Energy Efficient Homes Ltd

07/09/2026

When you’re adding up the cost of building an Energy Efficient Home, it’s tempting to ask: “How much extra does all of this cost?”

But what if some of the things we think of as energy efficient add-ons are actually essential parts of a well-designed home?

Quantity surveyor Daniel Whitehouse explains why ventilation and humidity control shouldn’t simply be treated as optional upgrades. Just as you wouldn’t consider the roof or wall cladding add-ons, so these systems also play an important role in how a home performs.

And better performance doesn’t always mean higher cost. Good design can make a home simpler, more efficient, and more affordable at the same time.

▶️ Watch the full episode to learn more - https://youtu.be/EzIf0wlPHxE

05/09/2026

If you have a $1 million budget to build your home, does that mean you should spend the full amount?

Not necessarily.

Quantity surveyor Daniel Whitehouse from Energy Efficient Homes explains why the right building company should focus on what you actually need from your home, not on the amount you have to spend.

The goal is to build the best home for your needs and priorities that comes in under budget, while making sure your money goes towards things that genuinely add value.

▶️ Learn more in Episode 2 of our House 2.0 series -https://youtu.be/EzIf0wlPHxE

04/09/2026

Building a house? You need to know exactly what you're paying for.

Daniel Whitehouse from Energy Efficient Homes explains what a quantity surveyor actually does. They take your building plans and work out exactly what materials are needed, how much of each item you need, and what those materials will cost.

That might mean calculating how many metres of stormwater pipe you need, how much steel to order, or creating a detailed list of the materials that need to arrive on site.

For a homeowner, that matters because your plans might look great on paper... but someone still needs to turn those drawings into a realistic list of materials and costs.

▶️ Learn more in Episode 2 of our House 2.0 series -https://youtu.be/EzIf0wlPHxE

03/09/2026

When you’re building an energy efficient home, value engineering is more than simply finding the cheapest option.

Quantity surveyor Daniel Whitehouse from Energy Efficient Homes explains how genuine value engineering means comparing different products and approaches, looking at both their cost and their long-term benefits, and then giving you the information you need to make an informed choice.

Whether you’re comparing different claddings, insulation systems, or other building products, you should understand what you’re getting for your money - and what you might be giving up by choosing a cheaper option.

Working with an energy efficient home building company means you can make those decisions with a clear understanding of both upfront cost and long-term performance, helping you build a home that delivers better comfort, efficiency and value over time.

▶️ Learn more in Episode 2 of our House 2.0 series -https://youtu.be/EzIf0wlPHxE

03/09/2026

Come visit our Show Home! Our energy-efficiency expert will walk you through the home and explain the energy-efficient features you can’t see. It’s no longer open to drop-ins, but you can book your free tour here:

Experience an energy efficient home in person. One of our energy efficiency experts will walk you through the building, highlighting each feature and how it positively affects your living experience. By appointment only. 15 Finstock Way Rolleston, New Zealand Book Your Free Show Home Tour Energy Eff...

02/09/2026

Your home building budget is a hard ceiling, but that doesn’t mean you should spend every dollar just because you have it.

Quantity surveyor Daniel Whitehouse explains why the goal should be to make sure that every dollar added to the cost of your new house adds something worthwhile, whether that’s comfort, performance, quality or something else that matters to you.

Because building your dream home isn’t about spending more. It’s about making your money count.

▶️ Learn more in Episode 2 of our House 2.0 series - https://youtu.be/EzIf0wlPHxE

02/09/2026

How much does it make sense to spend on making your home more energy efficient?

It might seem that the higher you push a home's performance, the better. But quantity surveyor Daniel Whitehouse explains that there is a point where the cost of further improvements starts to outweigh the extra benefit.

Instead of spending more and more to chase the highest possible performance, Energy Efficient Homes focuses on the improvements that provide the greatest return, including good ventilation and airtightness, along with the health and comfort benefits that come with a high-performance home.

The goal isn't to build the highest-performing house possible at any cost. It's to find the point where your investment delivers the best combination of performance, comfort, health and value.

▶️ Learn more in Episode 2 of our House 2.0 series - https://youtu.be/EzIf0wlPHxE

30/08/2026

Building a house? The biggest budget decisions happen before you’ve chosen a single tap or tile.

Most people have never even heard of a quantity surveyor, let alone realised how much they can impact what your budget actually buys. In this brand-new episode from our House 2.0 series, we talk with Daniel Whitehouse, quantity surveyor at Energy Efficient Homes. He sees his job as getting the best value for you from every dollar you spend.

You'll learn how early cost planning can help avoid expensive surprises, make better use of materials, and build a home that delivers more of what matters to you without blowing your budget.

Watch now 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzIf0wlPHxE

Build your own Energy Efficient Home - https://energyefficienthomes...

22/08/2026

Building a house is expensive, but it is worth cost-cutting on energy efficiency?

While the upfront building price of an energy efficient home may be higher, the running costs can be much lower, and those savings can quickly outweigh the extra cost of building better in the first place.

It's not just about how much a house will cost up front. It's also about how much a house will cost to live in.

Watch the full episode to understand why a cheaper house isn't always cheaper to live in - https://youtu.be/7DR6J9c83jw

21/08/2026

What if you could look at a house and instantly know how energy efficient it is? You might be able to by 2028, if proposed changes in the building code go through.

Building would have an energy rating, much like the ratings used on appliances. An energy rating could give buyers a much clearer picture of how a home will perform before they buy it... and make poor-performing homes harder to hide behind cosmetic renovations.

Watch the full episode to hear Robert’s thoughts on where New Zealand housing could be heading - https://youtu.be/7DR6J9c83jw