As Managing Director of GreenStuf and proud Kiwi, Rob Woolner is passionate about increasing the thermal envelope of buildings using sustainable, New Zealand made products that last for the lifetime of the building. In this interview, Rob delves into the details of how GreenStuf are tackling the new H1 regulations.

What makes GreenStuf a market leader in H1 changes?

Rob Woolner: As long standing members of the insulation sector in New Zealand, we could see the significant impact the new H1 changes would have on the way buildings are insulated. Having this early insight, we moved quickly to redesign our range of products to give architects and designers multiple options to meet the new standards with GreenStuf. What our technical team delivered was less product specific and more of a systems-based approach. We have already delivered over 50 CPD presentations across New Zealand that walk architects and designers through various wall, ceiling and underfloor systems that drive up performance of the thermal envelope.

Do your products exceed the new H1 standards?

The intention of the changes is to build better buildings. We believe the building code should be a minimum expectation not necessarily a target. The new GreenStuf range is centered around meeting key performance criteria in a range of thicknesses. Our GreenStuf design guide allows designers to make choices for how they insulate to gain overall H1 compliance, and in some cases exceed the new standards. We know that the standards will continue to increase, so our systems-based approach allows us to continue to push the bar higher and support better building performance into the future.

What are the cost benefits of installing GreenStuf insulation?

Interestingly, the cost of purchasing insulation is only around 1% of the total building cost and the benefits of well insulated buildings are well documented. What it means is there is an impressive ROI through the subsequent energy cost savings over the life of the building. Meeting the new standards will increase the energy efficiency of residential buildings by 40%, and for commercial buildings, 23%; where you manage to exceed the standards then these savings will be even higher.

How do you think the new H1 changes will impact current projects and design practices?

Many of the architects and designers we have been working with are already using a range of wall and ceiling systems. These have been easily updated to include our new range and meet the new H1 standards without too much disruption. The new H1 changes aren’t coming into effect until November, but we are already seeing architects and designers starting to design with the new changes in mind. There is a real appetite to see the lift in building performance which is great to see.

How do you work with other suppliers to create better performing buildings?

Insulation is only one element of H1, and what we are seeing is more collaboration between engineers and market leaders in glazing, concrete slab, air tightness and moisture control to interpret the changes and present practical solutions for designers to use.

Working alongside other industries has allowed us to provide guidance on building envelopes that consider these areas too. Understanding what the changes mean for other market leaders assists us when we create H1 calculations for our customers. Supplier relationships are incredibly important for us to learn from each other and drive innovation within the building industry.