• The performance of the house is designed around passive house principles. Verified via pressure testing, the ‘leakage’ for the entire home is only 0.64m2 (3.54 air changes per hour @ 50Pa).

• Rammed earth is naturally low in embodied energy, meaning only a small amount of energy is needed to manufacture and construct the walls.

• The earth used in the walls is locally sourced from the Cardrona valley only 15km away from site. Waste from the building process is reduced, and any leftover earth can be safely spread on site.

• The rammed earth has significant thermal mass which increases energy efficiency. It causes thermal lag which can keep the house cooler in summer and warmer in winter.

• The location/ orientation of the house - its windows and eaves optimise for solar gain from winter sun while reducing direct sunlight in summer

• The roof is warm roof technology.

• A zender fresh air unit mechanically ventilates the home, keeping the inside environment healthy.

• Abodo timber is used on part of the exterior cladding. Abodo is a thermally modified New Zealand pine and is carbon positive.

• The polished floor is completely independent of the structural slab (poured after the walls and roof were in place) giving it full thermal isolation from the outside.