A 230 sqm Papamoa home in Palm Springs, due for completion in July 2015, has achieved the highest possible rating of 10 Homestar. Designed and built by Tauranga-based Belvedere Group, the home uses photovoltaic panels for solar energy, a state-of-the-art appliance control system, and a smart piping system that captures passive heat to warm the home.

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.

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.

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

Features of the 10 Homestar home include:

• ‘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).
• 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 is left running.

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.