Shac Details October 2009 Hires

Sustainable Habitat Challenge 09

Team Update October 2009

SHAC TEAMS project name

Institution/s

location

build type

Te Hira Whanau Bach 101

Te Hira Whanau & UNITEC / ScALA / Te Hononga

Rangitoto Island

retrofit

Team Canterbury

CPIT, University of Canterbury, and Lincoln

Christchurch (relocatable)

new build

Team Housewise

Housing New Zealand, Landcare Research, University of Auckland

Auckland

retrofit

Whareuku

University of Auckland

Lake Rotoiti

new build

Team Dunedin

Otago Polytechnic, University of Dunedin

Otago (relocatable)

new build

Team Waikato

Wintec

Hamilton

new build

The Plant Room

Victoria University, Massey University, Weltec

Wellington

retrofit

Team Central Otago

Otago Polytechnic

Clyde

new build

Unitec EcoBach

Unitec

Auckland

new build

SHAC 09 is a project of the Otago Polytechnic. Significant funding has been supplied by the Minister for the Environment’s Sustainable Management Fund.

Whareuku

University of Auckland

“We see house design as a key aspect that needs to change in order to lessen the negative impact of humans on our natural environment”. Vision for More Sustainable Housing The Whareuku team from the University of Auckland are developing a low-cost, flax-fibre reinforced earthen housing solution for rural Maori communities in the SHAC 09 competition. Our scenario for sustainable living is one where the basic needs (social, cultural and physical) of each individual in the community are met. Parallel to meeting physical needs, the building’s interaction with the environment must follow aspects of Maori kaitiakitanga (guardianship). The concept of kaitiakitanga is a holistic concept that places the occupants of the land in the context of a greater whole with a responsibility to protect and preserve the environmental and spiritual wellbeing of the land. Our team is made up of students that are motivated by the clear need to change the ways the building industry currently provides housing, so that our generation and generations after us can and will have our housing needs met and have a healthy and sustainable natural environment to live in. The Whareuku project, based at the University of Auckland, and under the leadership of the Principal Investigator Kepa Morgan, has partnered with a number of Maori community representatives from around the North Island to develop a practical, low-cost, flax-fibre reinforced, earthen housing solution for use on rural Maori land. The Whareuku earth housing project has been developed from a novel flax fibre reinforced earth idea into a two bedroom, 90 m2 house design and will be completed with the construction of the earthen building. Challenges Because of our involvement in the SHaC competition, we looked at ways to fit out the house and create a sustainable house that considered all aspects of resource consumption and owner interaction with the building. One path focused on developing high-tech, super efficient but more expensive solutions and the other focused on technology and solutions that everyone (including the poor and 3rd world developing nations) could access, afford and have. In Rotoiti clean water is provided from a nearby mountain spring which is only used by the neighbouring communities and provides an abundant supply of water for a fixed cost each month. This raised an issue with implementing dual flush toilets, flow restricting shower heads and aerated taps because there was no financial or practical incentive for the builder/plumber or house occupant to install these more expensive water saving devices. In the end we did implement these features but it raised a point that at least in this rural community, is can be considered sustainable to use larger volumes of water than average because the generation of clean water is greater than the communities total water consumption. Early dialogue with five rural Maori papakainga revealed this particular site as the best site in terms of available land, agreement with the local people and the available labour for the research project. The relations with the people of the land and project preparation progressed and developed well with the designs, the labour force and the site confirmed. Near the time construction however, a few people with an interest in the land objected to the project and the dispute went to the point where a Maori Land Court injunction was being prepared to stop the project. The replacement site identified is where the Whareuku house stands today. From this we learnt to always have a backup location in mind because developing on Maori land is, more often than not, a difficult process in several respects. Opportunities for the next SHAC The methodology and stage of development should remain open and reasonably undefined keeping in line with the idea that this competition is more about working collaboratively and celebrating the diverse national research initiatives, helping them reach a practical stage (house building), raising the level of public awareness and facilitating co-operation in all areas and levels of society and government. In the future we will need many different housing solutions to meet the many different needs of people living in different areas, from different cultures, with different expectations of what a home should cost, feel like and look like. Media Enquiries: John (Jing Siong) Cheah -Email address: [email protected] Mobile: 0210 262 3499

