Kaibosh

Whilst still in its pilot project
phase, which includes
the construction of
New Zealand’s first Best Home,
the initiative will provide the New
Zealand home building industry with
a best practice model enabling new
builds which create less construction
waste, are more energy efficient and
economical to run, and ultimately
more comfortable to live in. The
pilot has demonstrated it is feasible
to build a minimum 6-star rated
home for no more than 5 percent
additional cost when compared to a
traditional home build.
Best Home is a not-for-profit
initiative between Hastings District
Council and the largest residential
construction firm in Hawke’s Bay,
Horvath Homes, with technical
support and advice provided by
Beacon Pathway Incorporated.
Underpinning Best Home is a more
scientific approach to home design
and construction, incorporating
simple but effective changes which
result in material efficiency, energy
savings and importantly a more
comfortable home environment.
Best Home was developed
following a community consultation
process that focused on creating
more sustainable and resource
efficient communities. The Best
Home approach encourages
performance improvement in home
design and construction to a level
which exceeds current building
code standards. Included within the
package is a ‘green tape’ building
consent process whereby Council
has committed to processing
plans meeting Best Home
criteria within five working days
(compared to the usual 20 days).
Malcom Hart, Building Consents
Manager for Hastings District
Council says, “Even though we saw
the demand for more sustainable
homes increasing, we recognised
there was no integrated package
available that supports designers
and builders to enter the sustainable
housing market. With Best Home
we intend to fill that gap.“
“Best Home utilises the New
Zealand Green Building Council’s
Homestar rating tool which
measures the energy efficiency and
performance of a home. “While
the majority of new builds today
achieve at best a three or four star
rating out of a possible 10, Best
Home will set a new benchmark”
says Malcom. “Every Best Home
build will achieve a minimum six
stars at no more than 5 percent
additional cost of a standard build.”
continues on next page
LOOKING
FOR A GLASS
GRANT?
The Forum is committed to ensuring
that as much waste container
glass as possible is diverted from
landfill and put to an effective use.
It recognises that this can only
be achieved if there is input into
the critical areas of infrastructure,
education of the community and
co-operation with local commercial
recyclers and local authorities.
In some locations it may be
necessary to utilise local alternative
uses or upgrade infrastructure
to improve glass quality and/
or the tonnages recycled.
Councils and community groups are
invited to apply for funding to assist
glass recycling projects. Refer to the
Forum’s website for the application
form and the criteria for grants.
Funding projects to date include:
• Infrastructure for the collection of
quality glass for remanufacture into
new containers
• Support infrastructure for
the collection of glass at
community events
• Trials of glass as a substitute for
sand in golf courses/sports fields
• Engineering report on glass in
building slab construction
• The separation at source
bin for single collections
with glass separate
• Modification of MD4 specifications
to allow glass in road construction
GET IN TOUCH WITH
John Webber
john@glassforum.org.nz
www.glassforum.org.nz