The thick walls and ceiling provide extra insulation.
Like all couples, Kylie and I have wildly different tolerances to temperature. I'm always overheating, happy in short sleeves even on the coldest of winter mornings, yet Kylie sometimes wears woolly jumpers in summer.
So we often wrangle over air-conditioning controls in the car or debate how many blankets should be on the bed. Inevitably, one of us will be freezing or sweating up a storm.
So when it came to building our home, the last thing we wanted was to create a climate where one of us would be uncomfortable. One of the pros of building with Formance SIPs was the temperate climate the wall and ceiling panel system creates.
It goes a long way to providing us with the holy grail of a balanced indoor environment.
We visited a house built from Formance SIPs on the outskirts of Christchurch last year. It was a typically brisk winter's day but inside it was remarkably pleasant. The owner told us it took very little heating to maintain the temperature.
Back here over summer we experienced how well the panels work in hot environments. Our completed bedroom pod stays at a moderate temperature all day, regardless of the outside air temperature.
It's easy to see why when you analyse the panels. An R-value is a measure of how easily heat transfers through a material, the higher the R-value, the greater the resistance and insulating properties. Our ceiling panels are 315mm thick with an R-value of 8.3. The walls are 165mm thick with an R-value of 4.2, a whopping two and a half times greater than the minimum requirements stipulated by the Building Code.
Combine this with the fact the panels join together with near-zero air leakage, and our premium double glazing, it's no wonder our home is so thermally efficient.
But we knew we'd need some form of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVac) to help with temperature and humidity levels. Fortunately we haven't had to look far for the best advice and products.
Kylie's dad ,John Leydon, co-owns Climate Control, one of Auckland's leading ventilation, heating and air-conditioning businesses. It has been in business for more than 30 years, designing and installing custom-made systems for commercial clients and providing tailored solutions for residential customers.
John has generously offered to help us with our HVac needs. With the house structure now fully built, he spent Easter weekend exploring some options.
After analysing our house design and construction method, John confirmed our heating and cooling needs would be minimal. But, given how airtight the building is, circulating fresh air through the house will be important in maintaining a healthy environment. With this in mind, John recommended a couple of options.
The first was a high-wall Daikin heat pump in each pod and the second was a custom-designed ducted system, tailored to our home's needs and seamlessly integrated.
We were sold when the words "custom designed" and "integrated" rolled off John's tongue and have decided to go with this stunning, bespoke solution.
The ducting will be hidden under the floor and a 6kw Daikin condensing unit and air handler will be neatly tucked away behind our retaining wall.
The visual impact inside will be just as sleek, as subtle floor vents will be strategically located around the house. Each bedroom will have a floor vent, a couple will be in our living area and a return vent will be in the walk-in wardrobe, giving the added benefit of keeping our clothes fresh and free from musty odours.
Everything will be controlled through discreet Daikin control panels in each pod and our econnecx home automation system.
With the house's climate sorted, my only temperature concerns in the house will be about keeping the beer fridge suitably cold, as I owe John many, many liquid refreshments, back-dated 15 months for letting me move in while we have been building, along with the hours of help he has given us on the section over that time.
• Find out more about Ben and Kylie's dream home at ourdreamhome.co.nz
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For more information on the Kiwibank First Home Buyer's Guide visit: kiwibank.co.nz and search for "first home".
