Sustainable Habitat Challenge 09

Team Update October 2009

SHAC TEAMS
project name Institution/s location build type

Te Hira Whanau Bach 101 Te Hira Whanau & UNITEC / Rangitoto Island retrofit
ScALA / Te Hononga

Team Canterbury CPIT, University of Canterbury, Christchurch new build

and Lincoln (relocatable)

Team Housewise Housing New Zealand, Auckland retrofit

Landcare Research,
University of Auckland

Whareuku University of Auckland Lake Rotoiti new build

Team Dunedin Otago Polytechnic, Otago new build

University of Dunedin (relocatable)

Team Waikato Wintec Hamilton new build

The Plant Room Victoria University, Wellington retrofit

Massey University, Weltec

Team Central Otago Otago Polytechnic Clyde new build

Unitec EcoBach Unitec Auckland new build

SHAC 09 is a project of the Otago Polytechnic. Significant funding has been supplied by the Minister for
the Environment’s Sustainable Management Fund.
Whareuku
University of Auckland

“We see house design as a key aspect that needs

to change in order to lessen the negative impact of
humans on our natural environment”.
Vision for More Sustainable Housing
The Whareuku team from the University of Auckland are developing a low-cost, flax-fibre reinforced earthen
housing solution for rural Maori communities in the SHAC 09 competition. Our scenario for sustainable
living is one where the basic needs (social, cultural and physical) of each individual in the community are
met. Parallel to meeting physical needs, the building’s interaction with the environment must follow aspects
of Maori kaitiakitanga (guardianship). The concept of kaitiakitanga is a holistic concept that places the
occupants of the land in the context of a greater whole with a responsibility to protect and preserve the
environmental and spiritual wellbeing of the land. Our team is made up of students that are motivated by
the clear need to change the ways the building industry currently provides housing, so that our generation
and generations after us can and will have our housing needs met and have a healthy and sustainable
natural environment to live in.

The Whareuku project, based at the University of Auckland, and under the leadership of the Principal
Investigator Kepa Morgan, has partnered with a number of Maori community representatives from around
the North Island to develop a practical, low-cost, flax-fibre reinforced, earthen housing solution for use on
rural Maori land. The Whareuku earth housing project has been developed from a novel flax fibre reinforced
earth idea into a two bedroom, 90 m2 house design and will be completed with the construction of the
earthen building.

Challenges
Because of our involvement in the SHaC competition, we looked at ways to fit out the house and create
a sustainable house that considered all aspects of resource consumption and owner interaction with the
building. One path focused on developing high-tech, super efficient but more expensive solutions and the
other focused on technology and solutions that everyone (including the poor and 3rd world developing
nations) could access, afford and have. In Rotoiti clean water is provided from a nearby mountain spring
which is only used by the neighbouring communities and provides an abundant supply of water for a fixed
cost each month. This raised an issue with implementing dual flush toilets, flow restricting shower heads and
aerated taps because there was no financial or practical incentive for the builder/plumber or house occupant
to install these more expensive water saving devices. In the end we did implement these features but it
raised a point that at least in this rural community, is can be considered sustainable to use larger volumes
of water than average because the generation of clean water is greater than the communities total water
consumption. Early dialogue with five rural Maori papakainga revealed this particular site as the best site in
terms of available land, agreement with the local people and the available labour for the research project.
The relations with the people of the land and project preparation progressed and developed well with the
designs, the labour force and the site confirmed. Near the time construction however, a few people with
an interest in the land objected to the project and the dispute went to the point where a Maori Land Court
injunction was being prepared to stop the project. The replacement site identified is where the Whareuku
house stands today. From this we learnt to always have a backup location in mind because developing on
Maori land is, more often than not, a difficult process in several respects.

Opportunities for the next SHAC

The methodology and stage of development should remain open and reasonably undefined keeping in
line with the idea that this competition is more about working collaboratively and celebrating the diverse
national research initiatives, helping them reach a practical stage (house building), raising the level of public
awareness and facilitating co-operation in all areas and levels of society and government. In the future we
will need many different housing solutions to meet the many different needs of people living in different
areas, from different cultures, with different expectations of what a home should cost, feel like and look like.

