Stellar builds
Stars for green property
Acentral Auckland office building, a new Housing New Zealand development and a Northland kura kaupapa have all achieved top marks for excellence in sustainable design.
This week is World Green Building Week (Sept 26 to Oct 2), and the New Zealand Green Building Council is marking the event by highlighting the way three recent building projects have incorporated green values into the design.
One of them is Bayleys House, part of the VXV precinct at Auckland’s Wynyard Quarter, which achieved a five-green star rating, signifying ‘‘excellence’’.
Commercial buildings are rated on a four to six ‘‘green star’’ scale, while residential developments have a one to 10 ‘‘homestar’’ scale.
They recognise the benefits of such things as lower running costs, a healthier indoor environment and a smaller environmental footprint.
Designed by Jasmax, the Bayleys building is owned by Goodman NZ is expected to finished in early 2017.
The new six-level office building includes a high-performance double-glazed fac¸ade to maximise natural light, a detailed energy monitoring system, and rainwater storage
It also features LED office lighting, low-flow water fittings, and dedicated fuel-efficient and carpool car parking.
Another star example is Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Whangaroa, a Maori immersion school in Matauri Bay in Northland.
The school achieved an education building rating of five green stars, for stage two of a multi-purpose classroom project.
The two single-storey buildings provide four classrooms, a food technology suit, art room and multi-purpose hall and gymnasium.
Connected by a covered open space, the buildings use energy and water metering, maximise natural daylight and use low-pollutant carpets, paints, ceiling tiles and other materials.
Praise has also been heaped on eight new state homes in the Richardson-Howell development in Mt Roskill, Auckland.
The Housing New Zealand houses achieved a six-star rating from Homestar. The high star rating means they are warmer, healthier and cost less to run than a typical new home under the building code.
Features include good insulation and double glazing, ventilation, energy efficient lighting and lowwater fittings.
HNZ is currently targeting Homestar ratings in Otahuhu, Papakura, Meadowbank, Mt Wellington, Waterview, New Lynn and Blockhouse Bay.
NZGBC chief executive Alex Cutler said World Green Building Week was a great opportunity to demonstrate just how valuable green buildings could be.
‘‘Buildings have a surprisingly large impact on the environment in many ways – for instance, they use 25 per cent of the world’s water, according to the United Nations Environment Programme – and green building can make a huge difference.
‘‘We rate everything from offices and homes to schools and even a food warehouse.’’