How to improve your home post-lockdown

All Kiwis are spending more time in their homes than usual during the Covid-19 lockdown.

That leads to a greater understanding of how their home works inside and out and a realisation of what will make them more comfortable.

James Powers, director of Oculus, which works with architects to design buildings that are weather-tight, cost effective, energy efficient, warm and dry, can’t stress enough the difference quality ventilation and heating systems make to a household, especially during a pandemic.

Research results are still mixed about the effects of temperature and humidity on Covid-19.

Powers says the relative humidity range in Auckland is between 70 to 85 per cent, while coastal regions around New Zealand have a high percentage too.

He says one hundred per cent humidity means condensation and if it’s too dry it’s uncomfortable to breathe in, so recommends reducing humidity to about 40 per cent.

With temperatures dropping and winter approaching, people need to start heating their homes and Powers was glad the Government has approved the selling of heaters as an essential services.

“Fundamentally as we are entering the cooler months, all that we will need to do is heat our homes to a comfortable temperature all the time to be in this Goldilocks zone,” he says.

New Zealand Green Building Council chief executive Andrew Eagles agrees and says double glazing also makes a huge difference when it comes to keeping homes warm.

However, winter-proofing a home can be done on a budget of a few hundred dollars as a DIY project. Installing a fan, double layering curtains and installing draught-stoppers around doors and window before winter will make a difference, Eagles says.

After the four-week lockdown, people will notice what areas of their home need work and will appreciate green spaces and air quality a lot more, he says.

Those who don’t have a garden might want to start one and people living in apartments will be taking better care of their indoor plants.

“If you’re inside all day and you don’t get that trip to work, your body gets stimulated by being outside and whether people are in houses or apartments, they will be really appreciative of green spaces,” Eagles says.

Every square metre of your space becomes more valuable, including outdoors, Eagles says. When building a house after the lockdown, he believes people will plan for bigger outdoor spaces such as playgrounds and backyards.

“Just 2sq m of land outside the house will drive us nuts if this happens again,” he laughs.

Before Covid-19, he says, a family of four would have thought a three-bedroom house was adequate; two weeks into the lockdown, those working from home will have a greater appreciation of having an office space or a spare room which could be used as a workstation.