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: