Sarah Clayton and Steve Williams of Methven say they love living in their passive house.
‘‘It has so many advantages, it’s just such a comfortable house,’’ Clayton said.
The couple recently opened up their home for Mid Cantabrians to view and learn about it.
Passive houses are homes that meet international energy efficiency and comfort standards. There have been more than 200 certified passive homes built in New Zealand since 2012.
The tour was run by the Canterbury Chapter of the Passive House Institute of New Zealand in conjunction with the Ashburton District Council.
For warming and cooling, Clayton and Williams’ three-bedroom home has just one small heat pump. It rarely needs to be turned on as the house is tightly sealed, well insulated, has triple-glazed windows and a good ventilation system.
It has solar panels and since the couple moved in at the end of winter last year, all their power bills have been in credit as they generate more power than they use.
Materials throughout have been chosen for their environmental friendliness. For example, the kitchen joinery is plywood, while the kitchen bench is made from walnut offcuts.
Clayton and Williams lived in Clayton’s home city of Canberra prior to moving to Methven three years ago. They chose to move back to Williams’ home country of New Zealand, and Methven was perfectly situated to be near family.
‘‘With our research, Methven just ticked all the boxes and it’s such a welcoming town for outsiders,’’ Clayton said.
At the house tour, the couple, alongside the builder and product suppliers, discussed their experiences of building and living in the property.