Media Enquiries:
John (Jing Siong) Cheah -Email address: jche242@aucklanduni.ac.nz Mobile: 0210 262 3499
Whareuku - SHAC Facts Lake Rotoiti
• a practical, low-cost, flax-fibre reinforced, earthen
housing solution
• Cost $85,000
• Number of Bedrooms: 2
• Number of Students:10
• Number of Professionals and Volunteers: 2
• Energy: simple and low-cost technologies to reduce
the consumption of power
• Water: simple and low-cost technologies to reduce
the consumption of water
• Materials: Locally sourced materials, Modular build-
ing system
• Waste: Worm farm, permeable pavements
• Indoor Environmental Quality: Thermal mass of earth
walls regulates the indoor air temperature
• Affordable and Suitable for Purpose: Sweat Equity
Model - Local labour and resources used in the
building are a part of the owner contributed down
payment of the house.
• Supporting a Sustainable Community: inexpensive,
supports local community building of housing. op-
portunities to share about the housing research and
to increase the environmental awareness of hom-
eowners in the local community (Rotoiti)
Te Hira Whanau - Bach 101
Te Hira Whanau & UNITEC / ScALA / Te Hononga

"Upgrading the bach was working in the

morning and swimming in the afternoon.”
Vision for More Sustainable Housing
Sustainability has always been inherent in the typology of the classic Kiwi bach. You design and build it your-
self, you reuse found and local materials, and you and your family has a real connection to the place. You
also become a kaitiaki or guardian for a piece of our precious coastline. However, with the combined chal-
lenges of coastal real estate price rises and the removal of Bachs built on crown land from the 1980s, the true
kiwi bach is now certainly an endangered species.

Progress
The Bach 101 retrofits were finished in 2008. Following the 1 week build, family members completed water tank
reinstallation and soffit bird proofing and during the summer the family added a photovoltaic solar panel to
provide electricity to run efficient LED lights.

Challenges
The key challenge over the 1 week build was to manage unforseen repairs required to the south wall and
bedroom floor while trying to maintain progress on the 3 core areas namely re roof, re cladding south wall
new composting toilet and generator building. While this meant a full on dawn to dusk building schedule we
were well pleased to complete all elements to a fully closed in weather proof level.

Opportunities for the next SHAC

The Te Hira Whanau – Bach 101 represents a beacon of resistance to both the ubiquitous gentrification of kiwi
bachs (many claiming bach status but are really beach houses) and the loss of those built on crown land. With
Bach 101, the maintenance of low energy and water use practises and the adoption of appropriate technol-
ogy solutions like Solar powered LED lighting systems and composting toilets has helped to preserve the es-
sence of Kiwi bach life while enhancing cultural and environmental sustainability. The opportunity therefore
exists for SHaC to help promote more simple, appropriate technology coastal living solutions which maintain,
enhance and reclaim sustainable connection to place.

Media Enquiries:
Rau Hoskins 021 658 019 rau@designtribe.co.nz
Te Hira Whanau - SHAC Facts Rangitoto Island

• BACH101 Team retrofitted on Rangitoto Island

• Number of Bedrooms: 2
• Number of Students:10
• Number of whanau members involved: 7
• Number of Professionals and Volunteers:4
• Energy: When at the bach, the entire family’s lifestyle
is low-energy. The bach has a new insulated south wall
and ceiling and low-energy solar powered LED lighting
that replaced less efficient candles, lamps and generator
powered electric lighting. Outdoor cooking in the ‘cave’
maintains a 70 year whanau tradition where an open fire,
enclosed by basalt walls and corrugated iron roof, is used
to both cook food and keep whanau members warm in
the winter months and on cooler evenings.
• Water: Water is inherently precious and carefully used
when collected from the bach roof with rainwater tanks
• Materials: The Bach was constructed and retrofitted using
many found, recycled and sustainable building materials. •
Waste: Reuse of materials reduces waste. This approach
included recycled timber joinery windows and recycled
corrugated iron for the roof of the toilet and generator
shed
• Indoor Environmental Quality: The Bach was originally
built in 1919 from native timbers (mainly kauri) and has
wall paper on scrim on kauri sarked walls. The floor has
sections of 1930’s lino on original kauri tongue and groove
floor boards.
• Affordable and Suitable for Purpose: Built in large part by
the family, it is inherently well-suited and adaptable.
Unitec Ecocrib
Unitec - Product Design and School of Applied Technology, Auckland

