Is your home a healthy home?

A healthy home Is warm, comfortable, cost efficient to run and good for the environment too. Everyone benefits.

We’d all like to live in a home that performs well without compromising our lifestyle. However, many of us don’t know what we need to do to get our home into shape, or how it stacks up when compared to other New Zealand homes. If you’re a homeowner, you want to know that the investment you make on improving your home will not only save on running costs, but could add capital value in the long run and help safeguard the environment for future generations.

The free online Homestar test, together with help from a Homestar Professional and our product partners, can guide you through design, construction and maintenance of a healthier, more naturally comfortable and eco-friendly home.

Take a virtual tour of a high rating Homestar house to find out what matters - homestar.org.nz

Where to start | 3 simple steps with Homestar™

Step 1: Take the online test

Head to homestar.org.nz and take our free online test to rate your home’s health. It takes just 20 minutes to complete the questionnaire, and only requires you to make a few simple measurements around your house.

Step 2: Action list and plan for improvements

An Action List report can be printed with results of your Homestar rating and can be used for planning and prioritising your improvements. If you need help understanding the Action List, simply find a Homestar Professional in your area at homestar.org.nz/services, talk to your builder or take your list into a builder’s merchant such as PlaceMakers to help plan what to tackle first. There are also lots of tips and advice in this guide which can provide immediate and real benefit in terms of quality of living and running costs of your home, such as installing water and power efficient appliances, extractor fans, LED lighting and of course insulation.

Step 3: Homestar certification

When you have completed your renovation you may wish to get an independently audited Homestar assessment of the energy and performance improvements you have made to your home. You’ll be given a Homestar certificate which you can use to help promote or sell your home. Though, with all the changes you’ve made, you will probably want to be there forever!

The Homestar™ Icons

The Homestar icons throughout the guide, illustrate what needs to be considered to ensure your home performs better