Twenty-first century makeover
Take a 1970s house, renovate it with eco-friendly modern technology, and you have a home that’s fit for the future.
Words and photos by Sarah Watkins.
Over 35 years ago, Wairarapa farmers Barbara and Steve Wilton bought a 175-acre former hazelnut orchard. They loved the property and the land as they both have farming roots. But the family home was designed true to its time – with ineffective insulation and draughty, single-glazed windows. On retirement and keen to stay in the same spot, the couple chose to give the house a complete renovation and refit using modern technology and eco-friendly principles. The result is a light, warm, characterful home – and a serious reduction in power bills.
Stepping into the light-filled, open plan kitchen on a chilly winters day, guests are greeted not only by the warm welcome from the proud owners, but the lovely warm temperature. It’s been brought about by a series of high-tech systems connected and controlled via wifi and ultimately an application on Steve's cell phone.
A swathe of 30 solar panels sits on the roof. These generate power that is stored in two massive Tesla batteries installed in the carport.
“Solar without batteries is really like bacon without eggs,” says Steve.
Inside, primary heating is provided by a wood burner, supplemented by heat pumps. The firewood itself is chopped from trees on the property. Hot air warms all the rooms through vents. Light floods into what was once a dark hallway from circular Velux sun tunnels, while ceiling fans work to distribute heat and heavy curtains prevent it from escaping.
Barbara and Steve swapped all 74 timber-frame windows for double glazing in 2014, the start of their big push towards self-sufficiency. The major renovations, project-managed by Steve while he lived in a caravan and sleepout on site, started in November 2019 and are almost complete. Today the house generates 74% of its electricity, consuming 50-60 kilowatts per day year round.
Steve describes the challenges of such an ambitious project: “This was our second attempt to do what we've now done. We gave up the first time because it just wasn't working. Both because of the time involved and we didn't have the right people”.
His advice for others contemplating an eco-friendly retrofit of a home “don't underestimate the amount of time it takes, and the work involved. The experts are there to channel what it is that you want, and to guide you around that. And you need to know what you want otherwise you will get what other people want.”
At its peak there were 15 people working on site, all of whom respected the home and took pride in the project. “Until Covid came along it was just like one big family” Steve quips.
The team of local tradespeople were able to suggest alternative ideas to make the systems and spaces work well. Just one example is a slender cupboard high above the fridge in the kitchen. Howard the joiner posed the question to Barbara (not the tallest lady) of ‘How will you open the cupboard?’ The solution is a soft-touch opening and closing mechanism that Barbara is tickled with.
Greg Hoskins from Hoskins Energy Systems in Carterton and a New Zealand expert regarding solar panels was a key driver of the retrofit. Mark Jerling Architectural Design in Solway helped bring character into the home – achieved by exposing timber beams and adding a pitch to the living area roof. Other local tradies involved included M. B. Brown the primary contractor; Thermawood who retrofitted the double glazing; Verhaart and Laffey Plumbing; 2K Design & Manufacturing Engineers for the stainless benches, La Haye Painting ad Decorating and Taylor Electrical.
Steve says the best thing about the retrofit is “essentially achieving what I hoped we would – to change what had we had to something that will be comfortable to spend the next 10 years in, which is relatively self-sufficient.”.
