By Rod Percival, 22 July 2007

GREEN BUILDING INITIATIVES TO SHOWHOME

1. Site Sign
   Environmental choice paints and dyes used:
   -Plywood signboard used,not PVC.
   -Recycled Beams re-cut for posts and frame
2. All excavated soil remained on site for garden landscaping
3. Recycled timber pegs and untreated boxing for foundation boxing
4. Pod floor system used to reduce hard-fill from Quarry, compaction etc, used for insulation. Less embodied energy
5. Under-floor heating – solar / electric, an option could be to connect to a heat pump,for further savings, long term
6. Plantation NZ grown Cedar for exterior cladding– no treatment needed, retains jobs in NZ, and reduces Carbon miles
7. Plantation NZ grown Lawson Cypress for posts and beams, rafters to lounge / pergolas, no treatment needed, retains jobs in NZ and reduces carbon miles
8. Organ-oil (Natural) to all recycled Rimu trim
9. Resene Enviro-choice paints for the exterior of the house, the interior ceilings and all cupboards, low VOC’s
10. Backing rods and non solvent sealants used to seal windows and doors instead of toxic solvent based foams
11. Gib-board and untreated plywood for ceilings and wall linings
12. Recycled Rimu skirting, scotia,window and door jambs – vanities – lounge shelf
13. Osmo Natural Oil for door sills and vanities – no VOCs includes thistle oil
14. Double glazing to windows and doors
15. American Clay to walls and bathroom ceilings – non allergenic and allows the walls to breathe. A natural product
16. Above code insulation from 1.8 to 2.2 natural low embodied energy eco fleece wool insulation to walls
17. Above code insulation from 2.2 to 2.6 natural low embodied energy eco-fleece wool insulation to ceilings
18. Kitchen units below World/Standard formaldehyde emission Laminex white board
19. Gas Cooktop
20. 3.5 star Bosch Dishwasher
21. 3.5 star Samsung fridge / filtered water
22. Rangehood vented to soffit for cleaner air to kitchen
23. Recycled Totara timber front door
24. Recycled hardwood beam to garage door
25. Insulated garage door
26. Greymate – grey-water irrigation to reduce impact on sewerage system
27. Water-tank for organic garden and backup when there is water restrictions
28. Organic vegetable garden and fruit trees
29. Energy saving light bulbs
30. PDL range of electrical fittings, no heavy metals
31. Panasonic TV – no lead / Mercury - Bamboo speakers
32. Apricus Solar Hot Water and under-floor heating
33. Increased Hot Water Cylinder capacity 400 litres for efficiencies
34. Methven Satin-jet water-saving shower roses
35. Caroma Smart-flush 3 litre and 4.5 litre dual flush toilet cisterns
36. Chilli-pepper – water saving return system to Ensuite Vanity to reduce water wastage waiting for the hot water to arrive
37. NZ Grown Plantation Saligna (Gum) decking
38. Sensor lights to passage and pantry
39. Daylight switch for entrance lights
40. 12 watt heated towel rails
41. Heirloom Metivo second Bathroom heated ladder rail Energy Saver Pulse (ESP).
42. Used local labour where possible to cut down on carbon miles
43. Macrocarpa fence posts from local portable sawmiller
44. Re-sawn fence palings from leftover stock of Lawson Cypress from other projects,no timber treatment
45. Raised organic gardens from Plantation Lawson Cypress, no timber treatment
46. Recycled SS Bench for garden area using collected rainwater to wash vegetables , and when there is water restrictions etc
47. No PVC Jointers to soffits
48. Minimised the use of solvent glues
49. Wardrobe shelving recycled Cedar paneling
50. 100% wool carpet to Lounge and bedrooms
51. Tiled floors to all service areas
52. All gib waste was composted on Rods farm

EXTERIOR FEATURES:

• Wall cladding – NZ Plantation grown Cedar weatherboard. No chemical treatment required!
• Walls – 2.2 Eco-fleece wool insulation cuts down on embodied energy. Above code requirement of 1.8.
• Ceilings – 2.6 Eco-fleece wool insulation cuts down on embodied energy. Above code requirement of 2.6.
• Pergolas – NZ Plantation grown Lawson Cypress.
• Fence Palings – NZ Plantation grown Lawson Cypress.
• Fence Posts – Macrocarpa fence posts from a Local Sawmiller.
• Decking – NZ Plantation grown “Saligna” (Eucalypt.)
• Boardwalk – NZ Plantation grown Lawson Cypress.
• Landscaping – designed using a large % of natives and plants that require minimal water use.
• Organic vegetable gardens, box surrounds made from non toxic Lawson Cypress.
• "Greymate" greywater irrigation system to reduce the need to use clean water for irrigation.
• Recycled Sink-bench – for washing vegetables with tank water etc, connected to the Greymate.

FRONT DOOR

• Made by Papakura Joinery from recycled Totara and Rimu supplied by Rod.
• Door Handle made by Chant in New Zealand.
• Door seal between entry and garage to stop car fumes, by "Raven".

