Where specialist water fixtures and fittings are used e.g. anti-ligature in mental health faculties, project teams may still achieve points by demonstrating the specialist water fixtures and fittings are best in class, instead of meeting WELS requirements in the Submission Guidelines. A Technical Question should be submitted to justify accordingly.

The Design & As Built NZv1.1 – 24.1 Ecological Protection credit can be used to assess eligibility for projects registered under the Design & As Built NZv1.0 tool.  Where DAB v1.0 projects intend to adopt other DAB v1.1 credits for a registered project a TQ should be submitted to the Green Star team for review. If a project intends to use this credit they must make it clear in the Submission Template when they submit their Round 1 documents.  

To confirm amenities are within 400m or 800m of the project, the site plan should show the measured walking distance (instead of the radial distance) from the centre of the project following a designated path to the amenity to meet the credit requirement.  

Note: The name of the criterion is Walkable Neighbourhoods. Its intent is to show that the amenity can be reached within a walkable distance (400-800m).

Can I use a Leesman survey to measure occupant satisfaction? Yes, however a technical question to demonstrate your approach must be submitted to the NZGBC for review and approval. The NZGBC approves in principle the use of a Leesman survey as an alternative method of compliance, on the basis that the survey core question set is expanded to address in detail occupant satisfaction, including the assessment of occupant well-being and interaction with their indoor environment. 

Cooling properties of artificial water bodies are considered comparable to those of natural water bodies, both having beneficial urban cooling properties contributing to the outcomes of this credit. 

For the sake of clarity, "minor local contamination" should be interpreted as contamination that would not trigger soil remediation under the National Environmental Standard for Assessing and Managing Contaminants in Soil.

Where drop-off lanes/spaces are provided, these can be excluded in the total number of car parks used to demonstrate compliance.

In order to be excluded, drop-off spaces on the drawings submitted must show that the spaces/lanes are marked to indicate “no stopping at all times” (or similar) and the design should clearly indicate they are drop-off lanes rather than car parks.

Walking School Buses are eligible for points under the Private Mass Transport component of this credit. However, the Walking School Bus service must meet the catchment, frequency and contractual requirements set out in the Technical Manual in order to be awarded any points.

Projects that reduce the existing number of carparks (net total) on existing campuses (while also providing new carparks) also meet the credit criteria.

A project may use a sample approach to model daylight for ascending uniform floorplates for the purpose of demonstrating compliance where: 

• Each distinct floor plate is modelled in totality. 
• Each distinct floorplate is modelled at the lowest possible opportunity.

The approach is allowed where: 

• No recognised surrounding infrastructure or landform that would influence daylight of a higher level.
• Ascending floorplates have uniform floor plans, orientation, material composition, arrangement, and spatial relationship to overshadowing buildings or features. 

Documentation Requirements: 

Please provide the following in your submission: 

• Architectural drawings of typical floor plates
• Evidence demonstrating there is no surrounding infrastructure capable of influencing daylight
• A copy of this response

All other requirements are as per the submission guidelines. 

All projects targeting the LCA credit under both versions of Design & As Built NZv1.0 (credit 19A.1) and v1.1 (credit 19.2) should use the reference building guidance located in section 8.2 of the Green Star NZ Embodied Carbon Methodology. This section should provide guidance on materials and typology often referenced in relation to LCA. Where projects are following this guidance for the reference building, please make this clear in the submission template comment box.

Where the highest level of filtration possible in the FCU is G2, i.e. in smaller FCUs, and only access downstream of the heating/cooling coils is possible then:

• Adequate access must be provided to the FCU for filter cleaning/maintenance/replacement.
• Adequate access must be provided to the downstream side of the heating/cooling coils in the FCU for cleaning/maintenance.
• Adequate access is considered as that presented in item B on the bottom of page 116 of the Submission Guidelines, ensuring that access to the filter is also adequate.
• Outdoor air must be supplied to the FCU via an air handling unit (AHU).
• AHU must have minimum levels of filtrations of: Panel filter = G4 + Deep Bag = F7 (ePM1 50%). An additional panel filter is recommended to extend the clean performance of the bag filter.
• Adequate access to both sides of the AHU coils for cleaning/maintenance must be achieved.
• The building owner commits to a maintenance schedule that includes regular filter and coil inspections/cleans as necessary.  The regularity of maintenance should be based on the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Project teams wishing to use this approach should include evidence of the following in their submission:

