Home Energy Ratings Scheme

The voluntary Home Energy Rating Scheme was launched on 17 Dec 2007. The Scheme targets medium-to high income households to incentivise them to upgrade the energy efficiency of their home, adding value at the point of sale. The home energy rating is an independent assessment of the energy performance of a home including how well the building's design, construction and orientation enables it to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature, and the current efficiency of its space heating and water heating. The rating is expressed as a star rating that will enable comparisons between one house and another. The assessment also includes expert recommendations about the most cost-effective ways to improve the homes energy efficiency and reduce energy costs. The voluntary scheme was designed to be capable of becoming a mandatory scheme, should it be required. This scheme has now ended. NB. A similar function is now performed by the more general environmental rating tool "HomeStar" led by NZ independent Green Building Council. This voluntary industry measure is described as a 'comprehensive, national, voluntary residential rating tool that evaluates the environmental attributes of New Zealand stand-alone homes in terms of energy, health and comfort, water, waste and more'.
See http://homestar.org.nz/ for more information.

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