Tour Christchurch’s innovative ‘superhomes’

Eleven of Christchurch’s most innovative and sustainable homes are opening their doors to the public in June to highlight smart technologies and modern building methods.

One of the houses on show during the Superhome Tour.

These homes will showcase sustainable – yet affordable – designs that benefit the homeowner and the environment.

People can take a self-drive tour of Christchurch’s superhomes on the weekends of June 9-10, 16-17 and 23-24 between 11am and 4pm.

Builders and designers will be on hand to explain the features of each home and answer any questions, so people can more easily create their own superhome.

These super-insulated homes use the sun to stay warm and dry in winter and utilise shade and thermal mass to keep cool in summer. They feature efficient lighting and appliances to keep running costs low year round. Some homes use strong natural timbers, rainwater collection and solar systems to boost their earthquake resilience.

“By experiencing these homes and seeing the technologies in action, people can better understand the benefits of having a warm, dry home with low running costs,” Christchurch City Council Principal Adviser, Sustainability, Tony Moore says.

“It’s exciting to have these homes open to our residents. One is a newly completed 10 Star home – one of the greenest homes in New Zealand. All of the homes will provide inspiration and demonstrate practical ways to have a healthy and more sustainable home.”

The tours have been organised by the non-profit Superhome Movement in partnership with the Christchurch City Council and Homestar.

The Superhome Movement focuses on positive change in the building industry.

Superhome Movement founder Bob Burnett says the goal “is to raise standards so that all new homes are healthy and efficient, while also promoting environmental, economic, and socially sustainable practices”.

“The Superhome Tour provides a rare opportunity for residents to experience high-performing homes that are not normally available to view,” Mr Burnett says.

“These homes target ratings of 6 to 10 Homestar.

“In contrast, almost all new homes in New Zealand are 3 Homestar and built to code minimum standards that are about 20 years out of date compared to other OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries.”

Information about each home and a tour map is available on the Superhome website.