But you may not realise there are two types of homes you can build:
- A standard custom home (including standard luxury homes) or…
- A High Performance Custom Home
And choosing the WRONG type may turn your dream into a nightmare when you’re ready to move in.
That’s why it’s critical you understand the difference between the two types of custom homes BEFORE you sign an agreement with a builder.
Because this may be the first time you are hearing about high performance custom homes let me give you a quick explanation...
A Guide To The Passive Home
In this e-book, we'll guide you through the process of building your dream home with a focus on Passiv House principles. Whether you're looking to minimise energy bills, reduce your carbon footprint, or simply live in a more comfortable environment, Passive House (a high performance custom home) construction offers a comprehensive solution.
What is a high performance custom home?
High performance homes are designed using a combination of systems to achieve a higher performing energy efficient, healthy home that's much more comfortable to live in than a standard custom home.
For example, take a look at the two homes below.
A tale of two homes
Which home do you think is more energy efficient and therefore more affordable to own and enjoy?
Most people think the home on the left is more energy efficient because it has solar panels. But it’s not true. The home on the right is actually up to 90% more energy efficient. Why?
Because the home on the right was built using high performance building principles and energy efficient design.
This means the home on the right costs less to keep warm and cosy in those cold winter months when the wind and rain are lashing against your windows… and is cheaper to keep cool and comfortable during those balmy summer nights.
In fact, a high performance home maintains a steady temperature of between 20 to 25 degrees all year round, regardless of the conditions outside. This lowers your total-cost of owning your dream custom home.
If you’re paying $1,500 a quarter on your electricity bill now…. You can expect to see that fall to as low as $150 – a saving of 90% – just because of the thermal quality of the house alone, and that’s before you add solar panels if you choose.
Put those savings straight in your pocket or factor them into building your dream custom home to get even nicer fixtures and finishes.
But owning a high performance custom home isn’t just about energy efficiency and energy savings…
A high performance custom home is better for your family’s health too...
For example, the indoor air quality is better inside a high performance custom home.
Indoor air quality is a big deal if you want to make sure your home is not just efficient… but comfy and healthy for your family too.
This is critical if you have a family member with asthma or other respiratory conditions.
Improved air quality is achieved in three ways inside
a high performance home...
1.
First, the building is designed to be air tight. This means dust and pollutants entering from outside your home are kept to a minimum.
Or as one high performance homeowner put it:
2.
Second, a special air filter is fitted to your home to make sure there is a continuous supply of fresh, clean air inside.
3.
Third, the insulation materials used on a high performance home exceed Australian standards and eliminate the risk of harmful mould forming in your roof space and inside your walls.
“I open the windows less than in my old house in the suburbs, which means far less dust, less cleaning and greatly reduced noise factor. I absolutely love the calm feeling in my [high performance] home.”
– Bianca (regional Victoria)
Did you know the insulation and sarking (the waterproof membrane that goes inside the walls and ceiling) used by conventional custom home builders is typically the lowest rated insulation you can get?
While it meets the minimum Australian standards, these standards don’t go far enough to prevent your home from growing mould and mildew.
In fact… it’s estimated…
A high performance custom home is built with low and non-toxic building materials
Most people don’t know this but many engineered timber products used in new homes are made with glue that releases formaldehyde.
Formaldehyde is a poisonous toxic chemical that can cause irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, even at low levels for short periods. Longer exposure or higher doses can even cause coughing or choking.
It's just not something you want in your home. And yet almost all modern homes have it.
The problem is, you don’t know if the materials in your home have formaldehyde unless you get the material data sheet and check.
Most builders don’t do this. We do.
The paint many builders use in children’s bedrooms, eating and living areas contain harmful levels of VOCs
All paints have VOCs (volatile organic compounds) - the toxic fumes that come off paint.
Exposure to VOCs from fresh paint can cause various negative health effects, including dizziness, nausea, headaches, fatigue and asthma. Extended exposure can cause liver or kidney damage.
The good news is, you can get low VOC paint. But your architect or builder won’t automatically specify healthy paint options, they just go with the standard cost effective paint that’s best for their pocket.
We sit down with you and discuss all these issues and many many more before you finalise your design.
A high performance custom home has increased levels of acoustic comfort
When you walk into a high performance home built with quality materials you immediately hear the difference.
As one high performance home owner said “We live about 30 metres from a major train line, but the noise is barely noticeable.” – Matthew (suburban Sydney)
The reverse is also true - walk into a home built with low quality materials - materials that only just pass Australian standards - and it sounds tacky. Noise easily penetrates the walls. The floor sounds “echoey”, “hollow”, “cheap”.
Unwanted sounds from outside disrupt the cosy environment you are trying to create inside. And so on.
A high performance custom home keeps the bugs out
Who wants bugs or other critters crawling through the walls of their home?
The “creepy-crawlies'' should stay outside.
The airtight construction in a high performance home will stop these creatures in their tracks.
These are just some of the reasons you should consider building a high performance custom home instead of an ordinary custom home
A Guide To The Passive Home
If you would like to have more information about the benefits and cost savings of building a high performance home (passive house) you can download our free guide by clicking the button below.
How we ensure you can move into your new high performance custom family home on the chosen date…
If you want to move into your new home by a certain date, we’ll let you know if we can accommodate your timing at the start of the project.
Once the project and timelines are signed off we’ll manage the project to make sure you move in on time.
Not just on time but on (or under) budget
And if your project goes under the original quote the difference is returned to you.
I just wanted to highlight this one job I asked them to do and they quoted me for that but on completion of the job they told me it didn't cost that much so I got them to do something else. During the building process they were very cooperative and responded to any changes we requested. I am happy to show the design of the granny flat on the web site which shows how well the design layout was suited to the area we had. Confidence was the key for me and I have no hesitation in recommending Vivo Homes for projects like ours. On the scale of 1 to 10 they are number 10!
Dewash Chand
Northcott Rd, Lalor Park
I have had the pleasure of chatting with Sandra and her knowledge of the industry and the regulations is astounding. I have also had the pleasure of photographing some of their properties. In meeting with Bill, his dedication to the quality of his work is commendable. A lot of builders have a reputation for taking short cuts. Vivo homes is the opposite. Nothing but the highest quality is good enough. This is evident at the level of the finishes in every one of their builds. When I build my home, I will be looking no where else but Vivo homes. I know they are moving towards building passive homes and I can’t wait to be able to utilize this system.
Kirri Cook
A Guide To The Passive Home
If you would like to have more information about the benefits and cost savings of building a high performance home (passive house) you can download our free guide by clicking the button below.