Eco homes

Sustainability is an important consideration these days when it comes to building and it is something that the team at Fraemohs have taken seriously since the very beginning, over 50 years ago.

All of our homes feature sustainably-grown New Zealand timber so you can rest easy that you are not promoting the destruction of forests on the other side of the world. Because our timber is all sourced locally this also means there are no carbon miles being accumulated transporting it across the oceans.

At Fraemohs Homes we use an Australian product called Vacsol Azure for treating our Solid Timber homes. The wood is coated with special preservatives which protect it against decay and insects. This product is an eco friendly timber treatment because it is non-metallic. Some other methods of treating wood involve the use of metal compounds and there have been some concerns about the health risks and impact on the environment from using such metal-based timber treatments.

In view of the health concerns surrounding volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which can be released by paint, we choose to use Resene’s Zylone Sheen VOC Free paint in our homes.

So when you invest in a Fraemohs home, you are investing in a carbon negative home. A house which actually offsets carbon emissions instead of adding to the burden of global warming.

Further reading:

Engineered timber versus concrete and steel for commercial buildings – what’s the cost difference?  – Stuff

The benefits of supporting sustainable building would not be replete without mention of the economic benefits. When you build a green home with New Zealand grown timber, you are supporting local industry. Home design and build with locally grown timber makes environmental sense. And it makes economic sense.

Fraemohs Homes support initiatives which support the growth and promotion of environmentally responsible building standards and building practices. Including the New Zealand Green Building Council, Future Proof Building and Homestar. All of which we are active members of.

A key aspect of sustainability and reducing our environmental impact is ensuring that our homes are as energy efficient as possible. We achieve this by using more insulation than standard, minimising heat loss, and by maximising solar gain through our Scandinavian home design methods. For example, having large windows oriented to the sun and a concrete floor that can act as a thermal mass helps our homes absorb heat and release it later. Reducing the need for additional heating.

We use LED lights as standard in every Fraemohs home we build as they last longer. And use less energy to run, saving you money on future power bills. We believe in choosing quality fittings that will last, rather than cheap, poorly-made items that will rapidly deteriorate. Where possible we use New Zealand-made products to reduce the carbon footprint of the home.