Since emigrating from Germany in 1987, Johann Bernhardt has designed 15 sustainable homes in New Zealand. All are notable, among other features, for their passive solar heating and healthy living environment.

Bernhardt is manager of the Auckland office of the Building Biology and Ecology Institute (BBE), founded in Germany around 1980, and since 1990, operating in New Zealand, with branches in Auckland and Wellington. The Institute informs interested people about options for healthy and sustainable building solutions.

"Germany started this process sooner than New Zealand", says Bernhardt, "in large part due to earlier signs of problems with air quality and unsustainable building practices.

"From a sustainability viewpoint, New Zealand’s existing housing stock has much potential for improvement," he says. "Even considering our typical brand new home, when it comes to issues like energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy, or the choice of healthier building materials, we are just starting on the road to becoming more sustainable.

"So far, architects and builders have been slow to catch on," he says. "Familiar conventional habits take a lot of convincing to change. But the need to change is obvious. Government acknowledged this by introducing sustainability requirements in the latest Building Act. We can’t afford to keep going the way we used to when the health of people and the environment are at stake".

According to Bernhardt, one of the key features that can influence people’s quality of life is indoor air quality. He designs homes that are as non- or low-toxic, non-allergenic, warm, naturally ventilated and energy efficient as possible.

"External walls can be built so that they are able to ‘breathe’," he says. "By allowing a natural air exchange, moisture can be removed naturally from the inside to help eliminate causes of mould and mildew.

"Many people ring the Institute’s helpline to enquire about healthier building materials because they have allergy problems in their families", says Bernhardt. "The rate of allergy sufferers in New Zealand has more than tripled in the past 50 years. So it is not surprising that indoor air quality has become increasingly important.

"People usually consider sustainable design and building as more expensive than conventional," says Bernhardt. "But that is not necessarily so. It is true that we can make some savings in the short term by designing and building the conventional way, but if we take long term costs and benefits into account then the balance tips easily in favour of sustainable solutions. Since a growing number of sustainable building materials are now available at acceptable prices we can build sustainable homes very competitively. It is a matter of knowing about and using these opportunities".

Bernhardt would like the media to show more interest in dealing with sustainable design and building issues.

"The hope is that sustainability in thinking and practice will become mainstream for the benefit of us all," he says.

Another common notion is that ‘eco homes’ are quirky by nature. But Bernhardt points out that sustainability features can be incorporated into any contemporary design without it being recognizable as ‘alternative’.

He is aware that potential resale value is in the mind of every client and therefore his designs always aim to prove that sustainable building solutions and contemporary architectural style with high resale value can complement rather than exclude each other.

Does Bernhardt consider the need for sustainability in house design
as urgent?

"Most certainly," he says. "There is no reason to wait when it comes to solving New Zealand’s energy problems. We can halve the energy consumed in domestic dwellings."

Bernhardt sees no reason either for procrastinating when it comes to reducing health problems. He points out that many common materials release toxic chemicals in small doses into our living environment over long periods of time.

Bernhardt includes as many sustainable design features into his homes as each client wishes. He makes them aware of their options in order to help them make informed choices.

Typical features are: passive solar design, double glazing, insulation above Building Code requirements, triple combustion burners (closed fireplaces) with energy efficiency ratings of up to 85 percent, solar water heating roof panels, plantation-grown local timbers for framing and decking and bamboo for flooring, low-or non-toxic building materials and paints, non-allergenic materials, breathable walls, natural ventilation, rainwater collection and careful placing of main electric cables in order to reduce electro-magnetic radiation.

What is Johann Bernhardt’s message to central government?

"Hopefully the acknowledged importance of sustainability will be carried into new legislation. Using the right words with regard to sustainability matters is not enough. What we need are clearly defined legislated requirements that bring about real change.

"Our Government shies away from subsidising people who are willing to get behind political goals. But if, for example, the Government considers reducing household energy consumption as an important contribution to solving the country’s power problems then, in my opinion, financial help would make it much easier for people willing to do their bit."

Bernhardt sees solar hot-water roof panels as a good example for possible subsidies because of the benefits of renewable, non-polluting and cheap (eventually free) power.

"Territorial authorities," says Bernhardt, "seem to be absorbed by their problems in the aftermath of the leaky homes crisis. Sadly this puts new initiatives in sustainable building practice on the back burner."

To home owners and developers, Bernhardt is encouraging: "Don’t hesitate to embrace sustainable design and building with regard to energy efficiency, use of healthier building materials, architectural expression or cost. The options are there. Everybody has the opportunity to incorporate as many or as few sustainable features in their new home or home alteration as they wish – or as far as their budget will allow. Every little bit helps us and the planet."

Johann Bernhardt can be contacted at jobern@ihug.co.nz