Trends New Zealand Trends Volume 32 No 5A New Zealand | Page 82
Ten out of ten
Designed by Bob Burnett Architecture, this sustainable home won
the first ever 10 Homestar Built rating – everything from the
glazing and windows to the wood finish played a part
Above: Planet friendly – this home
features a plethora of green features
including PV solar electric, a hot
water heat pump, efficient lighting
and electrical design, well-above
standard floor, wall and ceiling
insulation, a power management
unit, automated moisture extraction
and a grey water system. In addition,
Low E Xcel double glazing units were
supplied for the project by Metro
Performance Glass.
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The first 10 Homestar Built-rated house in
Christchurch, in the South Island, in fact in the
whole country – this ground-breaking claim
to fame goes to the contemporary two-storey
house by Bob Burnett Architecture featured here.
Every factor was addressed to take the
house over the history-making, ten-star line.
These included energy use, waste disposal, ventilation, health and occupant comfort.
Naturally, with any home design, the right
glazing has a huge effect on warmth, comfort
and overall energy efficiency. However, when
the home in question is this spectacularly rated,
the glazing and related elements have to be at
the ‘next level’, says Mike Stanford, for Metro
Performance Glass, the company that supplied
the glazing solution for the greener-than-green
residence.
“Double glazing has far greater insulating
benefits when combined with Argon gas, Low
E glass and thermal spacing. We offer all these
together with our Low E Xcel unit – and that
was the ideal solution here,” says Stanford.
Argon is a naturally occurring inert gas. By
trapping a measured amount of Argon between
the panes of glass and sealing it in, the insulating