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 Green Star Technical Clarification Rulings

Technical Clarifications for Green Star represent our answers to Technical Questions submitted by projects, and provide further guidance and reference to others. The list is regularly updated.

There are two types of Technical Clarifications listed in the table below:

General Clarifications

These are extensions to the guidance provided in the Submission Guidelines. They clarify and sometimes supersede the original Credit Criteria or 
Compliance Requirements. General Clarifications set precedent for future project teams to follow. Should a project team wish to apply a general clarification to its project, there is no requirement for further Technical Questions to be submitted. NZGBC Assessors will also use them as precedents to assess submissions.

Project Specific Clarifications

These are published as references for other projects but, unlike General Clarifications, they do not set precedent. They often relate to special 
situations where multiple prerequisites exist for a particular project and are less likely to reoccur to another project. Therefore, rulings set for Project Specific Clarifications are often conditional and will likely vary for other projects. Each project still needs to submit its own Technical Questions and provides evidence relating to its own building in order to have a similar ruling approved for that specific building. 

Should you wish to apply any Technical Clarification for legacy rating tools to your projects, please submit a Technical Question to the NZGBC to 
explain why and how it applies. You can download the Technical Question form here

Technical Question Title Clarification Type Tool Version Month Released Credit Name Sub-credit Name Amendment/Approved Ruling
Exceeding Green Star Benchmarks General DABv1 October 2019 19 - Life Cycle Assessment/Impacts Life Cycle Impacts
Soft Landings Framewor General DABv1 November 2020 29 - Innovation Market Transformation
Thermally Treated Timber General DABv1 June 2021 29 - Innovation Innovation- Thermally treated timber
Definition for Eligible Project General DABv1 November 2020 0 - General
Global Sustainability General DABv1, DABv1.1 July 2024 29 - Innovation Global Sustainability
Integrated Public Art General DABv1 July 2021 29 - Innovation Global Sustainability
Blinds for Glare Reduction General DABv1 November 2020 12 - Visual Comfort Glare reduction
AEM Producer Statement (Credit 15) General DABv1 June 2022 15 - Greenhouse Gas Emissions Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Accredited Energy Modellers can use a producer statement instead of a full energy modelling report to demonstrate compliance for credit 14 Thermal Comfort,15 Greenhouse Gas Emissions and 16 Peak Electricity Demand Reduction. Note that the associated submission templates and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Calculator will still need to be submitted.

Alternative to Demonstrate Idle and Standby Energy Performance General DABv1, DABv1.1 April 2023 15 - Greenhouse Gas Emissions Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Correction to Percentage Benchmark and Innovation General DABv1 July 2020 22 - Construction and Demolition Waste Percentage Benchmark