Sustainable building

 

The modern mantra of pursuit of a long healthy life, makes demands on what we eat and drink, how we exercise and how we care for our mental and emotional well-being. It also involves paying due attention to the environment, and in a housing sense that often means integrating sustainability principles into building design.

 

The Building Research Association of NZ (BRANZ) defines ‘sustainable design’ as the wise use of our natural resources in buildings, while ‘designing sustainably’ means that energy, water and material resource are used efficiently and to their best advantage. The BRANZ ‘Easy Guide to Eco-Building’ booklet gives a general overview of green building issues and New Zealand specific information on eco-products, services and design. (BRANZ website. www.branz.co.nz)

 

The Building Biology and Ecology Institute of NZ (BBE) have also established a set of eco-building principles based on extensive research into this area.   www.ecoprojects.co.nz/aboutbbe.asp                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

 

Both promote housing that emphasises the pure and natural and although the building in some instances may look the same, more attention has been paid to incorporate healthy and lower running cost features. 

 

Various non-toxic exterior construction materials are used to blend in with the environment, including strawbale (with attention to moisture control); various earth techniques (earth buildings are cool in summer and warm in winter)   – adobe bricks, rammed earth, wattle and daub, cob, pise (clay, mud and ash); sustainable timber like macrocarpa (contains its own preservative) and logs.  

 

Non-toxic building materials are chosen and the house is designed to capture the sun and use its heat. Solar panels are installed to supplement heating or provide all the water heating, there’s rainwater reticulation for irrigation and possibly the toilet and rest of the house’s water system, and it’s build on a concrete base, again to reduce heat loss. Sustainable natural timbers (generally not native hardwood timbers) are used, perhaps wool insulation and the use of bio paints (non-toxic) on the walls, together with low energy appliances. Outdoor living features native bush and organic gardens often based on permaculture principles.  

 

Over the last few years, these concepts, along with a community lifestyle, have been incorporated into the ongoing development of several Eco villages - Earthsong - West Auckland, Silkwood – Nelson, WiahouValley – North Hokianga, Otamatea - Kaiwaka, Northland, Awaawaroa – Waiheke. 

 

As far as other eco inspired houses in West Auckland, Peter Scott from Earthsong says that there are small numbers of one off eco inspired houses being built here and there, probably mainly by owner builders or those built on behalf of owners, while organisations like Housing New Zealand, sometimes incorporate some eco features into their housing.  

 

But if you are looking for a taste of ‘sustainable design’ living you can stay at one of the eco friendly holiday properties scattered around the country. 

 

One of these is English Park Eco Accommodation located in Christchurch and run by Rosemary and Yolanda Soryl. The house was designed by Alan Simpkin from Eco Homes and built by Philip Wilkinson Ferm of Natural Home Builders. It incorporates energy efficiency and environmentally friendly building materials with solar water heating, untreated framing, natural paints, recycled carpet insulation, plantation timber flooring and double glazing. “About half our guests choose us for the Eco aspects, they want a ‘clean green’stay”, explained Yolanda.

 

At the other end of New Zealand, Inge and Rolf have created an eco wellness resort in eleven hectares of gardens, already spray-free for 20 years. Located on the banks of the KeriKeri River in the Bay of Islands, the six individual chalets at Ora Ora Resort were made and are furnished using natural materials wherever possible. Special long-term packages are available.

 

There’s also The Ridge Luxury Eco Lodge, at Puhoi Historic Village, North Auckland, owned by Ian Bateman. Described as luxury country style, this   environmentally friendly property was built in 2001, using non-toxic, sustainable materials, including eco paints.

 

It’s not, however, a style of accommodation that appears to be part of the general house rental market. When it comes to home rental, if properties have these features, it appears they are not promoted as such and neither is the concept at the top of people’s wish list.

 

In general, the comment from the property rental sector reveals that while people steer clear of ‘leaky homes’, are wary of asbestos ceilings and request wooden floors rather than carpet, where allergies are a factor, they do not specifically seek environmentally sound properties.

 

The word from Prestige Reality International Ltd office is that people may ask for filtered water and prefer polished floors because of the dust factor, but it goes no further than that.

 

Leone Freeman of @interactive Property Management says, “Today, we find renting is not the prerogative of those who can’t afford to buy. Many executives choose to rent instead of purchase and are very choosey. Eco living is not the main driver. However, if there were two identical properties and one had solar heating, then the solar heating one would most likely win. Key factors for renting are area, price, location and number of bedrooms. In Auckland, north facing because of dampness issues is also important”.  

 

Even where more disposable income is available, the story is similar. Crocker Property Management Ltd, who have recently launched a new executive living service for the high end of the market, where the rental may be $3,000 to $4,000 a week, gave similar feedback. Manager, Karen Coleman finds requests centre on the conveniences of life, with facilities like a pools, tennis courts, internal access garaging, a bar and central vacuum system on the list.

 

Looking to the future, the climbing cost of domestic electricity and gas, water and wastewater charges alone, may cause us to look more closely at the benefits of choosing more environmentally friendly places to live.

 

© 2005 Linda Donald

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Appeared in The New Zealand Property

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