Project creates smarter homes during rebuild
When Chantal and Gregor Healy walked back into their family home after their earthquake repairs they couldn’t believe the transformation. Not only had they included extensions in their cramped home but they also took part in Beacon Pathway’s Build Back Smarter trial to create a warmer, drier home.
Chantal describes the family home pre-earthquake as an ice box, only made worse by damage to the interior and liquefaction outside.
“I don’t like the cold, I’m a warm person and our heat pumps and old wood burner weren’t enough to heat our home. We used to be bundled up in so many clothes.“
Built in the 1930’s, their three-bedroom home had no insulation. Through Build Back Smarter, they received wall, ceiling and under floor insulation, including a vapour barrier, a heat transfer system, moved the hallway heat pump into their front bedroom, an extractor fan in the bathroom along with a 1000 litre rainwater tank.
“We are very grateful to be part of the Build Back Smarter trial. We have kept the bones of our old house with the wood paneling but it is modernised and more energy efficient,“ says Gregor.
In addition to the Build Back Smarter upgrades, Chantal and Gregor also installed double glazed windows in the conservatory, bought a new hot water cylinder with wetback, a new low emission freestanding wood burner, removed the chimney, used thermal curtains and installed both an externally vented range hood and a dual flush toilet.
During the earthquake repairs they also extended their front bedroom and opened up their kitchen and conservatory area.
With a drier home, the Healys have noticed that old colder days they now set their heat pump at a much lower temperature, the house heats more quickly and stays warm for longer, saving in electricity costs.
The new water tank is used to water the gardens using run-off from the roof and also is the added bonus of being a water supply “if we ever don’t have water again”.
It was their Hawkins project manager that suggested they take part in Build Back Smarter after the February earthquakes not only resulted in a significantly damaged house but also both Gregor and Chantal lost their jobs.
“It was a terrible time and he obviously felt sorry for us.“ To make the Build Back Smarter upgrades as seamless as possible Beacon Pathway’s Bill King was project manager and helped the Healys to make some minor changes to improve their home’s heating.
“Bill suggested moving the heat pump. He explains things very well and knew what he was talking about and related it to our situation,“ says Gregor.
“We feel very fortunate. This is our home. We have been here for 35 years and brought up our children here. It’s now a lovely space to come home to.“