70 | Focus on sustainability applauded Karen Phelps BUILDING House of The Year Awards: Home Trends Builders Christchurch based Home Trends Builders’ focus on sustainability has recently been recognised at the 2021 Registered Master Builders House of the Year awards. The company took out a raft of awards including silver, two gold, the regional Sustainability Excellence award and two homes that made the national Top 100. Company director Peter de Gouw says that sustainability permeates many different aspects of the build process. “For us it’s about taking a lot of practical steps day to day ranging from how we demolish old buildings and reuse materials to how we treat waste and the way we actually build our homes,” he says. For example Home Trends Builders uses a skip company that sorts materials and recycles as much as possible. In terms of the construction process where possible it fully insulates foundations, uses thicker framing to allow for higher levels of insulation and focuses on products such as air recovery systems with heat pumps and ducted heating for dryer healthier air that is easier to heat, low-e glass, low flow tapware and energy efficient appliances. Electric vehicle chargers and solar panels are also their standard. “We’re trying to make a visible and practical difference going forward for the future,” says Peter. Many of these things and more were used on his own home, which took out a Sustainability Excellence and gold awards and was the category winner in the Builders Own Home section as well as making the Top 100 nationally. Peter describes the home as a “challenging, complex, but exciting build”, with an underground cellar located close to the Wairarapa stream and glass lift to all three levels. The 657sqm home offers five bedrooms, four bathrooms and multiple living areas. It also has a personal gym and five-star swimming pool. The home is highly automated and energy-efficient with a 15kW solar panel system and battery making it almost self-sufficient in terms of power. Thermal break, argon gas, low-e and reflective glass have been used and all rooms have ducted heating, and the in-floor hydronic heating powered by specially engineered smart heat pumps. The company also won gold in the New Home $1 Million - $1.5 Million category for a 362sqm four-bedroom home in Merivale and silver in the New Home $1- $1.5m for another home in Merivale. Despite a long history building quality homes in Canterbury, the now multi-award winning company first entered the Registered Master Builders House of the Year competition in 2016. That very first year it took home silver, gold and gold reserve awards. Since then, and not including the 2021 awards, Home Trends Builders has won another gold reserve, a Top 100, eight gold, five silver and a category win for a multi-unit project to add to the collection. Locally owned and operated by Peter and wife Elaine clients deal direct with them, not just a salesperson. Since 1985 the company has built hundreds of homes throughout Canterbury from grand homesteads, compact retirement complexes, funky apartments and family homes. Currently booked for the next 12-18 months Peter considers this testament to the quality of homes the company is producing. “We’ve developed a good reputation, people like what we do and approach us for their project. It’s a great position to be in.” Proud to support Home Trends Builders 027 207 3397 bruce@bcplastering.co.nz Looking to renovate your home? Talk to us about kitchens, wardrobes, laundries, storage & inbuilt joinery 03 377 5982 cath@douglasfurniture.co.nz
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