Architectural Ecology Ltd director Tim Heath, of Dunedin, was responding to a suggestion from Cr Fliss Butcher that the construction of new south-facing homes should be banned in Dunedin.
The step was needed to promote the construction of homes that faced north, towards the sun, to maximise sunlight hours and reduce their drain on the national power grid, she argued.
Mr Heath said yesterday the idea was "a good principle" but "naive".
"It's just been expressed very badly," he said.
As well as focusing on solid design principles, the Dunedin City Council could also be doing more to promote the reuse of old buildings in the central city, Mr Heath said.
The city had in the past been "very careless" in its use of building materials and energy to construct buildings, many of which were now "lying relatively useless" - such as the former chief post office building.
Dunedin's topography meant many properties were left with no choice but to build facing south, Mr Heath said.
His company tried to design its private homes facing north where possible, with the living space able to be naturally warmed by the sun's rays.
The Government also appeared to be endorsing a common design approach to new homes through the Building Code, which could create problems when the same design was constructed in Auckland and Central Otago, he said.
"We have totally different microclimates. A house that may be a fantastic house in Dunedin may not be a fantastic house in Auckland or Central Otago, because there are different needs."
Dunedin had access to "wonderful" timber resources and the technology to build homes and buildings based on local designs, rather than energy-hungry steel, he believed.