Whareuku - SHAC Facts • a practical, low-cost, flax-fibre reinforced, earthen housing solution • Cost $85,000 • Number of Bedrooms: 2 • Number of Students:10 • Number of Professionals and Volunteers: 2 • Energy: simple and low-cost technologies to reduce the consumption of power • Water: simple and low-cost technologies to reduce the consumption of water • Materials: Locally sourced materials, Modular building system • Waste: Worm farm, permeable pavements • Indoor Environmental Quality: Thermal mass of earth walls regulates the indoor air temperature • Affordable and Suitable for Purpose: Sweat Equity Model - Local labour and resources used in the building are a part of the owner contributed down payment of the house. • Supporting a Sustainable Community: inexpensive, supports local community building of housing. opportunities to share about the housing research and to increase the environmental awareness of homeowners in the local community (Rotoiti)

Lake Rotoiti

Te Hira Whanau - Bach 101 Te Hira Whanau & UNITEC / ScALA / Te Hononga

"Upgrading the bach was working in the morning and swimming in the afternoon.” Vision for More Sustainable Housing Sustainability has always been inherent in the typology of the classic Kiwi bach. You design and build it yourself, you reuse found and local materials, and you and your family has a real connection to the place. You also become a kaitiaki or guardian for a piece of our precious coastline. However, with the combined challenges of coastal real estate price rises and the removal of Bachs built on crown land from the 1980s, the true kiwi bach is now certainly an endangered species. Progress The Bach 101 retrofits were finished in 2008. Following the 1 week build, family members completed water tank reinstallation and soffit bird proofing and during the summer the family added a photovoltaic solar panel to provide electricity to run efficient LED lights. Challenges The key challenge over the 1 week build was to manage unforseen repairs required to the south wall and bedroom floor while trying to maintain progress on the 3 core areas namely re roof, re cladding south wall new composting toilet and generator building. While this meant a full on dawn to dusk building schedule we were well pleased to complete all elements to a fully closed in weather proof level. Opportunities for the next SHAC The Te Hira Whanau – Bach 101 represents a beacon of resistance to both the ubiquitous gentrification of kiwi bachs (many claiming bach status but are really beach houses) and the loss of those built on crown land. With Bach 101, the maintenance of low energy and water use practises and the adoption of appropriate technology solutions like Solar powered LED lighting systems and composting toilets has helped to preserve the essence of Kiwi bach life while enhancing cultural and environmental sustainability. The opportunity therefore exists for SHaC to help promote more simple, appropriate technology coastal living solutions which maintain, enhance and reclaim sustainable connection to place. Media Enquiries: Rau Hoskins 021 658 019 [email protected]

Te Hira Whanau - SHAC Facts • • • • • •

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BACH101 Team retrofitted on Rangitoto Island Number of Bedrooms: 2 Number of Students:10 Number of whanau members involved: 7 Number of Professionals and Volunteers:4 Energy: When at the bach, the entire family’s lifestyle is low-energy. The bach has a new insulated south wall and ceiling and low-energy solar powered LED lighting that replaced less efficient candles, lamps and generator powered electric lighting. Outdoor cooking in the ‘cave’ maintains a 70 year whanau tradition where an open fire, enclosed by basalt walls and corrugated iron roof, is used to both cook food and keep whanau members warm in the winter months and on cooler evenings. Water: Water is inherently precious and carefully used when collected from the bach roof with rainwater tanks Materials: The Bach was constructed and retrofitted using many found, recycled and sustainable building materials. • Waste: Reuse of materials reduces waste. This approach included recycled timber joinery windows and recycled corrugated iron for the roof of the toilet and generator shed Indoor Environmental Quality: The Bach was originally built in 1919 from native timbers (mainly kauri) and has wall paper on scrim on kauri sarked walls. The floor has sections of 1930’s lino on original kauri tongue and groove floor boards. Affordable and Suitable for Purpose: Built in large part by the family, it is inherently well-suited and adaptable.

