For decades, lumber was reliably available at predictable prices. But within the last couple of months, this status has changed dramatically. Lumber has become scarce and increasingly expensive, not only here in New Zealand but worldwide.

The main factor for the material shortage is the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. Reduced production caused by lockdowns worldwide, a sudden hike in local and international demands and other global developments contribute to the shortage. There are significant delays in international shipping as well as congestions at the ports overseas.

An abrupt rise in demand also triggered the price explosion. Many countries are currently experiencing a construction boom, and people are using their free time to renovate their home.

Despite all these challenges, we are well-positioned and in constant and close contact with our main suppliers overseas.

However, to ensure the best outcome, we recommend contacting us as early as possible in your building process. This will allow us to reliably determine the product availability and price structures for your product and project.

Please don't hesitate to get in touch with us today. We look forward to hearing from you!

It is time to say goodbye to your regular cat flap. Our smart and innovative pet doors from petWalk are the perfect building solution for you and your four-legged friend.

Passive House building is becoming increasingly popular in New Zealand. And rightfully so. It offers the highest comfort level and a healthy living environment, all while creating the lowest possible energy usage. A certified Passive House has exceptionally high building standards. It requires maximum insulation and airtightness to create a warm and cosy internal environment. Read more about how a Passive House works.

Our pet doors comply with these strict and rigorous Passive House building standards and offer thermal insulation on the highest level.

In contrast to a regular cat flap, these fully integrated and automated doors are smart, airtight, insulated, and burglar-proof. They are available in various designs and are suitable for walls, doors, and even glazing. It is possible to program the door to only open for your pets with their pet ID. 

The Benefits

Connected - You have complete control over your door from any location using a remote, mobile phone, web browser or smart home devices.

Integrated – You can easily control and configure your door from anywhere and enable integration with other cloud-based services and devices.

Airtight & Highly Insulated – PetWalk doors are the ultimate solution for buildings with regulated ventilation systems, such as Passive Houses.

Burglar Proof – Equipped with anti-burglar features, an alarm system, and the option to programme the door to open only for your pets.

Automatic & RFID Technology – RFID collar tags allow easy and secure opening.

Elegant Design – Choose from various stylish designs made with high-quality materials.

Modular – The door is highly customisable.

Do you want to find out more about our products?

Contact us today or visit our showroom in Hamilton. We look forward to hearing from you!

Today, the functionality and design options for new windows are becoming more diverse, and aspects such as energy efficiency and smart home features play increasingly important roles.

The search for the right window can raise many questions: What makes a window energy-efficient? What properties and features should the new window have? And where can you find the right window?

First things first - Getting the process right!

If you have decided to buy new windows, there are a few factors to pay special attention to. But before thinking about apparent aspects such as the suitable material and visual appearance, you first must determine the basic requirements.

How many windows will you need, and what functions should they have? To answer these questions, you should think about basic categories such as generating views, catching the light and offering ventilation. In the next step, you can also define the windows opening directions, decide if there should be single or multiple openings, or even none at all and if you wish to create indoor-outdoor-flows.

It is also beneficial to have some measurements available. Even if they are only rough to begin with, they will allow us as a supplier to provide you with a quick estimation and give you a first idea of the expected costs for your building project.

Choosing the right material

The next step is to determine and select the suitable material for your windows.

But which one is the right choice for your house? There is not an easy answer to that question. The decision depends primarily on the location of your house, environmental constraints, the budget, and of course your personal taste.

However, it is certain that the frame material must be:

• Resistant to withstand weather over the long term.
• Stable so that it can support even large glazing.
• Light so that windows and doors are easy to open and close.
• Flexible to allow easy installation.
• And meet the highest performance standards in energy-efficient building, preferably following the German market's high standards and strict requirements.

The following frame materials have proven themselves as a perfect and durable choice for windows in residential buildings. As you will see, each of them has its specific strengths and benefits.

Wood

Wood is the classic window material, and it has been rightfully used as such for centuries.

