Bay of Plenty gets New Zealand’s first ‘perfect 10’ Homestar house

New Zealand’s most sustainable and energy efficient house will soon be a reality – and it’s in Tauranga.

A home under construction in Papamoa has just become the first in the country to achieve the highest possible rating of 10 Homestar. Among its many sustainable features are photovoltaic panels for solar energy, a state-of-the-art system that controls when appliances switch on, and a smart piping system that captures passive heat to warm the home.

Homestar is the independent system that rates the health, comfort and efficiency of New Zealand homes, on a scale of 1-10. Launched in 2010, there are around 200 Homestar-rated projects throughout the country – but until now, no one has achieved 10 out of 10.

The 230 sqm showhome in Palm Springs, Papamoa is due for completion in July 2015. Designed and built by the Tauranga-based Belvedere Group, it is part of a range of homes designed to be sustainable and cost-effective, through minimising waste and maximising passive design. The Group’s Ecostar range, with homes rated from 7 Homestar to 10 Homestar, will be launched at the Tauranga Homeshow on 8-10 May.

Alex Cutler, Chief Executive of the New Zealand Green Building Council, says this is a landmark moment for the New Zealand building industry – and an indication of the growing interest in healthy, energy-efficient homes.

“Since Homestar was introduced in 2010, we’ve been looking forward to seeing who would be the first to score 10 out of 10,” Ms Cutler says. “The Belvedere Group has shown a strong commitment to sustainability, proving that a truly ‘green’ home is within reach for many New Zealanders. Congratulations to the team for their impressive achievement, and for leading the New Zealand building industry. I’m sure their achievement will inspire others.”

Ms Cutler said although the house features many innovative and smart solutions, one of the key reasons it scored 10 Homestar was due to commonsense design choices – such as good orientation for sun and high levels of insulation.

“It doesn’t have to be rocket science to design a really efficient, sustainable house.”

Paul Chapman, Senior Quantity Surveyor at the Belvedere Group, says they set out with the aim of achieving 10 Homestar, using the core principles of the tool as their design brief.

“Homestar provides a clear framework for home sustainability, which is why we placed the tool at the centre of our Ecostar Homes range. We’re offering comprehensive eco-friendly features, innovative technology and energy efficiency at a range of prices.”

Iain Gleaves, Belvedere Group Commercial Manager, says the company’s vision was to deliver sustainable homes, with lower running costs, to all New Zealanders. “We have calculated our 10 Homestar home would save the average four-person Tauranga family $3,198.68 per year. Our starting point for the range, which will be a 7 Homestar Design-rated house, will save $1,833.59 per year,” says Gleaves.

“It’s not difficult to deliver cost savings, health benefits and a welcoming environment, and we’re delighted to prove that with our 10 Homestar Design rating.”

Features of the 10 Homestar home include:
• A ‘hydroponic’ underfloor heating system where pipes under the driveway absorb passive heat and pump hot water to the underfloor heating system
• Photovoltaic (PV) energy system and solar hot water (any excess solar energy is used to heat the tank that supplies underfloor heating)
• A smart home system that turns on appliances (e.g. dishwasher and washing machine) during off-peak energy periods, when occupants are out and the PV capacity is high
• Fully insulated concrete slab edge to minimise heat loss
• Wider 140 mm exterior framing, to allow room for extra insulation that exceeds NZ Building Code standards
• Rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling system
• Leak detection system that shuts off water automatically when there’s a leak or tap left running
• A Lifemark 5 star rating for safety and accessibility, ‘future-proofing’ the home
• During the build period, a strict waste management plan and a recycling programme will reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill.
The 10 Homestar design home will be priced around $785,000 when marketed. The 7 Homestar designs range, in the current stages of Tauranga’s Palm Springs development, are priced from $435,000 to $580,000 – comparable with many other group home builders, says Chapman.

ENDS

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