Rangitoto Island

Unitec Ecocrib

Unitec - Product Design and School of Applied Technology, Auckland

“The goal is to get as close as possible to 100% renewable energy”. Vision for More Sustainable Housing The project’s main objective is to provide a solution for housing that is cost effective and energy efficient. We are also using building materials that lessen the impact on our environment, and highlighting how we are currently using and living in our homes. Students will investigate and explore new systems and materials for the Unitec sustainable house in response to current housing and building needs. The project’s research conclusions will be made available to industry sponsors, students, local government and the wider community. In addition to the construction of the bach Product Design Students from the Bachelor of Product Design have been concerned with designing innovative, sustainable and appropriate products (and product systems) for the interior and exterior of the Ecocrib ‘sustainable house’. The designers were tasked with looking at which kinds of research designers can undertake within the product design context to support more sustainable solutions and secondly, how can designers contribute towards more sustainable lifestyles. The solutions arrived at are equally applicable as retro-fit items to any existing home. Each of the product designers was asked to prepare concept proposals for one or more of the following ‘design areas’ 1.Interior and exterior lighting design 3. Exterior fencing and screening design 5. Bathroom design

2. Interior and exterior furniture design 4. Kitchen design

The breadth of concepts arrived at ranges from water harvesting products, water efficient baths, fencing and screening, educational resources to storage and anerobic digestion systems. Key elements for build or retrofit: Energy - The goal is to get as close as possible to 100% renewable energy. There is no power from the grid to this site. Everything must be generated on site from solar photo voltaic cells, wind power and if absolutely necessary a bio diesel generator. Power consumption will be monitored by measuring what is generated and stored in the batteries and how much is actually used. Energy efficient appliances will enable this to be reduced. Heating is by way of hot air in the roof cavity being directed down over and stored in the concrete slab. This is released back into the house at night through vents in the floor. Cooling in summer uses the same path in reverse. Water - Rain water harvesting, solar water heating and a grey water filtering system will be the main features of this project. This aligns with the SHaC 09 vision and modelling on this is still to come. Average water use per person in Auckland City is 203 litres per person per day. It is expected that the potential SHaC parameter of 90 litres per day will be easily achievable. The site has no mains reticulated water. Irrigation of the garden surrounding the house will also be supplied by the rain water harvesting system. Solar hot water heating must supply all the hot water that the household uses daily for bathing, laundry and dishwashing. Materials: Team vision is to source durable materials and where possible locally. The Hebel cladding has to come from Australia. The choice of this material was governed by its thermal insulation properties for winter. With the addition of 50mm of styrene foam it prohibits thermal gain in summer. (Heathcote 2007). The styrene foam is an oil derivative but the extra insulation value it adds to the wall and the reduction in energy use over the life of the building may out way this. The Building Code requirement for timber cladding is 15yrs. This system will far in exceed that. The aerated concrete/foam system will offer ease of building and shorter construction time. Timber products will be sourced from plantations approved by the Forestry Stewardship Council. This will limit the number of suppliers available to the team. Recycled timber flooring will be used to limit the amount of emissions, preventing ozone depletion and reducing volatile organic compounds. Waste: Unitec Sustainable team goals are to minimise waste during construction and recycle where possible. Students will determine where the waste products will go and the absolute minimum will be sent to landfill. This exercise will form part of the learning outcomes for the certificate of applied technology students building the house. Waste products from the house services will be processed on site. Grey water to be processed through filtering system appropriate for an organic garden. Media Contact Roger [email protected] Ph: 09-815-4321 ext

http://designprojects.ning.com

ecocrib Unitec Ecocrib - SHAC Facts

ECOCRIB

• Reduce the use of non-renewable energy consumption

ecoc

• Have zero use of mains water supply • Provide alternative waste disposal options • Use New Zealand’s sustainable building materials

ECOCRIB

• Provide a healthy living environment with a constant

Auckland

indoor temperature and moisture control

The“LIVING ISLAND’  created to be the ‘centre of the home’ a table where food prep, cooking, recycling and storage meets socialising combined with a table for homework, dining and other activities. Materials are considered via LCA and the two part design allows for reconfiguration and use in a variety of rooms.