“The goal is to get as close as possible to 100% renewable

energy”.
Vision for More Sustainable Housing
The project’s main objective is to provide a solution for housing that is cost effective and energy efficient. We are
also using building materials that lessen the impact on our environment, and highlighting how we are currently
using and living in our homes. Students will investigate and explore new systems and materials for the Unitec
sustainable house in response to current housing and building needs. The project’s research conclusions will
be made available to industry sponsors, students, local government and the wider community.

In addition to the construction of the bach Product Design Students from the Bachelor of Product Design have
been concerned with designing innovative, sustainable and appropriate products (and product systems) for
the interior and exterior of the Ecocrib ‘sustainable house’. The designers were tasked with looking at which
kinds of research designers can undertake within the product design context to support more sustainable
solutions and secondly, how can designers contribute towards more sustainable lifestyles. The solutions arrived
at are equally applicable as retro-fit items to any existing home.
Each of the product designers was asked to prepare concept proposals for one or more of the following
‘design areas’

1.Interior and exterior lighting design 2. Interior and exterior furniture design
3. Exterior fencing and screening design 4. Kitchen design
5. Bathroom design

The breadth of concepts arrived at ranges from water harvesting products, water efficient baths, fencing and
screening, educational resources to storage and anerobic digestion systems.

Key elements for build or retrofit:

Energy - The goal is to get as close as possible to 100% renewable energy. There is no power from the grid to
this site. Everything must be generated on site from solar photo voltaic cells, wind power and if absolutely
necessary a bio diesel generator. Power consumption will be monitored by measuring what is generated
and stored in the batteries and how much is actually used. Energy efficient appliances will enable this to be
reduced. Heating is by way of hot air in the roof cavity being directed down over and stored in the concrete
slab. This is released back into the house at night through vents in the floor. Cooling in summer uses the same
path in reverse.

Water - Rain water harvesting, solar water heating and a grey water filtering system will be the main features
of this project. This aligns with the SHaC 09 vision and modelling on this is still to come. Average water use
per person in Auckland City is 203 litres per person per day. It is expected that the potential SHaC parameter
of 90 litres per day will be easily achievable. The site has no mains reticulated water. Irrigation of the garden
surrounding the house will also be supplied by the rain water harvesting system. Solar hot water heating must
supply all the hot water that the household uses daily for bathing, laundry and dishwashing.

Materials: Team vision is to source durable materials and where possible locally. The Hebel cladding has to come
from Australia. The choice of this material was governed by its thermal insulation properties for winter. With
the addition of 50mm of styrene foam it prohibits thermal gain in summer. (Heathcote 2007). The styrene foam
is an oil derivative but the extra insulation value it adds to the wall and the reduction in energy use over the
life of the building may out way this. The Building Code requirement for timber cladding is 15yrs. This system
will far in exceed that. The aerated concrete/foam system will offer ease of building and shorter construction
time. Timber products will be sourced from plantations approved by the Forestry Stewardship Council. This will
limit the number of suppliers available to the team. Recycled timber flooring will be used to limit the amount
of emissions, preventing ozone depletion and reducing volatile organic compounds.

Waste: Unitec Sustainable team goals are to minimise waste during construction and recycle where possible.
Students will determine where the waste products will go and the absolute minimum will be sent to landfill.
This exercise will form part of the learning outcomes for the certificate of applied technology students building
the house. Waste products from the house services will be processed on site. Grey water to be processed
through filtering system appropriate for an organic garden.

