The owners of the 75m² dwelling needed to maximise the thermal efficiency of their off-the-grid home and chose Metro Series ThermalHEART windows and doors from APL Window Solutions and manufactured by Hollings First Aluminium, in Masterton.

Metro Series ThermalHEART is a higher performing product range suitable for larger formats that comply with NZBC clause H1 Energy Efficiency (all climate zones) when used in conjunction with high performing Low-E double glazing. All products include thermal breaks for maximum energy efficiency.

“Meet the future of sustainable building,” said the Master Builders’ award citation for the home’s constructor, Maridale Construction. But that ambitious forecast may be aiming a bit high, as this forested bolthole has no connection to reticulated power at all, apart from its own solar energy panels situated at a high point on the property which capture the sun’s energy and then store electricity in a bank of batteries.

The thermal performance is impressive — temperatures of at least 20°C are enjoyed without any heating during much of the year. The walls and roof were built with structural insulated panels that exceed building code thermal resistance standards and clad with coloured steel. A 500kg wood-fired oven also warms the house and water in cloudy weather. Rainwater is fed into a lower holding tank and on sunny days it is pumped up to a 30,000L header before being gravity fed back down to the house. The wastewater system is a non-electric treatment system specifically designed for isolated builds.

The Metro Series ThermalHEART products used in the house included French doors, sliding doors, sliding windows, narrow casement windows 2.2m high, and awning windows. The powdercoat colour was Matt Flaxpod.

The home also won a Gold Award for Maridale Construction, of Trentham.