Team Housewise

Housing New Zealand Corporation, University of Auckland, Landcare Research, New Zealand Housing Foundation

“I have really enjoyed being part of the discussions. They have let me contribute my ideas. I have even become a keen gardener, and I am now recycling as well.” (tenant) Vision for More Sustainable Living Team Housewise is interested in how Housing New Zealand can develop a repeatable renovation package for a 1950s state house with useable technologies that facilitate more environmentally and socially sustainable performance in-use (‘hardware’) as well as facilitate a learning process with residents (‘software’) to support more sustainable living. We have run a design workshop including the tenant to make sure we are delivering an appropriate upgrade. The Upgrade The upgrade includes added insulation, open plan kitchen and lounge, an extra bedroom, a heat pump water heater, a heat pump air heater and a rainwater tank. An example of involving the tenant, Barbara, in the upgrade discussions was when she suggested a new window in her kitchen. “I wanted to be able to watch my children from the kitchen when they were playing outside.” Barbara also told us that the pellet fire we had suggested might be too hot and dangerous for her children. “I have really enjoyed being part of the discussions. They have let me contribute my ideas. I have even become a keen gardener, and I am now recycling as well,” she added. Progress The final design is now being consented. Expressions of Interest from builders are being sought. We have completed design reviews and are looking to lodge building consent. Tenant liaison has gone well with the team briefing the tenant regularly on the project, and seeking input into aspects of the interventions, i.e type of control panel for heat exchange system, secure backyard for the kids to play, etc. Communications Our team has developed a new logo for communication purposes. The project has featured in local community news, Tamaki Campus University of Auckland Newsletter and internet site and the local Glen Innes Business Association newsletter. Challenges Team Housewise has selected a family who is very excited to be part of this renovation project. The family has been integrated into the design process through an in-depth interview and participation in an initial design charette. We look forward to working with the family to design usable renovations to make the house warmer, drier and healthier, and monitoring the resulting benefit to the environment. Finally, we have begun collecting historical data on resource consumption (energy and water as well as health indicators – the family has been in the same house for 10 years – to enable us to have a reasonable benchmark for progress towards our goals of better performance in-use. We are also beginning to monitor the existing indoor environment for temperature and humidity benchmarks. Once the work on the house is complete, we will spend part of next year monitoring the actual performance of what basic house improvements and engagement with residents’ needs can do to save natural resources. Media Contact Tamsin Vuetilovoni, Housing New Zealand Senior Communications Advisor [email protected], phone 04 439 3955

Team Housewise - SHAC Facts • Team Housewise is investigating low-cost retrofits for State Houses • Number of Bedrooms: 2-3 • Number of Team Members: 8 • Energy: Cost effective, easy to use renewable energy sources, hardware and minor design elements for the house. • Water: Cost effective, low maintenance, solutions for water and wastewater for the house. • Materials: Use materials that are renewable, low maintenance, affordable and durable as and when practicable. • Waste: Apply principles of water reduction in design and tenant education programme • Indoor Environmental Quality: Apply design principals and look at asset improvements such as passive ventilation, fan ventilation system, insulation, etc to ensure a healthy indoor environment and ensure tenant education covers importance of this • Affordable and Suitable for Purpose: Ensure tenants are fully aware and trained on how to maximise the house features and also ensuring the budget is reasonable and ensuring the repeatability of some or all of the features in future upgrades of similar stock. • Supporting a Sustainable Community: Ensuring design keeps with local character, civic identity, efficient use of land, pedestrian, cycle, and vehicle friendly. The design would also support social ties and link with multiple transport systems