Media Contact
Roger rbateman@unitec.ac.nz Ph: 09-815-4321 ext http://designprojects.ning.com
 ecocrib
Unitec Ecocrib - SHAC Facts
• Reduce the use of non-renewable energy consumption ECOCRIB
• Have zero use of mains water supply
• Provide alternative waste disposal options
ecoc
• Use New Zealand’s sustainable building materials
ECOCRIB
• Provide a healthy living environment with a constant Auckland

indoor temperature and moisture control

The“LIVING ISLAND’  created to be the ‘centre of the home’ a table

where food prep, cooking, recycling and storage meets socialising
combined with a table for homework, dining and other activities.
Materials are considered via LCA and the two part design allows for
reconfiguration and use in a variety of rooms.
Team Housewise
Housing New Zealand Corporation, University of Auckland,
Landcare Research, New Zealand Housing Foundation

“I have really enjoyed being part of the discussions. They

have let me contribute my ideas. I have even become a
keen gardener, and I am now recycling as well.” (tenant)
Vision for More Sustainable Living
Team Housewise is interested in how Housing New Zealand can develop a repeatable renovation package for
a 1950s state house with useable technologies that facilitate more environmentally and socially sustainable
performance in-use (‘hardware’) as well as facilitate a learning process with residents (‘software’) to support
more sustainable living. We have run a design workshop including the tenant to make sure we are delivering
an appropriate upgrade.

The Upgrade
The upgrade includes added insulation, open plan kitchen and lounge, an extra bedroom, a heat pump water
heater, a heat pump air heater and a rainwater tank. An example of involving the tenant, Barbara, in the upgrade
discussions was when she suggested a new window in her kitchen. “I wanted to be able to watch my children
from the kitchen when they were playing outside.” Barbara also told us that the pellet fire we had suggested
might be too hot and dangerous for her children. “I have really enjoyed being part of the discussions. They
have let me contribute my ideas. I have even become a keen gardener, and I am now recycling as well,” she
added.

Progress
The final design is now being consented. Expressions of Interest from builders are being sought.

We have completed design reviews and are looking to lodge building consent. Tenant liaison has gone well
with the team briefing the tenant regularly on the project, and seeking input into aspects of the interventions,
i.e type of control panel for heat exchange system, secure backyard for the kids to play, etc.

Communications
Our team has developed a new logo for communication purposes. The project has featured in local community
news, Tamaki Campus University of Auckland Newsletter and internet site and the local Glen Innes Business
Association newsletter.

Challenges
Team Housewise has selected a family who is very excited to be part of this renovation project. The family has
been integrated into the design process through an in-depth interview and participation in an initial design
charette. We look forward to working with the family to design usable renovations to make the house warmer,
drier and healthier, and monitoring the resulting benefit to the environment.

Finally, we have begun collecting historical data on resource consumption (energy and water as well as health
indicators – the family has been in the same house for 10 years – to enable us to have a reasonable benchmark
for progress towards our goals of better performance in-use. We are also beginning to monitor the existing
indoor environment for temperature and humidity benchmarks. Once the work on the house is complete,
we will spend part of next year monitoring the actual performance of what basic house improvements and
engagement with residents’ needs can do to save natural resources.

Media Contact
Tamsin Vuetilovoni, Housing New Zealand Senior Communications Advisor
tamsin.vuetilovoni@hnzc.co.nz, phone 04 439 3955
 Auckland
Team Housewise - SHAC Facts
• Team Housewise is investigating low-cost retrofits
for State Houses
• Number of Bedrooms: 2-3
• Number of Team Members: 8
• Energy: Cost effective, easy to use renewable energy
sources, hardware and minor design elements for
the house.
• Water: Cost effective, low maintenance, solutions
for water and wastewater for the house.
• Materials: Use materials that are renewable, low
maintenance, affordable and durable as and when
practicable.
• Waste: Apply principles of water reduction in design
and tenant education programme
• Indoor Environmental Quality: Apply design
principals and look at asset improvements such as
passive ventilation, fan ventilation system, insulation,
etc to ensure a healthy indoor environment and
ensure tenant education covers importance of this
• Affordable and Suitable for Purpose: Ensure tenants
are fully aware and trained on how to maximise
the house features and also ensuring the budget is
reasonable and ensuring the repeatability of some
or all of the features in future upgrades of similar
stock.
• Supporting a Sustainable Community: Ensuring
design keeps with local character, civic identity,
efficient use of land, pedestrian, cycle, and vehicle
friendly. The design would also support social ties
and link with multiple transport systems
TEAM
HOUSEWISE

TEAM
HOUSEWISE
Team Waikato
Wintec, Hamilton

Vision for More Sustainable Housing

To The home has always been a symbol of a safe, protective environment with architects, builders and
homeowners alike knowing the importance of healthy insulated homes. With support from their supplying
partnersThe School of Trades at Wintec have constructed a 1-bedroom relocatable ancillary unit made of 90%
sustainable and re-cycleable materials. “The students along with local industry have worked the project, using
Pine from the Pine plantations of New Zealand with great enthusiasm,” said tutor, Trevor Wyatt. “The unit is
well insulated, showing that we can save energy by insulating, creating awarm, healthy environment.”

