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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 access the online Technical Question form here

Technical Question Title Tool Version Date Released Credit Name Sub-credit Name TC Link
Zero Carbon Action Plan Green Star Buildings NZ October 2025 23 - Energy Source
Approved Ruling:

A Zero Carbon Action Plan is no longer required as a Minimum Expectations for Credit 23 - Energy Source, for all building types, provided that the project:

  1. Is 100% fossil fuel free in operation, either via on-site renewable energy or grid supply.

Fossil fuels cannot be used on site for any domestic hot water, space heating or cooking under any circumstances, regardless of base build or tenant use. Fossil fuels for industrial processes may be excluded. Energy sources supplied to tenants, such as gas lines that result in fossil fuels being used on site are included in the credit scope and are therefore not permitted.

  1. Either of the following criteria is achieved in Credit 24:
  • Elimination of high-GWP refrigerants. Refrigerants with GWP of 10 or less may be considered compliant with the credit.

or

  • 100% of emissions from refrigerants are offset