TEAM HOUSEWISE

TEAM HOUSEWISE

Auckland

Team Waikato Wintec, Hamilton

Vision for More Sustainable Housing To The home has always been a symbol of a safe, protective environment with architects, builders and homeowners alike knowing the importance of healthy insulated homes. With support from their supplying partnersThe School of Trades at Wintec have constructed a 1-bedroom relocatable ancillary unit made of 90% sustainable and re-cycleable materials. “The students along with local industry have worked the project, using Pine from the Pine plantations of New Zealand with great enthusiasm,” said tutor, Trevor Wyatt. “The unit is well insulated, showing that we can save energy by insulating, creating awarm, healthy environment.” The insulation properties incorporated into the unit ensure that there is always a comfortable living environment in any season – and the energy savings should be significant. The Wintec Eco House is ideal for farms, baches or the extra room for visitors. Visit the Wintec Eco House and see the possibilities for saving money with top quality housing that require less resources and are great places to live. Bid at the Auction and Help Hospice Waikato. Key SHAC Team Waikato House Features • The design is very energy efficient. A compact building has less surface area to lose heat through, and uses less materials to make. The panels will be custom-made to suit the design from standard plywood sheets with very little waste. • The design has a significant amount of Northern glazing with suitable summer shading. Solar heat store in exposed ground dark coloured concrete floor. Additional solar storage in translucent water-filled trombe walls. • No East/West glazing. Minimal Southern glazing. All double-glazed with thermally broken joinery. Sliding exterior insulating shutters provide additional insulation in winter if required, or shading of the trombe walls in summer. • Very high levels of insulation in ceiling, wall and floor with very little thermal bridging. Highly airtight construction. Mechanical ventilation will be required as a result. This will be combined with a heat exchanger to scavenge the exhaust air. No additional heating will be provided as it is not expected to be necessary. • Embodied energy is lowered by reduced use of steel and imported products. • The main fabric of the building is NZ harvested pine. The building will be much stronger than a standard house because of the inherent nature of the panels. The interior surfaces will be exposed premium plywood which will be clear powder-coated. This impervious surface has a long life and high impact resistance. These factors, should result in a long service life for the building as constructed. • Because the building is transportable, it can be moved to another location when it no longer suits the purpose. Challenges Foreign exchange has made the trial SIP panel importation possibly too dear. The construction methodology is being reconsidered. The team is finalising its design and is meeting potential suppliers next week. The team plans a quick build in preparation for the Waikato Home Show. Media Enquiries: Trevor Wyatt, Wintec , [email protected] 07 834 8800 ext 8732

Team Waikato SHAC Facts • • • •

Number of Bedrooms: 2 Number of Students: 30 Number of Professionals and Volunteers: 5 Energy: The design is very energy efficient. A compact building has less surface area to lose heat through, and uses less materials to make. Very high levels of insulation in ceiling, wall and floor with very little thermal bridging. Highly airtight construction. The design has a significant amount of Northern glazing with suitable summer shading. Solar heat store in exposed ground dark coloured concrete floor. Additional solar storage in translucent water-filled trombe walls. • Materials: The panels will be custom-made to suit the design from standard plywood sheets with very little waste. Embodied energy is lowered by reduced use of steel and imported products. • Indoor Environmental Quality: Mechanical ventilation with a heat exchanger to scavenge the exhaust air. The interior surfaces will be exposed premium plywood which will be clear powder-coated. • Affordable and Suitable for Purpose: Because the building is transportable, it can be moved to another location when it no longer suits the purpose.