Wood is easy to process, offers high stability and has good natural insulation. It also has a comparatively low weight and convinces with a beautiful, warm, and natural look.

Timber windows made of pristine and robust spruce, larch, and oak timbers with multilayer laminated profiles, are providing the best quality and outstanding durability for your home.

However, to ensure a long-lasting perfect fit, it is important to maintain your timber windows by thoroughly cleaning and repainting them on a regular basis.

WoodAlu

This type of window frame is enjoying increasing popularity in New Zealand.

Material combinations, such as wood and aluminium, offer the advantages of both materials.

An aluminium shell on the outside enables excellent resistance to the elements and effects of the weather. Aluminium is stable, light, and requires low maintenance. (Read more about aluminium further below).

The wooden frame windows on the inside are robust, have excellent thermal insulation properties and create a warm, cosy, and homely atmosphere.

PVC

The reason for the continued popularity of PVC windows is their outstanding energy efficiency, affordability, and durability. PVC windows offer exceptional thermal insulation and a long lifespan, paired with low maintenance requirements. Up until today, PVC windows are the most common window types used in Germany, where very stringent regulations for housing and construction apply.

These window frames demonstrate excellent weather resistance and durability, making them a perfect choice for the rough and varying climate here in New Zealand.

Modern uPVC windows are treated with an advanced composite material, which protects the frame from the sun's high radiation levels and prevents unwanted discolouration and degrading. ECOWINDOWS arcylcolor frames from GEALAN offer semi-matt coloured outer profile surfaces that withstand the effects of the weather with ease. Acrylcolor is a surface of acrylic glass that is inseparable from the basic body, giving PVC windows a long-lasting finish and extra protection.

ECOWINDOWS PVC windows are manufactured with a high proportion of recycled material and are also fully recyclable at the end of their life span. Old PVC is processed and converted to pellets, which allow it to be reused without loss of quality or material structure.

Aluminium

Aluminium windows offer high functionality at an affordable price.

One unbeatable advantage of aluminium is that the material is the third most abundant element found on earth and the most abundant metal worldwide. However, the complex production process of these window frames involves a reasonable amount of energy and recourses. Despite this, the installation of aluminium windows is accompanied by many long-term benefits. In the long run, the carbon footprint of an aluminium window is balanced by its extraordinary performance and energy efficiency.

Aluminium is very stable while having a low weight. It is also extremely weatherproof and resistant to rust. The material is excellent for recycling and can be designed in almost any colour with various paint finishes.

The Design

Now it is time to think about the visual aspects of your new windows and decide if they should reflect any specific aesthetic features.

Today, a window does not only have to be functional, but it is also a design object that defines the appearance of your house. The shape and colour of the windows are visible every day and quickly catch visitors and residents' eyes.

Handles can also change the look and feel of your home dramatically. Do you wish to use elegant and opulent handles, or do you prefer something sleeker, or a little bit discreet?

Whether you are building a designer house, a future-oriented Passive House, or a modern residential building – we offer suitable windows for every architectural style. Round, square, oval, contemporary, or historic with glazing bars - you can choose from a myriad of options.

Insulation and energy efficiency

With energy prices continuously rising, energy-efficient windows are also becoming an increasingly important element in the house. Typically, windows are the weakest part of a house because they can generate high heat loss rates. Therefore, it is crucial for a well-functioning, energy-efficient building that the windows are equipped with high insulation features.

The most crucial criterion to measure the energy efficiency of windows is the heat transfer coefficient, the so-called U-value. The U-value measures the heat permeability of building elements and indicates the heat flow through the window.

Even though internationally the U-value is used as the standard unit, in New Zealand, the R-value is still widely used because it is the reference measure used in the building code and all related standards. In contrast to the desired high R-value, a lower U-value indicates better performance and insulation. The R-value is the reciprocal of the U value and vice versa (R = 1/U and U = 1/R).