• Why filtration no higher than G2 is possible at the FCU.
• Accessibility at the FCU is adequate for both filter maintenance/replacement and coil inspection/cleaning.
• A maintenance plan clearly showing the requirements for filter and coil maintenance have been met.
• A commitment from the building owner for implementing the maintenance plan as proposed.

 Credit 25. Stormwater in Green Star Design & As-Built has been updated. The revised credit shall be used for Green Star projects and it supersedes the previous revision published in March 2020

The updates are based on the feedback that NZGBC received following the release of the previous updates and in-depth consultation with industrial professionals. Changes in the revised Stormwater credit include:
- Change from 'dissolved' Zinc and Copper to 'total' Zinc and Copper under table 25.1 Pollution Reduction Targets.
- Incorporation of a technical clarification issued in April 2020 which allows the Zinc and Copper to be excluded from modelling when proper source control methods are available. 

The guidance reference for 'Office Spaces' in the Lighting Comfort - General Illuminance and Glare Reduction credit criterion is updated to Table E1 of AS/NZS 1680.2.2:2008 'Interior and workplace lighting Part 2.2: Specific applications - Office and screen-based tasks'.

Given that the CarboNZero for Building Operations certification for buildings requires energy and water efficiency intrinsically through buildings’ performance stages, it is acceptable for project teams to show commitment to the CarboNZero for Building Operations instead of a Green Star Performance rating to achieve the point for 5.1 Environmental Building Performance. This pathway may only be used for projects that have been registered for a CarboNZero certification or have shown formal commitment through formal agreements or policies.

All ductwork components (plenums etc.) are to be treated the same as ductwork, and therefore do not need to be cleaned if sealed throughout construction.

The Building/fitout log book can be in the form of an online facilities management system.

A project may utilise a dedicated online facilities management system designed to coordinate building information in lieu of a traditional fit out logbook on the condition that the online system: 

• Provides similar functionality to a logbook developed in line with CIBSE TM31 Building Log Book Toolkit;
• Covers all nominated systems; and
• Includes link or references of all relevant operations and maintenance information. 

Documentation Requirements; please provide the following in your submission:

• Evidence such as screenshots demonstrating the project-wide deployment of the online facilities management systems;
• A copy of this TC.

All other requirements are as per Submission Guidelines. 

Projects that include retained elements of a building structure and/or envelope can include these elements in both Credit 19 Life Cycle Impacts (either 19A and 19B.3) and Credit 21 Sustainable Products (21A Reused Products). This is to encourage and reward projects which refurbish existing buildings rather than demolishing them.

This supersedes the Technical Clarification for Credit 21 issued 10/19, noting if a project is also targeting Credit 19 Life Cycle Impacts, only building materials that have eligible additional Transparency or Sustainability Initiatives will be recognised for claiming additional points in the ‘Sustainable Products’ Credit.

Note this clarification is only applicable to retained elements of a building. The existing Technical Clarification issued 10/19 still applies to all newly installed products.

Projects may target one (1) point for Visual Comfort - Views from relevant Green Star rating tools by using the following alternate compliance criteria: 

60% of the nominated area must demonstrate that a View Rating of 3 or greater is achieved.

The View Rating may be found using the below methodology summarised from Windows and Offices: A Study of Office Worker Performance and the Indoor Environment:

o    Sitting in a chair in each cubicle or space facing the computer monitor, the amount and quality of view visible within a 90-degree cone of the monitor is rated from 0=none to 5=largest, based on the below: 

Additionally, the following guidance will apply:

• View glazing in the contributing area must provide a clear image of the exterior, not obstructed by frits, fibers, patterned glazing, or added tints that distort colour balance. 
• View glazing in the contributing area must provide a clear image of the exterior, not obstructed by frits, fibers, patterned glazing, or added tints that distort colour balance. 
• Include in the calculations any permanent interior obstructions. Movable furniture and partitions may be excluded.
• Views into interior atria or similar Internal View (as defined in the Guidance section of 12.2 Visual Comfort - Views from Green Star - Design & As Built v1.2) may also be considered.

