84 | Phone: 03 983 5500 waterfordpress.co.nz Your Business, Your Industry, Your News. DO OUR READERS KNOW YOU EXIST? BUILDING Rockstead Construction Kelly Deeks Rockstead Construction in the Bay of Islands is blazing a trail for net zero carbon building with its pioneering use of a negative carbon building material now being produced in New Zealand. Rockstead Construction owner and innovator Doug Sturrock has always built homes for the future, with a focus on applying sustainable building practices and ensuring the design, materials, and methods used on site have the least impact possible on the environment. “The process of building a new house or renovating a building is not typically environmentally friendly, with inefficiencies in design, resource heavy materials, and lots of unnecessary waste,” Doug says. “However certain planning processes, methods, and materials can help to reduce the environmental impact of building, not only at the build stage but also for the future. “By using sustainable building techniques we can create homes that are more energy efficient, healthier places to live, and better for the environment.” Now Doug has grabbed an opportunity to use New Zealand sourced hemp and lime binder, Hempcrete, to build a beautiful new show home in the Bay of Islands, showcasing the advantages of a healthy, energy efficient, low maintenance building that’s ultimately good for the environment. “I’m going to try for carbon negative,” he says. “Hemp is the only building material that can remove carbon from the air. Hempcrete is made from mulched hemp hurds, the inner part of the hemp stalk, mixed with water and a lime-based binder. As it cures over its life, which is about 100 years, the hemp absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, retaining the carbon and releasing the oxygen.” Until now, the hemp used in Hempcrete has been brought into New Zealand from Australia and a Hempcrete build would cost roughly 20% more than a conventionally built home. “That kind of goes against the whole idea of sustainability, and imported product puts your carbon footprint through the roof.” Now, New Zealand Natural Fibres has established a hemp processing facility in Christchurch, a game changer for New Zealand’s newly emerging hemp construction industry, and with about 50 Canterbury farmers providing about 1000ha of hemp crop, the sustainable supply chain is now available and set to provide a constant and consistent supply of locally grown and locally processed hemp hurd. There is still no certified hempcrete binder being produced in New Zealand, and this is still being imported from Australia or Europe. “We are hoping a New Zealand produced and certified binder will soon be commercially available.” Hempcrete blocks are used as a boxing system alongside a traditional timber frame, making walls 300mm thick and providing thermal mass and insulation in one. Hempcrete blocks regulate humidity and moisture and add flame, water, and pest resistance. Ten times stronger than concrete and one sixth of the weight, Hempcrete blocks will dramatically reduce the energy required to transport them. “We don’t require any gib board linings, VOC paints, Pink Batt insulation, or any plastic building paper on the outside of the house.” With New Zealand’s commitment to net zero emissions by 2050 now cemented in legislation, industries are under pressure. “Sustainable building is taking off, it’s a real movement that is in its early stages but it’s gathering momentum really quickly,” Doug says. “Our zero carbon goals are going to push a lot of innovation, and construction will be an interesting space to be in for the next couple of years.” Using next generation materials Doug has grabbed an opportunity to use New Zealand sourced hemp and lime binder, Hempcrete, to build a beautiful new show home in the Bay of Islands. Whether you are a long term Tradesman or a DIY Master, ITM will “See You Right.” BAY OF ISLANDS ITM 2 Haruru Falls Road, Paihia Phone: 09 402 7703 Open Hours: Monday to Friday 7:00am to 5:00pm, Saturday — 9:00am to 1:00pm WAIPAPA ITM 411 Waipapa Road Phone: 09 407 8002 Open Hours: Monday to Friday 7:00am to 5:00pm, Saturday — 9:00am to 1:00pm WHANGAREI ITM Corner Port and Kioreroa Road Phone: 09 437 9420 Open Hours: Monday to Friday 7:00am to 5:00pm, Saturday — 8:00am to 2:00pm
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