High-performance double- or triple-glazed windows are standardly equipped with so-called Low-E-Glass to minimise energy losses through windows and facades. Low-Emissivity-Glass is an insulating glass that has a thin metal layer applied as a thermal coating. This procedure reduces the emissivity of the glazing, improves its insulating power, and contributes positively to the overall thermal resistance of the window.

Smart Home features

Smart home features can make your home more comfortable, safer and enhance your house's overall efficiency.

Especially in sun shading systems, the demand for intelligent and automated smart home solutions are steadily increasing. Roller shutters, awnings, or external venetian blinds can be integrated into secure, high-performance systems. These systems are easily installed and enable convenient and effortless operation via transmitters, smartphones, or voice control. Automatic functions, such as raising shutters at sunrise, or retracting the awning at high winds, are also available.

ECOWINDOWS also offers several smart home features for entry doors, such as fingerprint scanners, keyless automation, and many other applications. These features can make your home more comfortable, safer and enhance the overall efficiency of your house.

Additional features

When you have made up your mind about all the basics listed above, there are some additional features to consider:

External Shading. It is highly advisable to think about shading solutions early on to include them in the design process. A reliable shading system made of blinds or other fixed shading structures, such as roof overhangs, will protect your home against overheating on hot summer days.

Noise protection. When it comes to sound insulation, the better and higher the glazing, the quieter it is inside the house. Soundproof windows can reduce the volume more than twice as much as conventional windows.

Security. Finally, you can think about burglary security and other features such as security protection glass for your new windows. A security upgrade of your hardware system will provide maximum protection for your home. Amongst others, we are offering systems from renowned and market-leading German brands such as SIEGENIA or MACO.

Get a first-hand experience!

There are countless valuable and informative sources available online that will educate you on your options when purchasing new windows for your home. But still, no online tool will ever beat your personal experience.  

Our showroom in Hamilton exhibits a comprehensive collection of our broad product range of European windows, doors, shading solutions, and ventilation systems. We offer you the opportunity to discuss your building project's requirements with our friendly staff and, most importantly, to see, feel, and experience our sustainable building solutions for yourself.

If you would like to discuss your building project in detail, please do not hesitate to contact us today. We look forward to hearing from you!

Passive House design is the ultimate solution for energy-efficient building as it requires none to very little active heating. But how does a Passive House work, and what components are needed to build it?

What is a Passive House?

The Passive House concept originates in Germany and is the leading approach for high-quality, healthy and sustainable building. The energy-saving capabilities of a Passive House exceed common building standards by far - not only here in New Zealand but worldwide.

To be called a Passive House, a residential or commercial building must generate most of its heat passively, without active heating. Instead, it uses natural energy sources, predominantly the sun and the heat that human occupants and household appliances create.

The goal is to create an ultra-low energy building that provides a high comfort level and healthy living environment while using very little heating and cooling energy.

A certified Passive House has exceptionally high building standards. The house uses a combination of high-quality building components and techniques, such as high insulation, an airtight building envelope, ventilation with heat recovery, thermal bridge-free construction and high-performance windows to create a controlled internal environment.

This construction method helps generate stable internal temperatures of cosy 19-22°C all year round, day and night, while the outside temperature varies and can drop well below 5°C in winter.

The key - Excellent insulation

Maximum thermal insulation is the key factor for an efficient Passive House. Therefore, Passive Houses are packed in very thickly.

The insulation protects the house against the weather's effects and reduces the risk of overheating on hot summer days, while the inside stays dry and warm all year round. Simultaneously, the rooms are protected against moisture damage from condensation or mould due to constant and controlled air movement.

The importance of high-quality glazing

Typically, windows are the weakest part of a house because they can generate high heat loss rates. It is crucial for a well-functioning, energy-efficient building that the windows and doors are equipped with equally high insulation as the exterior walls.

This is why Passive Houses are built with high-performance double- or triple-glazed windows and energy-efficient doors that help to keep the precious heat inside and moisture outside by avoiding any air gaps.