Documentation Requirements:

Please provide the following in your submission:

• Technical Report - 'Windows and Offices: A Study of Office Worker Performance and the Indoor Environment' published by the California Energy Commission
• Clear outline of what the View Rating is and the methodology used to calculate it.
• Simulation report demonstrating View Rating achieved for nominated area.
• A copy of this TC.

Project teams can refer to the REBRI standard to undertake volume to weight conversion, instead of using the table for Waste Volume to Weight Conversion Factors in the Submission Guidelines.

The credit of Sustainable Products takes account of all the products and materials including buildings’ mechanical, hydraulic, transportation and electrical systems. Responsible and sustainable systems that meet transparency and sustainability requirements in the credit can contribute to achieved points.  

Can a single program or initiative be used to comply with High Quality Staff Support?

Yes, providing the program or initiative covers at least three distinct issues, with one of the three specifically addressing mental health impacts. For points to be awarded, project teams must clearly highlight the distinct issues and provide evidence in the submission demonstrating these being addressed on site.

As outlined in the Submission Guidelines, issues addressed may be, but are not limited to, the following:.

• healthier eating and active living
• reduced harmful alcohol and drug and tobacco-free living
• increase social cohesion, community, and cultural participation
• understanding depression
• preventing violence and injury
• suicide prevention
• decreased psychological distress

The following is a brief (but not exhaustive) list of programs and initiatives which could be implemented on site for, made available to, or discussed with all construction workers for the duration of construction. Each program may cover one or more distinct issue/s as required by the credit.  Evidence must be provided for each issue addressed by a program.

• Beyond Blue
• Mates in Construction
• Lifeline
• Headspace
• White Ribbon
• Nutrition Organisation

The compliance requirements for the Occupant Engagement Innovation Challenge have been updated. The update requires the post-occupancy survey to be completed at least 12 months after practical completion to ensure that occupants have experienced the building through all the seasons. The survey should, however, be completed as near as practicably possible to the 12 months post practical completion date. The updated Innovation Challenge can be found here

Projects may use the same materials for the 'Life Cycle Assessment', 'Responsible Building Materials' and 'Sustainable Products' credits.

The products or materials which are being used to claim points for the 'Sustainable Products' credit must have an additional Transparency or Sustainability Initiative in addition to meeting the requirements of the other credits.

Please refer to Guidance under the 'Sustainable Products' credit in the Submission Guidelines of the relevant rating tool for further information.

At present the Green Star - Design & As Built Submission Guidelines indicate that this option is available for 'Life Cycle Impacts' criteria, and it is clarified that products used in the 'Life Cycle Assessment' criterion may also be targeted in 'Sustainable Products' provided the conditions outlined above are met.

For the Reverberation Criterion, where 'note 3' applies, how do I apply the phrase '50% of the area in the space'?

The performance of the installed acoustic absorption, irrespective of quantity or location installed, must result in a reverberation time equivalent to or lower than the reverberation time predicted for treating at least 50% of the combined floor and ceiling area with a material having a noise reduction coefficient (NRC) of at least 0.5.Alternatively, compliance can be demonstrated by treating 50% of the combined floor and ceiling area with a material having a NRC of at least 0.5.Acoustic absorption should be applied in locations appropriate to the function of the space, and located to maximise the acoustic performance of materials selected.

This pathway only applies to industrial projects located in regional areas where cycling to work was not practical. When this pathway is adopted, it must be adopted in full. Where industrial projects are located in urban areas, seeking compliance through this industrial pathway will not be acceptable. 

