted more than 21,000 views. The series begins by sharing the initial consultation in the design stage, exploring the model of the house through PHPP. Filming follows all construction stages from foundations to completion, giving an insight into the intricacies of building an energy-efficient home. “With its innovative design, sustainable features and exquisite craftsmanship, we believe that Moonlight is a fantastic example of modern living that embraces environmental responsibility, and that excellence is ingrained in every aspect of our work.” Specialists in Structural Civil Construction. Our team has the experience, knowledge and resources to project manage and construct your civil project. Proudly Supporting Compound Group Ltd ryan@stratacivil.co.nz www.stratacivil.co.nz 022 350 6826 Jack’s Point, Queenstown SERVICES INCLUDING: • Profiled metal roof and wall cladding • Slate and shingle roofs • Concrete tiles Proudly supporting Compound Group 027 516 2885 josh@radicalroofing.co.nz
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