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Architect and biomaterial expert Maria Walker named Future Thinker of the Year for 2023
Future Thinkers Circularity Panel Discussion

Homestar Designer: Residential Energy Modelling

If you are associated with the CGF, please email us before registering as we have funding available.

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Course Overview

 The delivery of this course follows an in-person format over 2 days, 9.00am - 5.00pm.  

This course offers a comprehensive understanding of the Homestar rating tool and sustainable design principles, equipping you to design homes that meet the highest environmental standards. A core component of the course is learning how to use the Homestar Energy and Carbon Calculator for Homes (ECCHO), which is essential for assessing the energy efficiency and sustainability of your designs. As part of the course fee, you’ll receive a Passive House Planning Package (PHPP) licence—required to use ECCHO. If you already hold an active PHPP license, you can contact us for a discount on the course fee.

This course is facilitated by Joe Lyth from WEL Architecture, who played a key role in revamping the course and the Homestar Design Guide. 

Who is this course for?

This course is ideal for professionals involved in the design, planning, or consulting of residential buildings who want to create healthier, more energy-efficient homes.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
  • Use the Homestar Energy and Carbon Calculator (ECCHO) - an approved pathway for meeting the H1 section of the building code
  • Use modelling to consider a whole of house approach to delivering a healthy efficient home
  • Apply sustainable design principles to real-world projects, including energy efficiency, water conservation, and indoor environmental quality
  • Receive your Homestar Designer accreditation, enhancing your professional credibility and marketability
  • Understand the certification process, preparing you to lead projects through the Homestar assessment with confidence

 

pricing
Pricing (excl. GST)

If you are associated with the CGF, please email us before registering as we have funding available.

$1,745 Member price
$2,615 Non Member price
$1,615 Future Thinkers

Register now
timing
Timing

26/11/25
9.00am-5.00pm

27/11/25
9.00am-5.00pm

where
Where
NZGBC Office, 205 Queen Street, Level 2, Tower 1, Auckland CBD

Auckland

nzgbc-fe-points
NZRAB CPD Points

80 NZRAB points available

Send us your NZRAB profile number post course completion and we can allocate these points to you!

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Facilitated by

Joe Lyth
Ben Cannon

Director, Architect, PHINZ Board Chair, Certified Passive House Designer & Homestar Assessor

Joe Lyth is Director of WEL Architecture, and Chair of the Passive House Institute New Zealand. He is a Registered Architect, Certified Passive House Designer and Homestar Assessor and trainer with expertise in high performance, new build and renovation design in the UK and NZ.

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Homestar Designer course FAQs

To attend the Homestar Designer course, participants must have completed the Homestar Fundamentals course and meet one of the following qualifications or relevant experience:

  • Architectural designer, architect
  • Engineer
  • Building scientist/technologist
  • Quantity surveyor
  • Licensed Building Practitioner Level 2 and 3

This is a technical accreditation that requires an understanding of home design and construction in Aotearoa. Attendees must be able to read and interpret house plans and have a basic understanding of building science. If you believe you have equivalent experience, please contact us.

An online exam needs to be completed in order to achieve accreditation as a Homestar Designer. The online exam will require additional time investment beyond attending the course and must be completed within 4 weeks after the course date. As such, please ensure that you have sufficient time.

If you have exam questions, you can send these to us at education@nzgbc.org.nz. Please note we may not be able to advise on the exam in every instance, due to the professional integrity of our assessments.