The Plant Room

University of Victoria School of Architecture, Massey University

“Our regenerative habitat, the Plant Room, is an innercity project that will generate energy, collect water, recycle waste and grow food whilst addressing urgent housing needs”. Objectives One of the more unique aspects of living in Wellington is its dense inner city culture and the already high rate of apartment dwelling, partly due to the lack of available / accessible land. We looked at many different urban living scenarios, high density, low-rise buildings, rooftop gardens, a variety of communities, and importantly, in the context of a post-oil-crash society, the need to live close to work, schools and shops. We felt that looking at higher-density living, particularly higher-density social housing was a need we should address for the Wellington region. We are also concerned that environmental sustainability as a goal may never be achieved if our only solution is to build completely new buildings. New Zealand’s existing building stock continues to consume large amounts of energy. Our current building stock is likely to be with us for a long time and there is a tremendous opportunity to improve these buildings to make them more energy efficient, comfortable to live in and socially sustainable. We wish to address this issue through retrofitting a generic Wellington apartment. More broadly we are interested in exploring a particular logic of ‘green architecture’ that goes beyond some current ideas of sustainable design. Our aim is to create a ‘regenerative’ habitat where people will be delighted, community will be developed and sustainable living will literally ‘grow’. Vision for More Sustainable Living The Plant Room is a prefabricated room that bolts-on to a variety of existing apartment types. A Plant Room provides hot water for one, a healthy growing space for herbs, fruit and vegetables all year round, a worm farm, a rainwater tank, an outdoor space and an enclosed room. It shades the apartment to avoid summer overheating and collects hot air to circulate warmth in the winter. It is designed to improve the quality of apartment living while reducing the energy and water use of it’s occupants. It could also be a suitable solution to office retro-fits. We have committed to build two Plant Rooms: The first will be a transportable exhibition to communicate the ideas of sustainable building to the wider community. It will be fitted to a shipping container and exhibited at various locations around new zealand. The container will also provide a location for events where the technologies and products used can be fully explained. The second will be fitted to an apartment building. It will be occupied, monitored and tested to establish the base level of performance of the unit and to drive future development of the plant room as a potential building product/component. Media Contact Jessica Bennett VUW - [email protected] 027 213 0817

The Plant Room - SHAC Facts • Number of Team Members: 15 • Energy: 60% annual energy saving when compared to a typical apartment. No energy will be required for space heating. • Water: 75% saving in annual water use.100% grey water recycling Wormerator Composting Toilets • Materials: Two systems will be designed using the maximum possible proportion of recycled materials. A green roof / wall modular system will be designed using New Zealand native plant species and a drainage mat made from recycled tyres. The bolton plant room element will be made from recycled timber and local stone pavers for thermal mass. Glazing will be new to ensure a high performance standard. These two systems will be designed to be fully demountable so that they can be reused over and over. • Waste: 65% reduction in household waste 50% reduction in construction & demolition waste 100% of grey water will be re-used for garden irrigation/ watering vegetable gardens. 100% blackwater (solids) fed to worm farm

Wellington

Team Dunedin

Otago Polytechnic and The University of Otago

“The Otago Polytechnic Team Dunedin house will offer your average family living in Dunedin the opportunity to live in a more sustainable way than what they normally would.” Vision for More Sustainable Housing in Otago Team Dunedin is designing a building a house to befit the ‘average’ Dunedin family. At its centre is the aim to design and build a home which will appeal to a common denominator, and while appearing ‘normal’, in fact encompasses a variety of accessible and sustainable materials and services. Good use of conventional building techniques means the house will be affordable to buy. It will cost less to run because of its efficient use of energy, good use of the sun, and good insulation. It will be a pleasure to live in because of good design, including efficient use of space. Progress The roof has dropped onto the Otago Polytechnic’s sustainable house, its’ submission to the Sustainable Habitat Challenge. The house is being built by Otago Polytechnic Carpentry students and has been designed to be as sustainable as possible, yet still be comfortable, affordable and attractive to the average Dunedin family. Challenges 1. Working with existing sponsors. Team Dunedin is working with sponsors in order to fund their build. This is both a positive and a challenge – we are strengthening existing relationships and putting a twist on our sponsorship relationship by asking for more sustainable products. Happily, our sponsors understand our motives and are happy to oblige. Without them, our build could not go ahead – but will aspects of ‘sustainability’ be compromised? 2. Ours is a transportable home built by new building students that must be taught to achieve unit standards. This must be the largest parameter to our project and build. 3. Working an education environment. With a team made up of members who each had their own personal objectives (architects, lecturers, sponsors, giving experience of the 3604 code etc) it has been difficult to match objectives, as well as timelines. 4. Working with staff and students. It is our job as sustainable educators to show why we believe that more sustainable building is simply practical building. In the presence of misconceptions about what sustainability is, the difficulty of motivating staff and students in their thoughts and practices cannot be underestimated. Opportunities for the next SHAC Team Dunedin, therefore strongly advocates for a SHaC 2011/2012 – whatever the funding and timelines dictate. Firstly, the team itself might need a bit more time. We feel like our design was rushed through in a way and we would have liked to have a bit more time – but I guess it is hard to make everyone happy! We would also like to have had better opportunities to work with industry – if this could be coordinated somehow that would make our efforts a little easier! We feel as a team that Retrofitting is important, and would be an opportunity to expand the skills of our carpentry students. We really hope to have another opportunity with SHaC to try new and different things. Media Contact Otago Polytechnic, D’Arcy Dalzell 0800 762 786

