Carpet tiles from Ontera Modular Carpets have been used in the first building in the Waikato region in New Zealand’s first official ‘green' building certified by the New Zealand Green Building Council.
WISE Group's Kakariki House - which translates from Maori to ‘Green House’ - in Grey St Hamilton East has been a given a four-star rating. The four-star rating signifies that the building now meets internationally recognised standards for energy, water, materials and emissions.
Kakariki House includes a number of special features. It was built using concrete blocks made of twenty per cent recycled aggregate, slowing down heat transfer and requiring less energy for heating or cooling. Motion sensors control lighting and a computerised system carefully monitors power and water usage. In addition, the flooring uses carpet tiles which can be individually replaced and can be taken back for reuse at the end of their life.
Kakariki House won a Merit Award in the Special purpose category from the New Zealand Property Council.