The insulation properties incorporated into the unit ensure that there is always a comfortable living
environment in any season – and the energy savings should be significant.

The Wintec Eco House is ideal for farms, baches or the extra room for visitors. Visit the Wintec Eco House and
see the possibilities for saving money with top quality housing that require less resources and are great places
to live. Bid at the Auction and Help Hospice Waikato.

Key SHAC Team Waikato House Features

• The design is very energy efficient. A compact building has less surface area to lose heat through, and uses
less materials to make. The panels will be custom-made to suit the design from standard plywood sheets
with very little waste.
• The design has a significant amount of Northern glazing with suitable summer shading. Solar heat store in
exposed ground dark coloured concrete floor. Additional solar storage in translucent water-filled trombe
walls.
• No East/West glazing. Minimal Southern glazing. All double-glazed with thermally broken joinery. Sliding
exterior insulating shutters provide additional insulation in winter if required, or shading of the trombe
walls in summer.
• Very high levels of insulation in ceiling, wall and floor with very little thermal bridging. Highly airtight
construction. Mechanical ventilation will be required as a result. This will be combined with a heat exchanger
to scavenge the exhaust air. No additional heating will be provided as it is not expected to be necessary.
• Embodied energy is lowered by reduced use of steel and imported products.
• The main fabric of the building is NZ harvested pine. The building will be much stronger than a standard
house because of the inherent nature of the panels. The interior surfaces will be exposed premium plywood
which will be clear powder-coated. This impervious surface has a long life and high impact resistance. These
factors, should result in a long service life for the building as constructed.
• Because the building is transportable, it can be moved to another location when it no longer suits the
purpose.

Challenges
Foreign exchange has made the trial SIP panel importation possibly too dear. The construction methodology
is being reconsidered. The team is finalising its design and is meeting potential suppliers next week. The team
plans a quick build in preparation for the Waikato Home Show.

Media Enquiries:
Trevor Wyatt, Wintec , trevor.wyatt@wintec.ac.nz 07 834 8800 ext 8732
Team Waikato SHAC Facts
• Number of Bedrooms: 2
• Number of Students: 30
• Number of Professionals and Volunteers: 5
• Energy: The design is very energy efficient. A compact
building has less surface area to lose heat through, and
uses less materials to make. Very high levels of insulation
in ceiling, wall and floor with very little thermal bridging.
Highly airtight construction. The design has a significant
amount of Northern glazing with suitable summer shading.
Solar heat store in exposed ground dark coloured concrete
floor. Additional solar storage in translucent water-filled
trombe walls.
• Materials: The panels will be custom-made to suit the
design from standard plywood sheets with very little
waste. Embodied energy is lowered by reduced use of steel
and imported products.
• Indoor Environmental Quality: Mechanical ventilation with
a heat exchanger to scavenge the exhaust air. The interior
surfaces will be exposed premium plywood which will be
clear powder-coated.
• Affordable and Suitable for Purpose: Because the building
is transportable, it can be moved to another location when
it no longer suits the purpose.
The Plant Room
University of Victoria School of Architecture, Massey University

“Our regenerative habitat, the Plant Room, is an inner-

city project that will generate energy, collect water,
recycle waste and grow food whilst addressing urgent
housing needs”.
Objectives
One of the more unique aspects of living in Wellington is its dense inner city culture and the already high rate
of apartment dwelling, partly due to the lack of available / accessible land. We looked at many different urban
living scenarios, high density, low-rise buildings, rooftop gardens, a variety of communities, and importantly,
in the context of a post-oil-crash society, the need to live close to work, schools and shops. We felt that looking
at higher-density living, particularly higher-density social housing was a need we should address for the
Wellington region. We are also concerned that environmental sustainability as a goal may never be achieved
if our only solution is to build completely new buildings. New Zealand’s existing building stock continues to
consume large amounts of energy.

