Living Building Challenge's first NZ

New Zealand is getting set for completion of the first project built in accordance with the very stringent North American Living Building Challenge*.

The project was the brainchild of Architectural firm Jasmax, who are working with Tuhoe to build the new Tūhoe headquarters in Taneatua, near Whakatane – New Zealand’s most environmentally and socially sustainable building.   The complex will run completely off-grid so thermal efficiency is paramount and InsulPro polyester insulation has been installed in the new building due to the products environmental credentials, performance and durability. 

It will follow a number of rigorous standards during the building process with the finished building adhering to Living Building Challenges seven performance areas: site, water, energy, health, materials, equity and beauty.  The project is due for completion in March 2014 and will be triple Net Zero for energy, water and waste.

Jerome Partington, from Jasmax discusses the project and his approach to more sustainable buildings in a recent NZ Herald article.

* The Living Building Challenge is a green building certification programme and arguably the world’s most stringent system, as it uses an holistic approach to building.  The programme uses nature’s processes as the bases for building projects, with the Living Building Challenge comprising of seven performance areas or Petals: Site, Water, Energy, Health, Materials, Equity and Beauty.