Where there are key functional requirements for the spaces which are more important than the acoustic separation between spaces, the credit may be achieved even when the sound insulation target is exceeded. Please submit a Technical Question to justify in this case in order to preclude these spaces from the assessment

Providing that all other requirements of the Commissioning and Tuning - Independent Commissioning Agent credit criterion is met; an Independent Commissioning Agent (ICA) may be considered independent if they report directly to the building owner or the owner's designated representative, even if they are paid by the contractor. 

Due to the presence of certain rare earth minerals in photovoltaic panels, the ADPE environmental indicator in Life Cycle Assessments may be increased by more than 10%. This will not disqualify a project from achieving points under this credit, given that it is demonstrated that this limit is exceeded due to the inclusion of the PV system. Alternatively, as per the v1.1 Embodied Carbon Methodology, a PV system of equal size may be included in the Reference Building Model, which will eliminate the impact of this system in comparison. 

For aged care facilities that are delivered like residential projects, it is acceptable for projects to show compliance to the original criterion under credit 5.2 End-of-Life Waste Performance in the Submission Guidelines, where the Healthcare Guidance is also adopted. Note that this exception only applies to this specific project type. For all the other healthcare projects using the Healthcare guidance, the guidance needs to be adopted in full as specified in the Healthcare Guidance. 

Any natural stone or rock-like material in waste arising from excavation that is below a size that would preclude its re-use as fill, topsoil or similar re-use (in the reasonable opinion of the waste management contractor or processing facility), complies with the definition of ‘excavation waste’ under Credit 22 of the DAB Submission Guidelines

There is no requirement to use a dynamic simulation software where the Visual Comfort credit is met through the Compliance Using Daylight Factor option. 

This is clarified in response to a formatting change that was included in the most current version of the Submission Guidelines under the Visual Comfort - Daylight criterion. The second paragraph under the heading 'Requirements for Modelling' is only intended to apply to the Compliance Using Daylight Autonomy option.

The following certifications and programs were recognised under the Green Star NZ legacy tools for demonstrating products and materials’ VOC and formaldehyde compliance. However, under the Design and As-Built NZ and Interiors NZ rating tools, certificates or statements from these programs are not accepted as evidence to show compliance with the Indoor Pollutant credit 13: 

• GuT
• AgBB
• UL Greenguard
• Carpet and rug Institute (CRI) Green Label Plus
• SCS Indoor Avantage Gold
• FloorScore - Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI)
• Formaldehyde E0 or E1 compliance
• EMICODE
• Blue Angel

The NZGBC only accepts the following evidence for products and materials to demonstrate compliance with the Design and As-Built NZ and Interiors NZ Indoor Pollutant credit 13:

• Recognized eco-labels in the Indoor Pollutant column on our website, OR
• Test certificates from accredited laboratories to show the nominated products meet relevant limits specified in the Submission Guidelines.

It is granted conditionally for a project to demonstrate the compliance to this credit when the main contractor achieved ISO 14001 certification part way through the project. 

The Telarc assessment to achieve ISO 14001 goes through various stages to test and confirm that the applied business processes meet the standards as laid out by that particular ISO standard. The first stage is to access the company policies and management documents to ensure they comply. Once confirmed the Telarc auditors then return and assess the “systems in Action”. For this to be granted, the following comments shall be addressed by further evidence.  

1. If changes were made to the Company Policy and Process (as part of the stage 1 Telarc Audit) to achieve the accreditation, then the project could not have been operating to the required standard and therefore cannot demonstrate compliance as per the credit criteria. Please provide evidence of the company systems audit and summary of the process undertaken to prove compliance without any significant change. 

2. If the project was required changes to their process and/or significant defects were noted that were later remedied to meet the ISO requirements (Company processes) then this method of proving compliance with this credit cannot be approved. This in effect would show that the project was not set up to the required standard before and during the construction period. Please provide evidence that the project was operating to the required Standard and no significant deviations were identified.

‘Warm Charging’ technology is considered an energy-reducing process in steel reinforcement production and project teams may demonstrate compliance with Energy-Reducing Processes in Steel Reinforcement in the Green Star – Design & As Built Rating tool on the condition that:

• The steel manufacturer has had their ‘warm charging’ process peer reviewed by an independent third party LCA Practitioner and agrees to comply with any recommendation made by the peer reviewer; and
• The steel manufacturer provides annual updates on the process that are publicly available, to help educate the wider industry on the benefits of warm technology process. 