Our current building stock is likely to be with us for a long time and there is a tremendous opportunity to improve
these buildings to make them more energy efficient, comfortable to live in and socially sustainable. We wish
to address this issue through retrofitting a generic Wellington apartment. More broadly we are interested in
exploring a particular logic of ‘green architecture’ that goes beyond some current ideas of sustainable design.
Our aim is to create a ‘regenerative’ habitat where people will be delighted, community will be developed and
sustainable living will literally ‘grow’.

Vision for More Sustainable Living

The Plant Room is a prefabricated room that bolts-on to a variety of existing apartment types. A Plant Room
provides hot water for one, a healthy growing space for herbs, fruit and vegetables all year round, a worm farm,
a rainwater tank, an outdoor space and an enclosed room.

It shades the apartment to avoid summer overheating and collects hot air to circulate warmth in the winter. It is
designed to improve the quality of apartment living while reducing the energy and water use of it’s occupants.
It could also be a suitable solution to office retro-fits.

We have committed to build two Plant Rooms:

The first will be a transportable exhibition to communicate the ideas of sustainable building to the wider
community. It will be fitted to a shipping container and exhibited at various locations around new zealand.
The container will also provide a location for events where the technologies and products used can be fully
explained. The second will be fitted to an apartment building. It will be occupied, monitored and tested to
establish the base level of performance of the unit and to drive future development of the plant room as a
potential building product/component.

Media Contact
Jessica Bennett VUW - jessbenorama@gmail.com 027 213 0817
The Plant Room - SHAC Facts
• Number of Team Members: 15
• Energy: 60% annual energy saving when compared
to a typical apartment. No energy will be required
for space heating.
• Water: 75% saving in annual water use.100% grey
water recycling Wormerator Composting Toilets
• Materials: Two systems will be designed using the
maximum possible proportion of recycled materials.
A green roof / wall modular system will be designed
using New Zealand native plant species and a
drainage mat made from recycled tyres. The bolt-
on plant room element will be made from recycled
timber and local stone pavers for thermal mass. Wellington
Glazing will be new to ensure a high performance
standard. These two systems will be designed to be
fully demountable so that they can
be reused over and over.
• Waste: 65% reduction in household waste 50%
reduction in construction & demolition waste
100% of grey water will be re-used for garden
irrigation/ watering vegetable gardens. 100%
blackwater (solids) fed to worm farm
Team Dunedin
Otago Polytechnic and The University of Otago

“The Otago Polytechnic Team Dunedin house will offer

your average family living in Dunedin the opportunity
to live in a more sustainable way than what they
normally would.”
Vision for More Sustainable Housing in Otago
Team Dunedin is designing a building a house to befit the ‘average’ Dunedin family. At its centre is the aim
to design and build a home which will appeal to a common denominator, and while appearing ‘normal’, in
fact encompasses a variety of accessible and sustainable materials and services. Good use of conventional
building techniques means the house will be affordable to buy. It will cost less to run because of its efficient
use of energy, good use of the sun, and good insulation. It will be a pleasure to live in because of good design,
including efficient use of space.

Progress
The roof has dropped onto the Otago Polytechnic’s sustainable house, its’ submission to the Sustainable Habitat
Challenge. The house is being built by Otago Polytechnic Carpentry students and has been designed to be as
sustainable as possible, yet still be comfortable, affordable and attractive to the average Dunedin family.

Challenges
1. Working with existing sponsors. Team Dunedin is working with sponsors in order to fund their build. This
is both a positive and a challenge – we are strengthening existing relationships and putting a twist on
our sponsorship relationship by asking for more sustainable products. Happily, our sponsors understand
our motives and are happy to oblige. Without them, our build could not go ahead – but will aspects of
‘sustainability’ be compromised?
2. Ours is a transportable home built by new building students that must be taught to achieve unit standards.
This must be the largest parameter to our project and build.
3. Working an education environment. With a team made up of members who each had their own personal
objectives (architects, lecturers, sponsors, giving experience of the 3604 code etc) it has been difficult to
match objectives, as well as timelines.
4. Working with staff and students. It is our job as sustainable educators to show why we believe that
more sustainable building is simply practical building. In the presence of misconceptions about what
sustainability is, the difficulty of motivating staff and students in their thoughts and practices cannot be
underestimated.

