Glossary

ACTIVE SYSTEM

Active systems are products and systems you actively control. Air conditioning systems or heat pumps are the most common, but active systems also include ventilation and appliances.

AIR-SOURCE HEAT PUMP

Draws heat from the outside air to heat home interior or water supply.

ASPECT

Aspect considers all the things on the outside of your building that will contribute to your lifestyle and comfort and energy-efficiency of your home - things like geographic location, sunlight, orientation and shade.

BULK INSULATION

Thick insulation made of materials like fibreglass and wool that works by trapping air between the fibres. Still air is an extremely poor conductor of heat.

CONVECTION HEATING

A type of heating that moves heat from a warm area into a cool area, usually by forced air. Heat pumps are a form of convection heating.

EVACUATED TUBE SOLAR HEATER

A type of solar collector that traps heat in glass vacuum tubes. Evacuated tube collectors are particularly effective in low-sunlight areas because they are efficient at trapping and storing heat without the direct rays of the sun.

FLAT-PANEL SOLAR HEATER

A solar collector featuring a flat panel usually comprised of glass, silicon and a dark metal. Flat panel collectors typically work best with direct sunshine.

GROUND-SOURCE HEAT PUMP

A special kind of heat pump that draws on heat stored in the ground, where the temperature stays constant year-round. Ground-source heat pumps require excavation of the site for installation, making them a particularly good option for those building a new home.

HERS RATING

Refers to the New Zealand Government initiative that standardises the measurement of energy performance in New Zealand homes. HERS ratings are awarded in 'stars'.

PASSIVE SYSTEM

Systems that work by themselves to trap energy, for example insulation or double glazing. You don't have to worry about controlling them (turning them on and off) and they don't cost anything to run.

PHOTOVOLTAICS

Photovoltaics is the industry name for solar cells that turn the sun's energy into electricity.

R-VALUE

The building industry's measure of how effective insulation will be. The R stands for resistance, as in, how well the insulation material resists heat transfer.

RADIANT HEATING

A type of heating in which a solid object (such as a concrete slab floor) is heated in order to warm the room. Underfloor heating is a common example.

REFLECTIVE INSULATION

Also known as aluminium or foil insulation; a form of insulation that reflects heat energy, as opposed to bulk insulation which slows the passage of heat through it.

RIGHT HOUSE DAISY

Our name for our integrated, whole-house approach, encompassing aspect, design, active and passive systems.

THERMAL ENVELOPE

How well the walls, floors and ceiling of your home are insulated against heat loss.

THERMAL MASS

Relates to how well the surfaces and materials of your house capture and retain heat. For example, a concrete slab floor will absorb sunshine throughout the day then emit the stored heat at night.