Opportunity knocks

Looking at a new home development that's focused on sustainable design and energy efficiency is a great way to get ideas for your own project. And there's no better time to make changes than during a renovation project.

The Axis at Hobsonville Point is a new development by Hobsonville Land Company, which has been designed to achieve a 6 Star Homestar rating, out of a possible 10 stars. This is an achievable level delivering higher environmental quality and performance than the existing building code, which would achieve an equivalent 4 Star Homestar rating.

Sustainable design features present in these homes include extra ceiling and wall insulation, slab-edge insulation, heat pump water heating and energy-efficient lighting (CFLs) with no downlights.

The homes have high-performance low-e glazing, low-VOC interior finishes, and rainwater tanks plumbed into the laundry and water-efficient toilets. The cost of the build was also reduced by recycling 70% of the construction waste.

Homestar can help you work out the best solution for your own home, no matter when it was built.

Membership of myHomestar¢ online offers an easy-to-follow journey of home improvement and maintenance. Along with a Recommendations Report, there is the self-assessed Homestar rating you can undertake for your home. For a formal Homestar Design or Certified Built rating, you can engage a Homestar Assessor, who will provide a comprehensive, in-depth audit of your property.

The NZGBC developed Homestar with assistance from BRANZ, and believes increasing demand from home buyers for an independent home performance rating will follow international trends, improving the resale value of certified homes.

For more detailed information, visit www.homestar.org.nz. For details of the Axis homes, visit www.axisseries.co.nz.

Story by: Trendsideas