The benchmarks for steel reinforcement quantities remain as per the Submission Guideline whereby at least 60% (by mass) of all reinforcing bar and mesh is produced using energy-reducing processes in its manufacture. 

Here is the amended worked example of how the percentage of total Portland cement reduction is determined when comparing the reference case and the actual case.

The Responsible Products Framework may be used in lieu of the NZGBC’s Framework for Product Certification Scheme. The following Responsible Products Value (RPV) may be converted to the previous levels A, B and C:

• RPV 10 or above = Level A
• RPV 7 – 9 = Level B
• RPV 5 – 6 = Level C

New Zealand suppliers and manufacturers who aim to be rewarded for their responsible products in Green Star projects should reach out to GBCA to check if their product's certification scheme is approved. If not approved, they can ask their certification scheme provider to approach GBCA for approval, which will allow their product to be rewarded in both the existing Design and As Built rating tool and the future Green Star Buildings NZ tool.

GBCA Products website Responsible Products Framework | Green Building Council of Australia (gbca.org.au) is updating a list of recognized initiatives and in the interim, please email materials@gbca.org.au for the most current list. 

This new clarification on crushed concrete is related to the TQ issued on 8/22 which states: "Crushed concrete from a previous building on the same site directly reused (without being taken out from the site) for hardfill or backfill may claim points under credit 22 Construction and Demolition Waste, credit 19 Life Cycle Impacts and credit 21 Sustainable Products simultaneously, but not under the innovation category. Note that the project team should ensure the quality of the crushed concrete is suitably consistent as being reused for hardfill or backfill."

Any project using the TQ above is given the following additional guidance:

Credit 22: The estimated reused crushed concrete weight shall then be attributed to the Re-used weight under Credit 22.2B. The demolition contractor and any other contractors related to the C and D Waste are reminded they must have a valid Compliance Verification Summary or Disclosure Statement related to the C and D Waste Reporting Criteria if they are pursuing credit 22.

To determine the amount of crushed concrete created on site the contractor must survey the stockpile of crushed concrete and estimate the weight using the Volume to Weight Conversion table from the C and D waste credit (Table 22.2). Photos shall be taken as evidence of the stockpile.

If a Green Star project generated construction and demolition waste during a COVID-19 lockdown (NZ COVID-19 Alert Level 4, 3 and 2) waste processing facilities might not have been sorting the waste and sent the waste directly to landfill.

The official dates for when the different levels came into place are listed here.

If this occurred, and the Green Star project is pursuing the C and D waste credit, they will need to specifically prove that construction waste was generated during this time along with the amount of waste sent to landfill.

A statement with the dates when sorting of waste was suspended must be provided from the waste contractor/processing facility. This will be allowed to be excluded from the waste diversion calculation, but the receipts of this waste going to landfill highlighting the dates must be provided.

If the 'Responsible Building Materials - Timber' credit criterion is made 'Not Applicable', the project is not eligible to claim the innovation point for timber furniture.

The Nominated area for Acoustic comfort credits

10.1 – Internal Noise Levels

10.2 – Reverberation

10.3 – Acoustic Separation

Are Primary and Secondary spaces. 

When using the prescriptive method, the output of on-site electricity generation should be that which occurs at the time when the peak load is expected to occur. Justification should be provided as to how the time of the peak load has been derived.

The Submission Guideline references the ASHRAE Standard 55-2013 (55-2020 may also be used) for naturally ventilated spaces. The ASHRAE standard 55-2020 Applicability section 5.4.1 states that this method may be used only when (a) no heating system is operating, and (d) when the prevailing mean outdoor temperature is greater than 10°C. The Submission Guidelines section 14.1.1 suggests that spaces may contain heating, which is counter to the ASHRAE Standard.

