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Green Abode is proudly associated with:

Superhome Movement Logo
Passive House Institute of NZ logo
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Text that reads "About Us"

Green Abode was born out of parent building company Orkney Group Ltd, which was established in 2005 by Director Kevin Turley. Passionate about building homes that far exceed New Zealand Building Code standards, it was only a matter of time until we discovered a way to build the strongest, most energy-efficient, environmentally-friendly, and cost-effective homes possible.

 

Using Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs), the talented builders and project managers at Green Abode are delighted to be able to share the countless benefits of this green technology with Kiwi clients looking to build homes that are not only kinder to the environment but also better for their health (and easier on their wallets!) 

 

As a team, we are driven by the firm belief that everyone deserves to live in a comfortable, healthy environment that doesn't cost a fortune to build or maintain. Enthusiastic about the Passive House movement, we are building homes that are inspired by its principles. 

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What sets us apart?

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Green Abode is owned and operated locally, which means that we manage all our projects directly. There is no middle person; you work with us from conception to completion.

 

If you have any questions about SIPs or Green Abode, check out our FAQs page or get in touch via our Contact page.

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Text that reads "Build Green"

Why? Because structures built using energy-efficient, sustainable methods are kinder to the planet, easier on your wallet, and offer a plethora of lifestyle benefits.

 

Here at Green Abode, we are always looking to find new ways to make builds greener. Current methods we are enlisting in the construction and renovation of our client's homes include:

 

  • Structural Insulated Panels

 

  • Blower Door Testing

 

  • Energy Modelling

 

 

To find out more about these methods, including how you can use them to build passive energy homes or make your existing home more energy and thermally efficient, please click here. 

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For additional information about the ways you can build a more energy-efficient home, check out New Zealand’s very first 'Healthy Home Design Guide'. Launched by the Superhome Movement, this forward-thinking organisation produced the guide with the assistance of 70 industry professionals, working together on a volunteer basis to improve New Zealand’s housing quality.

 

The guide provides recommendations for healthy, resilient, low-carbon homes that are simple to achieve and don’t require an arduous and costly rating or certification system. To view the free guide, please click here.  

 

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Text that reads "(SIPs)"

STRUCTURAL INSULATED PANELS (SIPs)

 

Structures built with Structural Insulated Panels perform above and beyond traditionally built buildings in numerous ways:

 

  • SIP structures are significantly more energy-efficient than stick-built/fibreglass insulation structures.

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  • SIP buildings are stronger than stick-built structures. Exhaustive laboratory testing has found them to be superior in both sheer resistance and tensile strength. Worldwide, SIP buildings are frequently found to be the only structures left standing after natural disaster events such as earthquakes, hurricanes, and tornadoes.

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  • SIP homes and buildings are significantly quieter than traditionally built structures. Studies have shown that a quieter home or office is a healthier place to be.

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  • SIP structures have reduced air infiltration. When ventilated properly, a SIP structure has superior indoor air quality when compared with traditional building methods.

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  • SIP buildings can be erected significantly faster. No other structural framing or insulating is necessary.

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  • SIP installation produces significantly less job-site waste than traditional building materials. Of the small amount of waste that is produced, most can be recycled.

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If you have questions about SIPs or Green Abode, please check out our FAQs page or get in touch via our Contact page. 

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Text that reads "Cost Savings"

Did you know that building green can work out to be a very sound financial investment? In addition to the obvious long-term cost savings with both energy modelling and blower door testing, building a new home with SIPs has a host of cost benefits. 

 

When you factor in labour, waste hauling, and energy savings, SIP structures are comparable in price to traditionally built homes. However, energy-efficient SIP homes generally have higher market values and often qualify for energy-efficient mortgages. 

 

  • SIP structures are pre-insulated, which means there is absolutely no need to pay for additional insulation.

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  • SIP buildings are prefabricated and precut when delivered to the job site, which means you save 20-30% on framing labour. 

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  • Electrical work is completed 20-30% faster. 

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  • Job-site waste is minimal due to precut panels (resulting in around 30% less waste being sent to landfills). 

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  • A tighter house means smaller HVAC systems (generating up to a 40% energy saving).

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  • Predictable and perfectly straight engineered panels mean homes are plumb and square, which results in faster installs for finish work (doors, windows, floors, and millwork).

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  • House is weathertight and dried in quickly, which means sub-trades can get to work much sooner, and you can expect fewer delays due to wasted 'crew' days.

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  •  There is no need for roof venting (even for low-sloped roofing).

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  • Better indoor air quality and smaller or no air purification systems required in most climates.

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  • Buildings/homes are finished faster, which means you pay less interest. 

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For more information and technical detail about SIPs, please visit:

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