Team Dunedin SHAC Facts • • • • • • • • • • • •

A new timber-framed house with 2 bedrooms. Number of Bedrooms: 2 Number of Students: 45 Number of Professionals and Volunteers: 8 Energy: Sun capturing north facing windows, insulation mean low energy requirements. Efficient heating supported - wood burner, pellet fire, or heat pump. Water: Low-flow appliances Materials: Good use of space - less use of materials, and much less costs to build or heat Waste: Construction waste minimised and space in kitchen for composting Indoor Environmental Quality: Low VOC emission paints and carpet Affordable and Suitable for Purpose: Designed to be built off-site for lower construction costs, portable Supporting a Sustainable Community: inexpensive, portable, bike storage HERS Rating: 6 stars

Dunedin:

Team Central Otago Otago Polytechnic

“Hopefully it will provoke people to think and see different ways of doing things”. Description A regional team from the communities of Alexandra, Clyde, Cromwell, Queenstown and Wanaka. A straw bale house for the arid, Central Otago environment. Vision for More Sustainable Housing The homeowner, originally from Finland, purchased property in Clyde, with the vision of creating an ‘eco’ home. ‘Eco’ can have many definitions, but for this future ‘eco’ homeowner he desired a home that was warm, beautiful, non-toxic and had a minimal impact on it’s surroundings. In keeping with his Finnish roots, a sauna and loft was part of the design brief and has been incorporated into the home. Earthen floors, a five tonne masonry stove, earthen plasters, and a central mass wall are design elements and materials that will all act as passive solar collectors which absorb the direct radiation during the day and assist in warming the home during the cold Central Otago nights. Utilizing straw bales, with an R-value of R6 wall insulation, will take a non-toxic, natural, renewable and potentially polluting waste product (as straw is often burned) and create a wonderfully insulated, beautiful sanctuary from exterior noise and temperatures. Passive solar, active solar thermal and the masonry stove will keep the interior space and domestic hot water needs to the right temperature while keeping environmental emissions and use of fossil fuels to a minimum. Reuse of materials has also been a focus by salvaging timber for use in windows, floors, ceilings and structural members. The landscape has been designed to include both native plantings and edibles. Progress Design changes and consenting issues have slowed progress. Building is now expected to start in September 2009. Construction began in mid July with the site being excavated and prepping it for the salvaged tilt slab panels to be placed. It’s great to be underway! Workshops will begin in . Workshops include Building a Masonry Stove, Straw Bale Design & Construction, Introduction to Natural Building, Photovoltaics, among others. Contact 0800 765 9276 to sign up for these courses today. Media Contact Sarah Johnston, Sol Design Ltd./Otago Polytechnic, [email protected] 03 693 7369