Opportunities for the next SHAC

Team Dunedin, therefore strongly advocates for a SHaC 2011/2012 – whatever the funding and timelines
dictate. Firstly, the team itself might need a bit more time. We feel like our design was rushed through in a way
and we would have liked to have a bit more time – but I guess it is hard to make everyone happy! We would also
like to have had better opportunities to work with industry – if this could be coordinated somehow that would
make our efforts a little easier! We feel as a team that Retrofitting is important, and would be an opportunity to
expand the skills of our carpentry students. We really hope to have another opportunity with SHaC to try new
and different things.

Media Contact
Otago Polytechnic, D’Arcy Dalzell 0800 762 786
Team Dunedin SHAC Facts
• A new timber-framed house with 2 bedrooms.
• Number of Bedrooms: 2
• Number of Students: 45
• Number of Professionals and Volunteers: 8
• Energy: Sun capturing north facing windows, insulation
mean low energy requirements. Efficient heating supported
- wood burner, pellet fire, or heat pump. Dunedin:
• Water: Low-flow appliances
• Materials: Good use of space - less use of materials, and
much less costs to build or heat
• Waste: Construction waste minimised and space in kitchen
for composting
• Indoor Environmental Quality: Low VOC emission paints
and carpet
• Affordable and Suitable for Purpose: Designed to be built
off-site for lower construction costs, portable
• Supporting a Sustainable Community: inexpensive,
portable, bike storage
• HERS Rating: 6 stars
Team Central Otago
Otago Polytechnic

“Hopefully it will provoke people to think and see

different ways of doing things”.
Description
A regional team from the communities of Alexandra, Clyde, Cromwell, Queenstown and Wanaka. A straw bale
house for the arid, Central Otago environment.

Vision for More Sustainable Housing

The homeowner, originally from Finland, purchased property in Clyde, with the vision of creating an ‘eco’ home.
‘Eco’ can have many definitions, but for this future ‘eco’ homeowner he desired a home that was warm, beautiful,
non-toxic and had a minimal impact on it’s surroundings.

In keeping with his Finnish roots, a sauna and loft was part of the design brief and has been incorporated into
the home. Earthen floors, a five tonne masonry stove, earthen plasters, and a central mass wall are design
elements and materials that will all act as passive solar collectors which absorb the direct radiation during the
day and assist in warming the home during the cold Central Otago nights.

Utilizing straw bales, with an R-value of R6 wall insulation, will take a non-toxic, natural, renewable and
potentially polluting waste product (as straw is often burned) and create a wonderfully insulated, beautiful
sanctuary from exterior noise and temperatures.

Passive solar, active solar thermal and the masonry stove will keep the interior space and domestic hot water
needs to the right temperature while keeping environmental emissions and use of fossil fuels to a minimum.
Reuse of materials has also been a focus by salvaging timber for use in windows, floors, ceilings and structural
members.

The landscape has been designed to include both native plantings and edibles.

Progress
Design changes and consenting issues have slowed progress. Building is now expected to start in September
2009. Construction began in mid July with the site being excavated and prepping it for the salvaged tilt slab
panels to be placed. It’s great to be underway! Workshops will begin in . Workshops include
Building a Masonry Stove, Straw Bale Design & Construction, Introduction to Natural Building, Photovoltaics,
among others. Contact 0800 765 9276 to sign up for these courses today.