Where projects are not in accordance with the methodology outlined in ASHRAE 55-2020 Section 5.4.1(a) and section 5.4.1(d), due to having an operating heating system and prevailing mean outdoor temperatures lower than 10°C which falls outside the applicability limits of the methodology. The winter discomfort or underheating should be assessed through the Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) methodology in accordance with the requirements outlined in 14.1.2 of the Design & As Built Submission Guidelines.

Summer discomfort and overheating can still be assessed using the adaptive comfort methodology outlined in ASHRAE – 55 provided all relevant applicability limits are met i.e a combination of assessment methods acceptable with PMV used during the heating season and adaptive comfort model approach used for the remainder of the year.

Where some, but not all, major components of a façade (e.g. glass, aluminium extrusions or insulation product) are compliant with credit 21 Sustainable Products project teams may include only those compliant parts in the calculation of the PSV.  The product cost included in the calculation must be for only the compliant components, not the whole of the façade, and evidence of how this has been determined should be included in the submission.

Projects pursuing certification under Green Star - Design & As Built, and Green Star - Railway Stations may target the 'Designing for Robustness' credit from the 2015 'BREEAM In-Use International' Technical Manual.

One (1) point is available where all compliance requirements for the credit has been addressed and evidenced as per the Asset Performance MAT 07 – Designing for robustness criteria from the BREEAM Technical Manual. 

Documentation Requirements:

• A copy of the Asset Performance MAT 07 – Designing for robustness criteria from the BREEAM Technical Manual 
• Photographic as-built evidence of asset protection infrastructure listed by the client; and 
• Plans, studies, reports, or other documentation that reflect that robustness was taken into consideration during the design process.

A copy of this FAQ 

Can unconditioned warehouse spaces be excluded from Air Permeability Performance Testing?Yes.  Projects may exclude unconditioned warehouse areas from the Air Permeability Performance Testing where these warehouse spaces are not conditioned by any equipment.All other spaces, including offices or refrigerated warehouse spaces are considered as conditioned spaces and are considered applicable to the credit criterion.

The Eco-labels table has been reviewed and a new standard by Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA) has been recognised for Sustainable Products and services undergoing a Life Cycle Assessment (GECA SPSv2.0-2020 - 'Sustainable Products and Services (Life Cycle Assessment)).

To be eligible for this standard a client must first undergo an LCA, once the LCA has been completed they are required to meet a benchmark for best practice in their field. Once the benchmark is met, they can proceed to begin the ecolabel assessment under the Sustainable products and services standard. 

Please also refer to TC released August 2023 - " Responsible Products Framework as Alternative to NZGBC’s Framework for Product Certification Scheme"

For FSC and PEFC timber the ‘final claim’ on product is the crucial step in demonstrating that the timber material meets forest certification.

The principal of Chain of Custody is that the ‘final claim’ on product demonstrates that all previous steps in the supply chain meet chain of custody requirements.

For Green Star or Home Star projects, Green Star and Home Star accredited professionals only require the single claim, at the final point of purchase, to demonstrate that the product can make a conforming FSC or PEFC claim on timber.

At As Built, can I use the same energy modelling report that was submitted and awarded at Design Review?

Yes, conditionally. 

At As Built, the same energy modelling report may be submitted for this credit, if it was submitted and awarded at Design Review and no changes have been made to the design, on the following conditions: 

The energy modelling report is to be accompanied by a confirmation letter stating that no changes have occurred between the design and as built stages of the project that may affect the outcome of the energy modelling report;

Any comments that were raised by the Certified Assessor(s) at Design Review must be addressed at As Built to be awarded the point(s). 

As Built Documentation Requirements:

• Energy modelling report that was submitted and awarded at Design Review. 
• A letter of confirmation from the relevant consultant confirming that the design of the building has not been altered between Design Review and As Built submissions. 
• All other documentation requirements are as per the submission guidelines, including recommended documentation such as: 
  • Extract(s) from the Specification(s) demonstrating that all inputs used in the energy simulation are reflected in the current design. 
  • Extract(s) from the Commissioning Report demonstrating (through supporting evidence) that the building has been commissioned and operates as intended
• As built drawings demonstrating that the facade details and materials are the same as described in the energy modelling report. by the design (i.e. as described in the energy modelling report).