HOW TO CREATE A SUPERHOME

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  • Design

    A Superhome design provides you a superior living environment for the life of the home and savings from day one. What makes a superior design and how to avoid faulty design.

  • Foundations

    SuperFloor... Slab fully insulated edge with no thermal bridging.
    Suspended floors fully insulated floor systems, airtight and earthquake resilient.

  • Walls and Panels

    SuperWall high-performance wall systems and Panels. EcoPanel and Cross Laminated timber (CLT) floors and roofs. Rapid construction, weather-tight, resilient and efficient

  • Windows

    Windows are the greatest heat loss. SuperWindow recessed windows provide huge energy and comfort benefit and eliminate condensation causing weeping windows etc.

  • Insulation

    Super- insulation reduces heat loss (and gain) with higher levels of insulation and airtightness, along with minimising thermal bridging to create a superior thermal envelope.

  • Ventilation

    Proper ventilation is critical for health, safety, and comfort but also for the durability and longevity and protection of the building from decay.
    A whole building integrated design system thinking approach is required.

  • Airtightness

    Airtight construction and building materials to minimise heat loss and eliminate moisture and mold in the wall and roof assembies etc...

  • Heating

    Energy efficient heating, such as hydronic underfloor that is solar powered and integrated with hot water heating is a super efficient option

  • Water

    All Superhomes have rainwater harvesting. Some also have greywater recycling. Use water efficient taps and fittings and energy drains.

  • Energy

    Use renewable energy sources with energy efficient fittings and appliances, and automated smart controls to restrict energy use to times when it is needed

  • Solar Power

    Every two minutes the sun gives the earth more energy than is used annually. Solar works best when integrated into the design to either be used while generated or stored.

  • Sustainable Materials

    Use ethically sourced, natural materials that are environmentally certified. Avoid red-listed and toxic materials. Minimse waste and ensure the home is resilient and future focused

  • Landscaping

    Minimise your carbon footprint by having food producing plants and native landscaping. Permeable paving and appropriate planting to reduce stormwater load

  • Home Orientation

    Design orientated for correct solar gain with shading optimised to prevent overheating. Planning and layout for sun and light access. Biophilic design

  • Validation

    Homestar rating to validate sustainability credentials. Energy modelling to predicted energy use. Airtightness Blower door test.
    Monitoring in use to confirm built performance over 12 months

WHAT IS A SUPERHOME

A Superhome is a home that is roughly double the energy efficiency of the current NZ building code

The current NZ building code is roughly equivalent to a Homestar 3 rating. Superhomes are between 6 and 10 Homestar rated.

In general, Superhomes have good design - the home must be fit or purpose, functional, and it should be delightful and comfortable to live in as well as beautiful and something to pass on to generations. Superhomes must be resilient - the home must be built with the future in mind, durable enough to stand for more than 100 years, and resilient enough to withstand earthquakes and severe weather. Superhomes must be green - socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable to build and run.

Superhomes must be energy efficient - economical to run, and aim to be energy positive for the life of the building. Superhomes must promote good health of the people who live there. 

DOWNLOAD guide to creating a SUPERHOME.PDF

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NZ's first 10 star home

Church Square, Christchurch is the location of NZ's first 10 Homestar rated home. Designed by Bob Burnett Architecture.

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