Green Building Council & Superhome Movement Join Forces
Sustainable housing titans of New Zealand join forces
Efforts to make New Zealanders’ homes warmer, drier, and more efficient have received a big boost with the announcement that the burgeoning Superhome movement, which promotes better, more sustainable housing, has partnered with the New Zealand Green Building Council.
The development will see homes on the Superhome Tours verified under the New Zealand Green Building Council’s Homestar certification scheme. Homestar is a national rating tool that measures the health, warmth and efficiency of New Zealand houses.
The Superhome movement started in Christchurch before spreading across the country. It showcases sustainable houses by providing popular tours of innovative homes – which attract thousands of people.
Bob Burnett, who pioneered the Superhome movement, said: “The Superhome movement has gone from strength to strength. We now have over 3,000 people turning up to our tours. In 2018 we are expanding to provide tours in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, Queenstown and Wanaka.
“People want certainty and we want to provide them the assurance of the performance of these homes. Homestar provides that. We are excited to be providing the verification of the homes on the tours.”
Andrew Eagles, the chief executive of the New Zealand Green Building Council, said: “This exciting commitment from the Superhome movement is good news for everyone who believes that New Zealanders should have warm, dry, healthy homes. Over 13,000 homes are now registered or committed to Homestar.
“It is great to be taking ahead this initiative with the Superhome movement. Bob Burnett and his team have shown real leadership by championing better homes for some time. All those going on the tour will know the performance of the homes has been independently verified.”
Homestar rates houses on a scale from six to 10. Six Homestar rated homes are verified as being better quality - warmer, drier, healthier and costing $1000 less to run - than a typical new house built to building code. A 10 Homestar rating is a world leading house.
The New Zealand Green Building Council works to ensure that all New Zealanders live, work and play in warm, safe, dry and efficient buildings.
World Green Building Week starts today, and the New Zealand Green Building Council have organised a host of events across the country to celebrate.
All of the World Green Building Week events are free and open to everyone. For more details, check out the New Zealand Green Building Council’s website here.
ENDS