Driven by global awareness about climate change and energy costs, Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) is gaining momentum in New Zealand, reflecting overseas trends towards a more sustainable approach. ESD impacts the entire supply chain of the construction industry from sourcing of materials, through transport, architecture, construction methods and materials to post-build monitoring. Lite-House is taking a proactive stance, going beyond the recent plethora of government and industry initiatives and regulations to leave a lighter footprint on the earth and reduce, reuse and recycle.
Lite-House adheres to the following ten-point sustainability plan:
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1. Minimise CO2 emmissions
2. Minimise energy demands
3. Respond to the climate
4. Minimise use of resources
5. Reduce and recycle waste
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6. Collect, conserve and recycle water
7. Select materials based on recycling analysis
8. Demonstrate sustainable systems
9. Respect vernacular architecture and building
10. Create great architecture |
Venco Twister-1000-T Wind Turbine installed in Surfdale, Waiheke Island
The wind turbine at this mixed use development is the first of its kind in Australasia. Standing 8m tall, the rotors are 1.5m in diameter. Virtually silent, the turbine starts producing power at wind speeds of 3.5m/s with a cut-off wind speed is 20m/s - its got its own braking mechanism to deal with higher wind speeds. Made in Germany and supplied and installed by Right House, the turbine puts energy back into grid.
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