Twelve of Christchurch’s most innovative and sustainable homes are opening their doors to the public in June to highlight smart technologies and modern building methods.
People can take a self-guided tour of Christchurch’s Superhomes on three weekends from 9-24 June (Saturday and Sunday, between 11am and 4pm). Beacon Pathway is also running an all-day bus tour on 22 June to six of the homes.
Builders and designers will be on hand to explain the features of each home and answer any questions, so people can more easily create their own superhome. “While these are all examples of high-performance homes, the features that make them perform so well are available to every home builder, and most can be retrofitted into existing homes during significant refurbishments,” says New Zealand Green Building Council chief executive Andrew Eagles.
These homes will showcase sustainable – yet affordable – designs that benefit the homeowner and the environment. The homes are currently being assessed for Homestar rating, and one has already achieved the highest Homestar built rating – 10. It is the third house to achieve that rating in New Zealand - the first two are in Addington, Christchurch.
The tours have been organised by the non-profit Superhome Movement in partnership with the Christchurch City Council and the New Zealand Green Building Council, which runs Homestar.
Superhome Movement founder Bob Burnett says the goal “is to raise standards so that all new homes are healthy and efficient, while also promoting environmental, economic, and socially sustainable practices.
“The Superhome Tour provides a rare opportunity for residents to experience high-performing homes that are not normally available to view,” Mr Burnett says.
“These homes target ratings of 6 to 10 Homestar. In contrast, most new homes in New Zealand are 3 Homestar and built to code minimum standards that are about 20 years out of date compared to other OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries.”
Superhomes store the sun’s heat to stay warm and dry in winter and provide shade and thermal mass to keep cool in summer. They feature efficient lighting and appliances to keep running costs low year round. Some homes use strong natural timbers, rainwater collection and solar systems to boost their earthquake resilience.
“By experiencing these homes and seeing the technologies in action, people can better understand the benefits of having a warm, dry home with low running costs,” Christchurch City Council Principal Adviser, Sustainability, Tony Moore says.
Information about each home and a map for self-guided tours is available on the www.superhome.co.nz, or join the 2018 Exemplar Homes bus tour on 22 June.