‘Quality assurance’ behind jump in demand for sustainable houses
There’s been a significant increase over the last three years of new homes with green credentials.
The New Zealand Green Business Council said it had had a tenfold increase in people signing up for its ‘‘Homestar’’ tool, which rates homes according to their energy efficiency and environmental friendliness.
Homestar was introduced by the council in 2011 to give the property industry a sustainability ‘‘stamp of approval’’.
A new, improved version is due for release at the end of July.
Registrations have risen from 670 to 6700 since 2014, and the council’s chief executive Andrew Eagles said it seemed that quality assurance was increasingly on New Zealanders’ radars.
‘‘As we look to build significantly more homes it’s important that quality is championed,’’ he said.
‘‘Home buyers want to know that the house they’re moving into is going to be healthy for their families, suit their lifestyle and be built to a high standard.’’
Ten stars is the highest rating in the Homestar system but most existing homes would only rate a two or a three.
A new home built to the New Zealand building code would generally achieve three or four stars.
Penny Hulse, chair of the Auckland Council’s environment and community committee, said the rise in uptake was good to see. ‘‘The type of home that receives a Homestar rating is the type of housing that we want to see more of. They help homeowners save money year on year, result in better health and wellbeing and help reduce our climate impacts.’’
The new Homestar standard to be released next month follows six months of industry input, a national tour and scoping papers.