Homestar for home buyers

A Homestar certification should give you the confidence that your home will be healthier, easier to keep warm and, depending on how you choose to live and use its features, have lower running-costs.

Homestar provides a clear framework for home performance. It’s a comprehensive, independent tool that awards points across various credits to rate a home’s performance and environmental impact. There are mandatory minimum requirements around keeping the home, warm, dry, well-ventilated and resource efficient.

Homestar is only available for new homes or major home renovations. So, if you're working with an architect or a group home builder, be sure to let them know your intention to build a Homestar rated home from the outset. This will ensure that your house design incorporates the key criteria required for the build, eliminating the need to make changes along the way.

To achieve a Homestar rating, a home is independently assessed against strict health, efficiency and sustainability criteria. That assessment is then audited by the New Zealand Green Building Council, so you can trust the rating

Ask your bank about green finance - new report shows it can save Kiwis thousands

A new report, Analysis of Financial Benefits of Homestar, from leading economics consultancy Infometrics shows homes built to a 6 Homestar standard can save New Zealanders over $62,000 in electricity and mortgage interest over 30 years.

The report shows despite a modest upfront average build cost increase of just 0.5% to 1.5%, Homestar homeowners can be better off by year 3 for standalone houses, or year 2 for terraced houses.

“Our analysis shows that Homestar homes are not only better for the environment — they’re better for your wallet,” says Brad Olsen, Chief Executive and Principal Economist at Infometrics.

Use less water and energy

Homestar promotes and incentivises homes that are designed and built in way that reduce emissions and keep your operating costs down. From basic steps such as installing LED lighting and efficient water heating, to major decisions such as installing heat-recovery mechanical ventilation systems or solar. Homestar awards and recognises efforts to keep energy and water use to a minimum.

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Make cold, damp homes a thing of the past

Everyone deserves to live in a warm, dry, comfortable home that doesn't cost the earth to run. Unfortunately, the majority of New Zealand homes fail to deliver the homes we deserve. Homestar sets a higher standard for vital things like insulation, heating, and ventilation, to help keep you and your whānau happy and healthy.

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Help reduce emissions

The average new New Zealand home produces more than five times too much pollution for our planet to avoid catastrophic climate change. Homestar promotes and incentivises the use of more sustainable materials, less waste, and supports projects to embed more sustainable design and construction practices.

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Step 1: Registration

Your Homestar Assessor will help you register your project (check out our professional directory for an assessor near you).

You can register via the form below

Step 2: Design and build

Use the Homestar tools and calculators to find what will work best for your home.

Step 3: Assessment

Your Homestar Assessor gathers the relevant documentation and submits it on your behalf.

Step 4: Quality Assurance

Assessments are checked through a quality assurance process.

Step 5: Certification

Once the final assessment is complete and your home is deemed as meeting the criteria, you will receive a Homestar certificate. Congratulations!

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Homestar for home buyers

Looking for a better, healthier home?

Ask your bank about green finance - new report shows it can save Kiwis thousands

“Building a home was one of the biggest financial investments that we have ever made. It made sense to do it right – sustainable, highly efficient, low energy and low environmental impact - regardless of whether we plan to live here forever.”