ECOWINDOWS high-quality, double-glazed windows have two thermally insulated window panes with Low-E (low-emissivity) glass and a hermetically sealed space between them. This space reduces the heat loss significantly because it is filled with Argon, rather than air, a noble gas with low heat-conducting properties. Our triple-glazed windows are made of three glass layers, each covered with a Low-E coating and an Argon filling in between them, reducing heat loss even further.

Using the power of the sun

Overall, the construction has to be thoroughly planned to allow optimal usage of solar power. The trick is to allow plenty of sunshine to enter the house when desired (winter) and easily keep it out when needed (summer).

Therefore, installing as many north-facing windows as possible to catch a maximum of sun rays in the colder months is recommended. Further, the building requires a reliable shading system made of blinds or other fixed shading structures, such as roof overhangs, or similar, to protect against overheating on hot summer days.

Eliminating thermal bridges

A Passive House must be free of thermal bridges, also widely known as cold bridges. These bridges are locally limited areas in the thermal envelope where heat exchange occurs. They exist because heat is always looking for an escape and takes the path of least resistance. In addition to heat loss, thermal bridges can also generate condensation and mould.

Thermal bridges often occur where components meet and materials form a solid connection from exterior to interior surfaces. This is why it is essential to carefully plan all corners, edges and junctions before building the house.

Airtightness - Creating controlled conditions

It is crucial to regulate and control the airflow in the house. To do so, the building envelope of a Passive House must be airtight. Being airtight does not mean that the building must be completely sealed and locked without any fresh air: airtightness only works in combination with a controlled ventilation system (read more about ventilation below).

You can create airtightness by applying one continuous and impermeable envelope that seals the whole building. It is crucial to meticulously plan the airtightness of the construction first because only what is thoroughly planned by the designer can later be made airtight by the builder.

The so-called blower door test can measure and prove the airtightness of the building envelope. The test device consists of a covered metal frame, a fan and a pressure gauge. The device is then clamped onto a window or door to test whether more air is escaping through the joints than is permitted. A Passive House must achieve no more than 0.6 ACH (air changes per hour).

Ventilation

Passive Houses do not rely solely on traditional heating systems such as oil, gas or wood. A sophisticated Heat Recovery Ventilation system regulates and controls the house's airflow, provides constant fresh air and retains heat. This method helps to create a healthy internal environment. The air exchange works very slowly and quietly and is therefore not noticeable, yet very effective.

Even though the Passive House system does not require additional ventilation next to the HRV, it is still possible to manually open windows and doors to ventilate the rooms. However, this will allow the external environment to enter the house. As a result, the internal temperature could change, and moisture, noise and pollutants, such as pollen and fine particles, can enter the building.

Conclusion - Healthy and comfortable living

A Passive House's goal is to create the lowest possible energy usage while providing a high comfort level and a healthy living environment.

The additional technical efforts are likely to result in slightly higher initial design and construction costs for a Passive House than those of a regular building. However, considering that energy prices are on a constant rise and that the finished building will create a much healthier living environment, this higher investment will pay off in the long term.

The Passive House building approach is also in line with New Zealand's target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This way, Kiwis can make a smooth transition to a low-emissions future of building sustainably to protect our natural resources for future generations.

Visit our showroom

ECOWINDOWS offers a wide variety of European windows, doors, shading solutions, and ventilation systems, all suitable for Passive House building's high standards and requirements.

Our showroom in Hamilton exhibits a comprehensive collection of our broad product range. We offer you the opportunity to discuss your building project's requirements with our friendly staff and, most importantly, to see, feel, and experience the advantages of our sustainable building solutions for yourself.

If you would like to learn more about our components for Passive House building or discuss your building project, please do not hesitate to contact us today. We look forward to hearing from you!

About ECOWINDOWS - Expertise for Passive House components

ECOWINDOWS is a pioneer in the field of Passive Houses. In 2011, we manufactured New Zealand's first certified Passive House windows. And in 2012, the first-ever Passive House in New Zealand was built with our high-performance windows and a controlled ventilation system that helps keep the house dry, warm and comfortable all year round.

