When you walk from a warm living room into a chilly hallway or bedroom, there is more to consider than the discomfort alone.
Uneven temperatures are common in many New Zealand homes, especially older ones or those built to minimum code. Inconsistent temperatures and hot and cold spots not only affect comfort, but they can also impact health, increase energy use, and reduce the overall functionality of your home.
Why Does It Happen?
Poor insulation, air leaks, thermal bridging, and localised heating systems are often to blame. Heat escapes through gaps and poorly insulated areas, while cold spots form where surfaces are more exposed or unprotected, like at thermal bridges between the exterior and interior.
Why It Matters
Consistent indoor temperatures create a home that feels comfortable in every room, all year round. They also reduce the load on heating and cooling systems, cutting energy use and improving efficiency. Most importantly, stable temperatures support healthy indoor conditions by reducing condensation, mould risk, and respiratory issues.
How to Achieve It
Designing and building with Passive House principles ensures even temperatures by addressing the entire building envelope. High levels of insulation, airtight construction, thermal bridge management, and mechanical heat recovery ventilation all work together to maintain thermal comfort in every corner of your home with minimal energy needed for heating and cooling.
Does it Really Work?
Let’s hear it from homeowners themselves….
“Practically, living in the house is so easy. The big thing for us is the uniform temperatures throughout the whole home all the time – with little to no heating and not having to have layers of clothing”.
– Iain & Julie
“You move between rooms in the same equitable warmth for four seasons of the year, with no need to keep doors closed. No cold draughts”.
– Colin & Helen
“In our old house we were quite careful with heating only areas we lived in. Our bathroom was always cold, we had weeping windows, bedroom was cold etc.
We’re definitely using more of the house, no more keeping internal doors closed to keep the warmth in ….. We just really love being home now. …. It is absolutely bliss to come home to a house that always has a comfortable temperature”!
– Geert & Brenda
“We are very much enjoying our new home thank you, and are really pleased we went for a ‘near passive house’ build – it is by far the most comfortable and warm property we have lived in as well as being very energy efficient”.
– Dick & Cath
Head to our gallery to read more homeowner experiences.
A home built for consistent comfort isn’t a luxury, it’s a sign of smart design and good health.
There are options to suit different budgets and design requirements When you prioritise the health and energy efficiency of your home, year-round comfort throughout becomes a natural outcome.
If you haven’t already, you can find out more about our comprehensive design and build method that ticks all the boxes, in our free downloadable homeowners guide to creating an energy efficient or passive home.