GARAGE

• Recycled Australian Hardwood Beam to sectional door.
• Resene Environmental paint to ceiling.
• Insulated Sectional Door.
• Supertub water to "Greymate" then used to irrigate garden to road frontage to save water and energy at Sewerage Ponds.

HOT WATER CUPBOARD & SERVICE ROOM

• Extra capacity 400 litre cylinder which is Solar assisted from Apricus Evacuated Tubes.
• Underfloor heating manifold.

LOUNGE

• Beams and Rafters – NZ plantation grown Lawson Cypress that was surplus on two other projects.
• Ceiling Paint – Resene Environmental Choice.
• Energy efficient lightbulbs.
• Wall Coatings – American Clay "Maritimo Colour-Guadalupe Dunes
• Wallpaper – Sisal sourced from Swinsons in Auckland.
• All Window and Door Jambs, Architrave and Skirting is from recycled Rimu, Matai, Totara.
• Space saving Cavity Sliders.
• All rimu oiled with Organoil from Natural Oils Ltd.
• 100% Wool Carpet from Guthrie Bowron.
• TV Mantle is an old rimu floor joist from the old “Farmers” building in Auckland Coated with Osmo natural oil.

BEDROOM 1

• Space saving Custom made doors "by Rod" – Brad’s idea Rod to execute! Door base material over from previous job.
• Bamboo Wallpaper to doors from Swinsons of Newmarket.
• Sensor lights to wardrobe.
• Stainless steel clothes rails (bought cut to length which eliminates waste).
• Matai drawer fronts made from wood Rod has had for 25yrs from Marton coated with “Osmo Oil”.
• Pelmet made from 2 pieces of recycled Matai flooring.
• Rimu all coated with "Organoil".
• 100% wool carpet from Guthrie Bowron.
• Walls American Clay “Napa Olive” by Earth Design Ltd.
• Ceiling paint Resene Environmental Choice.

ENSUITE

• Ceiling - American Clay "Snow Canyon".
• Window & door trim, recycled Rimu coated with Organoil fron Natural Oils Ltd.
• Methven Satin-jet water saving shower rose.
• No shower door.
• Rimu Vanity from recycled Rimu floor joists from Green Deconstruction of Whangapoua Bach.
• Chilli Pepper water saving hot water pumping sensor, to vanity.
• Bath – over from a previous project because it had a minor defect "reused".
• 12watt heated Towel rails.
• Smartflush Leda Toilet 3 litre and 4.5 litres from Coroma to reduce/save water.
• Tiles for cleanliness and longevity.

BEDROOMS 2 & 3

• Walls – American Clay "Snow Canyon".
• Ceilings – Resene Environmental Choice.
• Recycled Rimu Trim etc. Organoil "Natural".
• Wardrobe – rails Stainless Steel cut to length (no waste) and makes it affordable.
• Shelving – recycled Cedar paneling from Whangapoua Bach we deconstructed.
• Noise Gib to surround middle bedroom.
• 100% wool carpet from Guthrie Bowron.

BATHROOM

• Ceilings – American Clay "Snow Canyon".
• Methven Satin-jet water saving shower rose.
• Vanity recycled Rimu from Whangapoua Bach.
• Heirloom ESP "Sensor" the first power-saving intelligent towel warmer.
• Caroma Leda "Smartflush" water saving toilet cistern.

DINING / KITCHEN

• Ceilings 12mm Untreated Pine Plywood.
• Ceilings Trim and Dummy Rafter recut timber from previous projects recut to size.
• Walls – American Clay "Snow Canyon" & "Napa Olive" Porcelina.
• Energy efficient light bulbs.
• Kitchen Units made with "Low VOC" (below World Health Standard) white board from Laminex Greenfirst Range.
• Bosch "3.5 star" dishwasher.
• Smeg Gas Hob.
• Samsung Fridge "3.5 Star" fridge with water filter.
• Recycled Rimu Trim throughout oiled with Organoil.
• Pantry Bench old floor joists from a Whangapoua Bach we "green deconstructed".
• Solar Assisted underfloor heating.
• Tiles for a healthier option (dustmite) and a longer lifespan.
• Linen Cupboard shelves recycled Cedar from Whangapoua Bach.
• Passage lights on Sensors to reduce power use and more convenient for children using toilet at night.
• Space saving Cavity Sliders to entry, pantry and Bedroom 1.
• Large walk in pantry with recycled rimu bench oiled with "Osmo" natural oil.
• Solid door to Bedroom 1 for noise control.
• Noise gib to wall between dining and Bedroom 1.
• Cavity sliders between lounge for space saving.
• Enviromental Choice Paint to ceilings from Resene.

View the Show Home Project

Sections Green Building Articles AMERICAN CLAY ENTERPRISES’ FACILITY CHOSEN BY CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE - by Julie Du Brow AMERICAN CLAY INC. MORE THAN DOUBLES ITS PRODUCTION SPACE IN MOVE TO NEW ALBUQUERQUE WAREHOUSE - by Julie Du Brow Green building practices and products from sustainable resources. - by Rod Percival Green Building Initiatives to Show Home - by Rod Percival General Building News The right ingredient for a beautiful home - by Rod Percival

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