What house ratings schemes are in New Zealand?

What House Rating Systems are in NZ?

At Formance Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs), we're passionate about creating strong, energy-efficient homes. In New Zealand, where sustainability and healthy living are high priorities, choosing the right home rating system can be a powerful tool. Here's a breakdown of some key systems to consider:

  • Homestar: This widely recognized program by the New Zealand Green Building Council assesses a home's overall performance across seven categories: energy, health and comfort, water, waste, materials, site, and home management. Homestar uses a 6 to 10 star scale, with 6 being the minimum certification level and 10 representing world-leading performance. Our SIPs construction method can significantly contribute to achieving high Homestar ratings due to their excellent thermal insulation properties.
  • Passive House: This international standard focuses on creating ultra-low energy buildings. Passive House certified homes prioritize airtightness, superior insulation (which SIPs excel at), and efficient ventilation systems. The result? Homes that require minimal heating and cooling, leading to significant energy cost savings and a comfortable living environment.
  • NABERSNZ: While NABERSNZ primarily targets commercial buildings, it can also be applied to multi-unit residential dwellings. It awards a star rating (0 to 6) based on a building's energy efficiency compared to similar structures. This system is a great option for developers or investors seeking to showcase the energy performance of their multi-unit developments.

Choosing the Right System:

The best rating system for your project depends on your goals. Here's a quick guide:

  • For a balance of sustainability and affordability, Homestar is a great option.
  • For the most energy-efficient home possible, consider Passive House.
  • For multi-unit dwellings, NABERSNZ can showcase energy performance.
  • If you’re just wanting to know how well your house will perform, consider doing thermal modelling.

Formance SIPs and Sustainability:

SIPs construction offers significant advantages for achieving high ratings in any of these systems. Their exceptional insulation properties contribute to reduced energy use, improved occupant comfort, and a healthier indoor environment. Furthermore, SIPs can help reduce build times and waste on-site.

Thermal Modelling

These rating schemes aren’t mandatory, and if you’re simply wanting to know how well your house will perform, we recommend completing a thermal model for your home. Typically this is completed with either the Passive House Planning Package (PHPP) software, and we’re happy to offer this service for any SIP builds. PHPP is a powerful tool used to assess a building's energy consumption and size your heating and cooling on. By incorporating your specific design plans and our SIPs specifications into the PHPP model, we can predict your home's energy use with exceptional accuracy. This allows for informed decision-making throughout the design process, optimizing your home's performance and ensuring you achieve your goals for the home, whilst balancing it within your budget.

For more information on Formance SIPs and how they can help you achieve your building goals, contact us today!

Posted 6 months ago by Corban Faulkner