It's always a pleasure to attend Green Speak Waikato. This time was a special treat, with a look at Bupa Foxbridge Retirement Village and Care Home's newest Homestar apartments.
We were hosted by Lauren Graves, Comms and Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability Manager for Bupa NZ, and Melda Walsh, Architectural Design Coordinator for Bupa Australia &New Zealand. After Lauren shared Bupa NZ sustainability ambitions, and how it ties into their global strategy, Melda added more detail around why sustainability is important to Bupa's business and properties, and why it fits their vision for residents. She outlined the service provider's commitment to Homestar 6 across their new developments, and their ambitions to move towards Homestar 7 in the near future.
Melda explained the lead times involved - six years from the decision to build to Homestar, how they implemented the Homestar tool on this project to achieve a Homestar 6 star rating and some of the challenges presented, before showing us through the very impressive apartments upstairs. If this is what building for the future of our aged care residents is like, then I think I'm in.
We also heard from Ian Matthew, about why Holmes Consulting is proud to partner the NZGBC Waikato Forum. Now five years into this regional member group, momentum for green certifications is growing significantly. The Bupa Foxbridge Retirement Village and Care Home in Te Rapa is just one of several exciting new projects in the region.
It was great to mix and mingle with old and new faces in the beautiful lounge area of the facility. And the opportunity to visit this completed project was appreciated by all.
Thank you to Lauren, Melda, the Waikato Forum organisers and all those who came along and asked detailed questions.
Thank you also to our Green Speak Waikato sponsors APL and Ata Touch.
About the NZGBC Waikato Forum
