Sustainable HabitatChallenge teams areexploring ideas for newand retrofitted housing tosupport more sustainableways of living.Sustainable houses aredesigned to make it easyto live using fewerunnecessary resources.Sustainable housesare designed to bea great way to live.
Efficiently using of water
Houses are using low-flow toilets, aerated taps, andmoderate-flow showers thathave less requirement forwater and energy!
Supporting Kiwi Culture
Teams are supporting their localways of living. Kiwis are used todifferent temperatures in differentrooms – this supports flexibleheating. Some kiwis have largefamilies and need larger houses.Sustainable houses supportcultural practices.
Building smaller, high qualityhomes
Teams are building smaller,well designed houses that arebuilt to a high standard – somuch more of a pleasure tolive in! And easy to clean,heat, with fewer unneededresources.
Passive Solar Design
Designing all houses - evenrelocatable houses - to havea recommended orientation tocapture winter sunshine andstay cool in hot summers.
Building with Earth
Earthen buildings arenaturally insect resistant, fireresistant, and non-toxic.Thermal mass absorbs heatfrom sun during the day andreleases it at night.
Collecting and usingrainwater
In water-needing communities,rainwater is used to flush toilets, and can also be usedfor washing, drinking and forplants.
Heating water with the sun
Teams are taking advantageof the sun to provide plentyof hot water – especially in the afternoon and evening.
Building with Straw
In some dryer environments,where there is plenty ofgrasslands, teams are buildingwith straw bales.
Moderate Use of Glazing
Avoid too many windows whichcan result in overheating in thesummer and lots of fuel use in the winter.
Using lots of Insulation
super Insulation well inexcess of code in floor ceilingand walls. Careful installof insulation with no gaps.No holes in ceiling fromdownlights.
Supporting a SustainableCommunity
Supporting a garden – evena vertical garden in an innercity apartment for flowers andfood. Provide bicycle parking,a dry space for firewood,and a space for kitchencomposting.
Delightful, Simple, Durable
Teams are designing fun,delightful houses that are apleasure to live in, and willremain that way for many years.Houses are simple and easy tomaintain.
Reducing Risk
Teams are reducing risks ofclimate change, peak oil impact,as well as fire, earthquake, andhealth risks.
Less Toxic, Less Waste
Teams are using materials that are not toxic or minimise toxicity over the long life of the house.
Designing on a Grid
Using a grid pattern based oncommon material sizes helpsreduce construction waste andare easier to build. Some teamsare using pre-manufacturedcomponents like StructuralInsulated Panels (SIPS).
Ten teams of students andprofessionals around NewZealand will completeconstruction of ten housesby November 2009.
www.shac.org.nz
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