At the Prefab HIVE event a couple of weekends ago, I caught up with Jamie Harrington from Ekokit. I've had the pleasure of assessing some of Jamie's Hybrid Homes in Nelson, which are not only very high performing, they're also aesthetically stunning.

WIth Ekokit, Jamie's team have applied the same sustainable philosophies to a modular, cost effective set of house plans.

Their features include:

• Modular design, allows owners to expand the home inline with family needs
• Non toxic materials
• Douglas fir timber
• Water efficient toilets and showers, including the Methven Kiri Satinjet, which boasts an impressive 8.5 L/min, 3 star WELS rating: http://www.methven.com/nz/range/kiri/satinjet-wall-shower-on-upswept-arm/tech-spec/
• Mohawk premium carpet made from recycled PET bottles: http://www.mohawkflooring.com/flooring-products/carpet/everstrand.aspx
• Laminated timber beam flooring system with poured and exposed concrete flooring
• High efficient LED lighting
• Very high levels on insulation, much higher than building code
• High performance, thermally broken, low-E, argon filled double glazing from APL: http://www.aplnz.co.nz/34/our-brands/thermal-heart
• Quality control during construction

For more information and to contact Jamie, go to http://www.ekokit.co.nz