Partnership builds a better future

February 5th 2014

Partnership builds a better future

A property development partnership between the Hastings District Council, Horvath Homes and Unison is set to showcase the best in sustainable building practices and infrastructure solutions.

Horvath Homes will retrofit one existing property and build eleven new homes on the Fitzroy Avenue land, previously used as a Hastings District Council parks’ nursery site, and being developed by Council subsidiary, Hastings District Properties.

Hastings Mayor, Lawrence Yule said the development was a great example of Council, property developers and utilities working together to create sustainable and affordable homes, suburbs, and cities, with global connectivity via world-class infrastructure.

“Partnerships such as these show that by working with like-minded players in the region, ‘future’ technologies can be an affordable reality for our community today,” said Mr Yule.

All eleven new homes will be constructed to potentially achieve a Homestar™ rating of seven stars, using energy efficient, sustainable building practices showcased in the ‘Best Home’ concept in Havelock North last year. The retrofitting of the existing home will be undertaken to achieve aHomestar™ rating of 5 stars. Unison will install ‘distributed generation’ technology in the homes, consisting of solar panels and an energy storage system, as well as ‘smart’ electricity network infrastructure and intelligent LED street lighting.

“Horvath Homes have already shown they can deliver affordable, energy efficient housing, and Unison’s smart network technology is establishing the company as one of the leading electricity distributors in New Zealand.

Mr Yule said residents of the development would also enjoy the benefits of a connection to UnisonFibre’s ultra-fast fibre optic broadband network.

“Hastings’ prosperity is based on its connections to the world, and we are not waiting and hoping to win a gigatown competition – we are working with like-minded players in our region to build a high speed connected future for Hastings today.”

It is expected the first home will be completed and installed with the energy systems around March 2014.

Fitzroy Development Facts

• The development will consist of eleven new medium density homes and one existing home, retrofitted to Best Home specs.

• Homes will be designed and constructed using the ‘Best Home’ sustainable approach to building, which factors in site orientation, building materials and construction, energy, heating, water, and infrastructure.

• The Best Home approach includes using rain water for grey water services, and solar energy for both passive heating and the generation of electricity, to help conserve natural resources.

• Unison is installing energy storage and management systems in the homes, which will store solar energy generated by solar PV (photovoltaic) panels, to help reduce peak network demand and costs, delivering electricity savings to home owners.

• Unison will use its fibre optic network to remotely monitor the performance of the network and the homes’ energy storage system.

• UnisonFibre’s network supplying the subdivision is already providing gigabyte services within the region.

• Energy efficient thinking extends to public street lighting, which will be provided by Philips intelligent LED street lighting. The natural white lights use around 60% less energy, and can be remotely controlled to ensure lighting levels meet the ambient and safety needs of the community.

• The civil construction works to develop the subdivision are also being undertaken using sustainable principals.

ENDS

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