Low Carbon Buildings
Why you should consider Homestar
I recently became a Homestar Assessor with the New Zealand Green Building Council. NZGBC like Smart Living Spaces, are passionate advocates for better buildings and happier healthier kiwis. So, what is Homestar and why should you consider it.
What is Homestar?
Homestar is a rating tool, with credits available across a range of important considerations. The number of credits achieved is reflected in the final rating, ranging from 6 stars, which is above our minimum NZBC (New Zealand Building Code) requirements, through to 8 stars which is best practise and 10 stars at the top, which is world standard.
The tool covers various areas of design and build considerations in the areas of Efficiency (resource, water and energy), Health and Comfort, Liveability, Environmental Responsibility and Innovation. There are mandatory Minimums in the areas of Efficiency, Health and Comfort and Environmental Responsibility, ensuring that any rated homes keep a uniform standard, whilst also allowing flexibility for excellence in other areas that work well with the project and client challenges and aspirations.
So Why Should you consider Homestar?
When we buy cars, many of us research safety ratings, fuel efficiency, mileage, serviceability, availability of parts etc. How many of us research what our power bill could be in a home we are wanting to purchase or build?
When purchasing a dishwasher or refrigerator, there are rating labels to help compare performance and make an informed decision.
Yet when it comes to our homes, an asset that costs infinitely more than a car or appliance, we have little knowledge of the future performance of that home. We assume that the New Zealand Building Code, Local Building Consent Authorities, Architects, Designers and Builders have got our back.
The reality is that most of New Zealand’s housing when built new are built to the very minimum standards of our NZBC. And the performance of this minimum leaves much to be desired.
So how do we evaluate one home to another. How do we quantify a home’s performance, given not all our homes are designed exactly the same.
Homestar requires Energy Modelling and other calculation tools to be submitted to quantify the performance of a specific house design on that specific site. It looks at winter comfort and summer comfort, demanding a consistent performance year round for the health and comfort of its occupants.
Energy and water efficiency is also looked at, which impacts an occupants power and water bills.
Materials and their embodied carbon and life cycle are also considered, encouraging the way that we build to be aligned with planet friendly and sustainable practises.
And with this certainty of performance and rating tool, comes confidence with lenders. ANZ has a healthy home loan on offer currently and I am confident that in time more lenders will come on board. After all, if you can lower the power and water bills, increase the health of your clients and also claim greater value and desirability of an asset, it’s a more secure investment.
If you are future-focused and want to build and invest in tomorrow rather than just consider today, Homestar is worth looking at.
We need to build smart, we need to build beyond just consideration of our budget, we need to build better.
If the health and comfort of your family is important. If you are considering building a home to live in for a long time or are one of those good people who think of those future occupants who will inherit what you have created, Homestar is a great fit for you.