About Homestar

Homestar is a comprehensive, national, voluntary residential rating tool that evaluates the environmental attributes of New Zealand’s stand-alone homes in terms of energy, health and comfort, water, waste and more.  

The overarching objective of the Homestar rating tool is to improve the performance and reduce the environmental impact of new and existing New Zealand homes, making them warm, healthy and comfortable places to live.

To achieve this, the Homestar rating tool aims to:

• Establish a common language and standard of measurement for efficient, comfortable, healthy homes. 
• Raise awareness of the benefits of green homes for homeowners, tenants and the construction industry.
• Create a value proposition for investment into the attributes that improve the performance of New Zealand homes, by providing recognition of the investment in these attributes with a star rating. 
• Reduce the environmental impact of New Zealand homes.
• Provide advice enabling the building and construction industry to produce targeted solutions that deliver results for homeowners and tenants.

Overseas research shows homes with performance ratings sell and rent faster, for higher prices than non-rated homes. The UK, Europe and North America have developed similar rating tools, such as LEED for Homes in the USA and Canada and the Code for Sustainable Homes in the UK.