The NZGBC approves that where a project includes a main source of heating (e.g. heat pump, centralised heating system, or electric radiators that satisfy HHA heater sizing requirements) serving as the primary heating source, any secondary heating 
source such as an electric fireplace installed in a habitable room for decorative purposes only may be excluded from the total energy consumption calculation under the Homestar assessment.

This exemption is conditional upon the project team:
1. Providing a supporting document or signed declaration indicating that this assumption has been clearly communicated to and acknowledged by the client or 
homeowner.

2. Demonstrating that the primary system meets the heating demand for the space according to HHA or other accepted standards.

The project must show a document that indicate that this assumption has been shared with the client.

For example: “This home is capable of meeting the heating requirements of the Homestar standard, on the proviso that the electric fireplace is used for decorative purposes only. If the fireplace is used as the main heating source, it may result in exceeding the allowable electricity demand for the Star rating being targeted.”

Under the “Design for Vision Impaired Occupants Checklist”, the NZGBC approves that while the light switches must be within 300mm of a doorway (measured from the edge of the opening); Phone jacks and power points outlets may be located in logical, intuitive and standardized locations (e.g. near bedside tables, near TV, in corners of rooms where a lamp or table is likely to be placed, etc).

This flexibility is granted in recognition that these locations align with expected occupant use and ensure accessibility through familiarity and predictable 
placement.

The New Zealand Green Building Council (NZGBC) advises that for a contiguous multi-unit building (i.e. apartments or townhouses) assessed under Homestar, each dwelling typology within the project is generally required to individually meet the minimum standards for HC1 (Winter Comfort), HC2 (Summer comfort), and EF4 (Energy Use).

However, in order to account for practical design limitations while maintaining overall performance consistency across the building NZGBC will allow a percentage of dwellings to exceed the relevant thresholds for a particular Star rating provided that any individual variant of the typology does not exceed 20% of the credit requirements for HC1 & EF4 and absolutely no more than 10% overheating (10% total annual hours above 25degC) for HC2.

The percentage of dwellings that exceed the credit thresholds should not exceed 20% of the total units within a contiguous building.

The onus will be on the project team to show that remaining dwellings (i.e. the next worst case variants) do meet the relevant thresholds.

Note that this Technical Clarification does not apply to standalone dwellings or averaging of units across multiple buildings.

The intent of this prescriptive pathway is for the control of internal ambient noise levels from external environmental source of noise such as road traffic etc.

Therefore, these specifications apply to the external building fabric (e.g. façade/roof) of an apartment common area. Such that the common area within the apartment is protected from external source of noise.

This means that, when the technical manual talks about STC ratings of external walls and ceilings in common areas, it refers to the external wall or ceiling between the common area and the outside.

Projects may classify engineered timber flooring under either ‘interior engineered wood’, or ‘floor coverings’ categories (but not in both). This will help prevent the double handling of how % compliance calculations have to be documented between HC7 and EN3 credits for the same product type.

The requirement for a door connecting an attached garage to the conditioned space of a house to be sealed, remains in place, independent of the chosen ventilation strategy.

Please be advised that Green Star Buildings Credit 33: Tohu Mauri Ora may be directly targeted as an Innovation Credit, with the potential to achieve up to 2 points, in the following tools:

• Homestar
• Green Star Design & As-Built V1.0 & v1.1
• Green Star Interiors
• Green Star Communities

Projects may not pursue both this credit and the Te Aranga Design Innovation Challenge.

If your project is considering pursuing this credit, please contact the NZGBC Certification Team in advance to confirm before submitting your documentation.