As a member of the “Passive House Institute New Zealand” (PHINZ) and the “New Zealand Green Building Council” (NZGBC), ECOWINDOWS contributes to the mission of creating healthy and highly energy-efficient homes for all New Zealanders.

If you would like to learn more about Passive Houses, eHaus, a recognised expert in New Zealand Passive House design and construction, has some great additional resources on its website which answer more questions about Passive House design.

Setting a new standard for New Zealand

We believe that it is about time to shake up the building industry, change expectations, and set a whole new standard for housing in New Zealand. To make a positive change in the building sector, it is essential to utilise only building solutions that deliver outstanding performances.

High-quality and carefully manufactured European windows and doors achieve the best energetic results for your home. These products are made with decades of experience in energy-efficient building in Europe where for a long time, high-quality windows are most commonly used.

Germany’s and New Zealand’s building regulations – a comparison

As a world leader in manufacturing high-performance windows, Germany has a long history of stringent and rigorous government regulations, the so-called EnEV law. This law outlines the requirements for newly built and existing homes' energy efficiency. The principles focus on the high quality of insulation and low heat loss rates to ensure houses are kept warm and cosy, without generating sky-high power bills.

On the other side, the New Zealand Building Code sets the performance standards that all building work must meet. [1] The Code describes performance criteria and sets the standards for moisture control, energy efficiency features, and others for all sorts of buildings, from residential to commercial and industrial constructions [2]. However, the Building Code is mainly performance-oriented. It defines how a building must perform in its general use rather than describing how it must be designed and constructed. [3] 

At first glance, the German approach seems to be very similar to the one in New Zealand. But, looking at the numbers, it becomes evident that the German law requirements are much stricter than those of the New Zealand building standard.

Looking at the numbers

The effectiveness of windows is usually calculated internationally as U-value. However, in New Zealand, the R-value is still widely used. In contrast to the desired high R-value, a lower U-value indicates better performance and insulation. The R-value is the reciprocal of the U value and vice versa (R = 1/U and U = 1/R).

The German EnEV law regulates the required U-value rates for each area of a house, including the windows, which play a crucial role in energy-efficient building. Hence, it is only allowed to install double-glazed windows with a low U-value of 1.30 in German houses. This rate is a minimum requirement. Triple-glazing can enhance performance even further.

In comparison to that, the BRANZ House Insulation Guide specifies the R-value for a high-performance window in wood or PVC with R 0.48. [4] To compare this value with the German requirements, we have to convert the R-value of 0.48 into the U-value, using the appropriate formula U = 1/0.48. The result is a U-value of 2.08.

This means that the minimum requirement for a German window (U 1.30) exceeds the value for a high-performance window in New Zealand (U 2.08) by far. Remember: a low U-value indicates better performance and is therefore desired.

Building houses with comparably low requirements means that a lot of the house's heat is still lost through the windows despite the reasonable efforts and building regulations.

Building better

We believe that it is vital to utilise windows that match the German market's high standards and strict requirements. This approach allows us to build dry, warm and healthy homes for everyone here in New Zealand. However, double- and triple-glazing of windows is only one part of a comprehensive heat-management system. Other measures include the installation of modern ventilation and shading systems.

No matter your requirements, ECOWINDOWS offers wholly customised solutions for new builds and renovations alike. If you want to find out more about our work and product range, please do not hesitate to contact us today. We look forward to hearing from you!      

As the year is coming to an end and the holiday period approaches, we wanted to take the opportunity and say A BIG THANK YOU to all of you, our valued clients, partners and supporters. We are immensely grateful for your ongoing support and trust throughout this year.

And, what a year it has been

2020 was particularly challenging for all of us. The ongoing Coronavirus pandemic continues to create significant uncertainty all around the world, for individuals and businesses alike. Our thoughts are especially with our friends and partners in Germany whilst they are going into another complete lockdown over the festive season.