Media Contact
Sarah Johnston, Sol Design Ltd./Otago Polytechnic, sarahjohnston@ihug.co.nz 03 693 7369
Team Central Otago - SHAC
Facts
• The project has bought together over 50 people,
mostly professionals in the construction industry
• The house is stage one, the second stage is a public
display Centre in Cromwell
• Construction began in July 2009
• The house has solar hot water and a five tonne
masonry stove with heat exchanger
• No electrical heating Clyde, Central
• Thick earthen plasters and large central earthen Otago
mass wall to act as passive solar collectors, absorbing
the warmth of the direct solar radiation
• Straw bales used to insulate the walls
• Minimising waste by using recycled timber for
cabinetry
• Rain water collected for irrigation
• Brown and black waste used for compost
Team Canterbury
Canterbury University/ Lincoln University/Christchurch Polytechnic

“We were looking for long term, solutions that will

benefit the Canturbury region for years to come.”
Vision for More Sustainable Housing

Team Canterbury (CPIT, University of Canterbury and Lincoln University) developed its concept entry based on
four key requirements:
• To maximise energy and water efficiency within the parameter of low-cost housing criteria.
• To minimise waste product during construction by careful consideration to design.
• To create a building using materials and elements of design that allow for deconstruction and recycling.
• To enable the house to be transportable.

Progress
CPIT’s Dennis Winter developed the housing plans based on building specifications provided by Canterbury
University Engineering students. CPIT’s Interior Décor and Interior Design students have provided sustainable
furnishing concepts from paint and colour schemes through to wall and floor coverings; and the Trades
Innovation Institute staff and students are involved in the build.

Key elements for build or retrofit:

Power: Grid tied system with provision for night rate meter and renewable alternatives such as solar PV should
they become economically or environmentally sensible. Use the power from the grid if available as it will be
the most cost effective option unless a $20,000+ grid connection fee becomes eminent. Hot Water Heating: An
active solar evacuated tube system coupled to an on demand electric booster will be specified. Ensure that the
$1000 government solar energy grant is attained by having the solar system installed for less than $5800. The
design has a central living/kitchen/dining area with modular bedrooms off either side for effective heat flow
into bedrooms from the passive solar and heat pump or small pellet fire.

Lighting: Compact fluorescent lights to be used throughout the entire home. Sensors for outdoor lights will
minimise excess lighting while providing safety and security. Maximise use of natural lighting for living areas.
No heat-leaking, low throw ceiling recessed spot lights! Appliances: Energy star rated appliances are highly
preferred with the highest star rating products purchased for the most cost effective price. All appliances will
be sized according to the household requirements. A power meter unit will be installed to provide energy use
information to the occupants as a type of feedback loop to help establish less wasteful behaviours.

Water: The main goals for this category is reducing mains water demand to 90 litres per person per day and
reducing storm water runoff. State of the art high–velocity shower head and aerated sink faucets are specified.
Hands-free kitchen fixture and a timer device in the shower will manage wasteful behaviour.
Waste: The goals for our waste category are to reduce waste during construction and implementing sediment
and erosion control during construction and operation.

Materials: The house will have a 150mm thick wall, with R3.6 insulation. The roof will have R5 insulation and
the floor R1.3. The living area floor will be tiled to add thermal mass. This also reduces the amount of dust and
allergenic substances in the house that reside in carpet. Two materials that are hard to dispose of are Pink Batts
and treated timber. It is requested that during construction, the tradesmen take extra care when installing
Batts, to make for a thermally tight house, and also to make it easier to remove the batts and reuse them at the
end of the buildings life.

Land Use: A preliminary site lay-out has been proposed with no pavement, 70% of garden dedicated to food-
producing species and raised-bed structures. Purpose-built concrete compost bins installed behind the home
as is the rain-water collection tank.

Media Enquires:
Associate Professor Susan Krumdieck susan.krumdieck@canterbury.ac.nz 03 364 2987 ext 7249
Canterbury - SHAC Facts
• Team Canterbury is building a new, low-cost, more
sustainable house using timber framing and carefully
considered conventional building techniques
• Number of Bedrooms: 2
• Number of Students: 55 Christchurch
• Number of Professionals and Volunteers: 14
• Energy: Extra thick walls and insulation mean low energy
requirements. Sun capturing north facing windows,
Efficient heating heat pump.
• Water: Low-flow appliances
• Materials: Efficient use with few offcuts
• Waste: Construction waste minimised
• Affordable and Suitable for Purpose: The house has been
designed so that it could be built in sections, as money is
saved up.
• Supporting a Sustainable Community: the house is
transportable, and can be moved.