The Great Home Performance Test
A villa. A new build. An energy efficient home. We put three homes to the test, measuring air tightness, air quality, humidity, and temperature. Which home will come out on top as the healthiest, most comfortable, and most economical?
The Contestants
The Old Villa
This 3-bedroom villa is draughty and expensive to heat.
1880-1890
3
140m²
Wood stove and heat pump
Roof
The New Build
This new build is warm and airtight, but could it be hiding a bigger problem?
2025
3
140m²
Heat pump
Building code minimum: Roof, walls, underfloor
The Energy Efficient Home
2024-2025
4
206m²
Heat pump, mechanical heat recovery system
R3.9: Roof, walls, underfloor
Performance Scorecard
VILLA
NEW BUILD
ENERGY EFFICIENT
Airtightness
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Overnight Air Quality
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Overnight Humidity
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Overnight Temperature
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Energy Use
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?
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The Old Villa
This 3-bedroom villa is draughty and expensive to heat. A blower door test shows us why.
The New Build
This new build is much more airtight, but are the lower heating bills coming at a cost?
The Energy Efficient Home
The finale of The Great Home Performance Test. Which home will emerge the winner?