Designing a new high-performing home on the Cashmere hills, within an affordable budget
Cantabrians are increasingly looking for warmer, healthier and more eco-friendly homes, and are willing to spend a little extra to future-proof their properties.
Bob Burnett, one of the original qualified Homestar Assessors is finding more clients are requesting eco-friendly features such as solar panels, high energy and water efficient features and above code insulation as standard. One such client was a couple who had spent a lot of time in Switzerland prior to living in Christchurch and had got used to living in warm homes.
They employed Homestar Assessor, Bob Burnett to design a new high performing home on the Cashmere hills, but within an affordable budget. Bob considered whole of house affordability in terms of build cost as well as calculating the potential savings in running costs. By targeting zero energy use, through careful selection of materials, inclusion of integrated passive and thermal design and PV for energy generation the home has achieved a 7 Homestar rating.
The structure is primarily a large insulated pre-cast insulated concrete box, which holds in all the heat and requires little or no additional seasonal heating or cooling.
Summary of the key features:
- Thermal mass – bucket loads of concrete. Everywhere.
- Hydronic in-slab heating (Central Heating NZ).
- High performance windows - PVC frames with low E glazing (Weathertight Windows & Doors).
- Lifemark 4 star - with accessible showers, toilets and doorways.
- Above code insulation: R 4.0+ thermomass walls (Lanyon & Le Compte), R 5.0 ceiling (Pink Batts), slab insulated underneath and on edge.
- Simple geometry, reducing heat loss at corners and making it easier to produce an airtight envelope.
- Whole house ventilation system with heat recovery (Avon Electric, Airflow Engineering).
- 4 Star dishwasher and washing machine (Miele).
- LED and CFL lighting (Mister Sparky).
- 9,000 L rainwater tank (Bailey Tanks), plumbed for grey water.
- 3 star WELS shower, 4 star WELS toilets, 4 star WELS taps (Aquatica).
- Environment Choice + low VOC paint (Resene paint).
- Sustainable decking (Hybrideck, Canterbury Balustrade).
- 2.3 kW grid tied photovoltaic solar – Winaico panels, Ensolar inverter (CPS Solar).
- Going for a ‘solar wall’ innovation