Team Central Otago - SHAC Facts • The project has bought together over 50 people, mostly professionals in the construction industry • The house is stage one, the second stage is a public display Centre in Cromwell • Construction began in July 2009 • The house has solar hot water and a five tonne masonry stove with heat exchanger • No electrical heating • Thick earthen plasters and large central earthen mass wall to act as passive solar collectors, absorbing the warmth of the direct solar radiation • Straw bales used to insulate the walls • Minimising waste by using recycled timber for cabinetry • Rain water collected for irrigation • Brown and black waste used for compost

Clyde, Central Otago

Team Canterbury

Canterbury University/ Lincoln University/Christchurch Polytechnic

“We were looking for long term, solutions that will benefit the Canturbury region for years to come.” Vision for More Sustainable Housing Team Canterbury (CPIT, University of Canterbury and Lincoln University) developed its concept entry based on four key requirements: • To maximise energy and water efficiency within the parameter of low-cost housing criteria. • To minimise waste product during construction by careful consideration to design. • To create a building using materials and elements of design that allow for deconstruction and recycling. • To enable the house to be transportable. Progress CPIT’s Dennis Winter developed the housing plans based on building specifications provided by Canterbury University Engineering students. CPIT’s Interior Décor and Interior Design students have provided sustainable furnishing concepts from paint and colour schemes through to wall and floor coverings; and the Trades Innovation Institute staff and students are involved in the build. Key elements for build or retrofit: Power: Grid tied system with provision for night rate meter and renewable alternatives such as solar PV should they become economically or environmentally sensible. Use the power from the grid if available as it will be the most cost effective option unless a $20,000+ grid connection fee becomes eminent. Hot Water Heating: An active solar evacuated tube system coupled to an on demand electric booster will be specified. Ensure that the $1000 government solar energy grant is attained by having the solar system installed for less than $5800. The design has a central living/kitchen/dining area with modular bedrooms off either side for effective heat flow into bedrooms from the passive solar and heat pump or small pellet fire. Lighting: Compact fluorescent lights to be used throughout the entire home. Sensors for outdoor lights will minimise excess lighting while providing safety and security. Maximise use of natural lighting for living areas. No heat-leaking, low throw ceiling recessed spot lights! Appliances: Energy star rated appliances are highly preferred with the highest star rating products purchased for the most cost effective price. All appliances will be sized according to the household requirements. A power meter unit will be installed to provide energy use information to the occupants as a type of feedback loop to help establish less wasteful behaviours. Water: The main goals for this category is reducing mains water demand to 90 litres per person per day and reducing storm water runoff. State of the art high–velocity shower head and aerated sink faucets are specified. Hands-free kitchen fixture and a timer device in the shower will manage wasteful behaviour. Waste: The goals for our waste category are to reduce waste during construction and implementing sediment and erosion control during construction and operation. Materials: The house will have a 150mm thick wall, with R3.6 insulation. The roof will have R5 insulation and the floor R1.3. The living area floor will be tiled to add thermal mass. This also reduces the amount of dust and allergenic substances in the house that reside in carpet. Two materials that are hard to dispose of are Pink Batts and treated timber. It is requested that during construction, the tradesmen take extra care when installing Batts, to make for a thermally tight house, and also to make it easier to remove the batts and reuse them at the end of the buildings life. Land Use: A preliminary site lay-out has been proposed with no pavement, 70% of garden dedicated to foodproducing species and raised-bed structures. Purpose-built concrete compost bins installed behind the home as is the rain-water collection tank. Media Enquires: Associate Professor Susan Krumdieck [email protected] 03 364 2987 ext 7249

Canterbury - SHAC Facts • Team Canterbury is building a new, low-cost, more sustainable house using timber framing and carefully considered conventional building techniques • Number of Bedrooms: 2 • Number of Students: 55 • Number of Professionals and Volunteers: 14 • Energy: Extra thick walls and insulation mean low energy requirements. Sun capturing north facing windows, Efficient heating heat pump. • Water: Low-flow appliances • Materials: Efficient use with few offcuts • Waste: Construction waste minimised • Affordable and Suitable for Purpose: The house has been designed so that it could be built in sections, as money is saved up. • Supporting a Sustainable Community: the house is transportable, and can be moved.

Christchurch