Did you see it in the news again?
Overheating in new homes is back in the headlines, AGAIN.
And honestly, we’re not surprised. We talk about this issue every summer, because every summer, people are moving into brand new homes and finding them too hot to live in.
They’re dealing with sweltering bedrooms, unbearable night temperatures, and having to rely on air conditioning just to function in homes that are supposed to be comfortable and modern.
It’s frustrating. But what’s more frustrating?
This keeps happening, and it’s entirely avoidable.
Some Ignorant People Will Blame It On Improved Insulation
In the 2023 building code change, they improved the insulation standard. Some people complained it would make the houses too hot. Which is nonsense, what keeps you warm in the winter keeps you cool in the summer.
Why do we put cold drinks in a chilly bin if the insulation doesn’t keep them cool? What we don’t do is have a bin with a glass lid on it. Letting unwanted sunlight in would simply overheat the drinks.
So what is the answer?
Solar gain is great when it’s cold outside, that’s your passive energy and it’s free to all of us. But in the warmer months, it’s often not designed for, and that’s where the problems begin.
Without proper shading, ventilation, or considered site orientation, sunlight pours in, builds up, and stays trapped, turning homes into heat boxes. What helps us in July becomes a real issue by January.
This isn’t a flaw in materials; it’s a gap in design thinking. And it’s why the New Zealand Green Building Council is pushing for change in the building code: to ensure the risk of overheating is considered from the start, not as an afterthought and something to try and remedy later.
We Know This Is An Issue, That’s Why We Design To Prevent It
Overheating is something we’ve been talking about – and actively designing around for years. It’s not new to us, and we don’t treat it as an afterthought.
From the very beginning of each project, we make it a priority to reduce the risk of overheating and to improve long-term comfort. That means designing homes that hold onto warmth in winter AND manage heat in summer – effectively and consistently.
We design beyond what’s required by the building code, because we understand what it takes to create homes that stay comfortable, perform better, and support long-term wellbeing.
And we make those decisions early in the design process, from orientation and ventilation to managing solar gain and integrating shading, all tailored to the conditions of each site and the people who will live there.
It’s not just compliance. It’s commitment to a better way to build.
And this is how we approach every home we design.
So, What Comes Next?
Change is coming, it’s only a matter of time. But meaningful progress doesn’t need to wait for policy to catch up.
We already have the knowledge, the tools, and the responsibility to design and build better now. What we choose to prioritise – as architects, builders, and as an industry – will shape how people live for generations.
The path forward is clear – because a better way to build is already possible and we are making it happen.