Speaking for ourselves, the great New Zealand lockdown in March 2020 put many of our projects unexpectedly on hold. And, in the following months, we had to deal with further disruptions caused by the pandemic. Most prominently we faced widespread delays in international deliveries, due to worldwide border restrictions and logistics being literally out of control.

However, our team stayed positive, and we went through all of this together, with confidence. Despite all the challenges, we finalised many exciting projects in Coromandel, Taupo, Auckland, Central Otago and the Waikato, to name a few. We are also tremendously grateful for the generous support from the New Zealand government in these hard times.

We have opened “The Barn”

The Barn is our newly-built, comprehensive showroom in Hamilton and one of our most notable achievements this year. It features a wide selection of high-quality double- and triple-glazed tilt and turn windows, modern entry doors, smart shading solutions and more. A visit of our showroom is an excellent opportunity for you to get a first-hand experience of our exclusive product range. Please get in touch with us if you would like to visit us. We would be happy to show you around.

ECOWINDOWS is growing

This year we welcomed two new employees in our team. They are operating in the areas of Operational Management and Marketing. This steady growth allows us to provide an even better service for our clients and partners. And ECOWINDOWS continues to grow. If you are interested in joining our hard-working and dedicated team, we would love to hear from you.

What’s waiting for us in 2021?

To keep it short: A lot!

ECOWINDOWS is exceptionally busy, with a high number of exciting projects already in the pipeline for the coming year. We are also looking forward to strengthening existing, and building new partnerships in 2021 in order to provide New Zealanders with more sustainable, healthy and comfortable homes.

Christmas Holidays

Our office will be closed from Monday, 21st December 2020 and we will re-open on Monday 4th of January 2021.

Should you have any questions in the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are happy to assist you.

Give us a call: (07) 825 8172

Or send us an Email: [email protected]

We wish you a Merry Christmas and happy holidays and look forward to seeing you again in 2021.

Thomas, Bjorn & the ECOWINDOWS Team

Due to the wide spread of COVID-19 globally, New Zealand is still experiencing major international delivery delays. This situation is aggravated by insufficient freight capacity and various international government restrictions. Judging by the current situation, with many countries around the world suffering a second wave of the outbreak, with high numbers of cases and several weeklong lockdowns worldwide, we regrettably expect this to continue for some time.

In addition to that, RNZ reported this week that Ports of Auckland is currently experiencing a major backlog of imports and is struggling to get slots available on its wharf for arriving vessels. Ports of Auckland General Manager of Communications, Matt Ball said container ships could be waiting between 10-12 days to get into the port. Although they are working hard to ease the situation, this problem will unlikely be solved before the end of this year.

Please consider this situation carefully when organising your building project and plan ahead. As international freights and containers are experiencing high volumes and the delivery timeframes are much longer than normal, we encourage you to not leave your order to the last minute. Be prepared and know exactly when you want your order to be delivered with plenty of time ahead. This will allow you to avoid delivery delays and disappointment.

If you have any more questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today!

Have you ever wondered how our windows are made?

This impressive behind the scenes video shows how our wooden double- and triple-glazed windows are manufactured with precision, years of experience and the highest skills in craftsmanship. Döpfner Fenster, with its headquarter in Germany, Gerolzhofen is our long-term partner and main supplier for our exclusive ECO WOOD and ECO WOODALU windows.

The wood from our timber windows is harvested exclusively from certified, sustainable forestry in Bavaria, Germany. Our wooden windows are made of pristine and robust spruce, larch and oak timbers, with multilayer laminated profiles that provide the best quality and outstanding durability.

One of our feature projects in Queenstown. What an amazing house and what a stunning architecture. Thanks to Team Green Architects for giving us the chance to contribute to this amazing piece of architecture!

The Passive House Institute of New Zealand has put together some great stories from satisfied owners of passive houses. Some of them are of course satisfied owners of our windows too. We would like to present some of these projects here...

#newstandardnz #phinz #betterthancode