Space is at a premium in tiny living spaces so to insulate well it's important to find the highest R-value possible in a thin product. This was a key consideration for Landon Neal, the man behind Nelson-based company, MYPOD.

Landon makes elegant and luxurious little rooms, a great addition to a property as a spare bedroom, studio, office, lounge, or retreat. As contemporary living and working spaces, Landon makes a point to only use top quality materials that are durable and stylish for his MYPOD designs.

Landon prefers to use Eurothane GP PIR insulation boards in the 40mm, 50mm and 60mm thicknesses which give his clients R-values of 1.8, 2.25 and 2.7 respectively. Landon says he did a lot of research before choosing Eurothane GP PIR: “It is a superior product and was the best choice for the space,” he says. He also liked the fact it is sold by a local company. “The rigid panels are so easy to work with too — it’s a no brainer, really."

Eurothane GP PIR is made by UK-based company Recticel and sold in New Zealand by The Alternative Energy Company, of Nelson. Eurothane GP PIR allows Landon to get the maximum R-value in the space allowed for his clients, while also being price-competitive, compared to other similar products in the NZ market. Eurothane GP is a closed cell foam, made of polyisocyanurate (PIR), with aluminium foil facing on both sides. PIR is available in boards that cover 2.88m², ranging from 25mm (R-value of 1.10) through to 120mm (R-value of 5.45).

PIR makes sense from an environmental point of view as well. Over the life of a building, PIR will save far more energy in their use than required in its production, resulting in significant reductions in energy consumption and cost, as well as reduced CO2 emissions. The boards are manufactured with CFC-free and HCFC-free materials and have a global warming potential (GWP) of less than 5, and ozone depletion potential (ODP) of 0.

With a waiting list of clients and a lead-time of about six months, Landon is finding that his clients are no longer just dreaming about working from home, but now able to make it a reality. “The Covid lockdowns of 2020 have meant people are now more able to work from home and are looking for a finely crafted workspace that’s designed with their needs in mind."