Technical resources

Technical Manual

The Technical Manual covers the Homestar process and contains detailed information on how to meet the requirements for each credit.

Homestar v5.0.3 is the current version of Homestar, effective from 18 November 2022.

Homestar v5 Technical Manual

Homestar v5 incorporates some key new developments to help move the residential construction industry to the next level towards achieving the vision of all homes in New Zealand being healthy and sustainable.

The Homestar v4.1 Technical Manual is available for projects that were registered prior to 31 January 2023. 

Homestar v4.1 Technical Manual

NZGBC recommends that Homestar professionals complete refresher training and start using Homestar v5 as soon as possible. Any projects registered under Homestar v4.1 maybe upgraded to v5 at the request of the project team. Please get in touch with the Homestar team for more details. 

Registration Form

The project owner must complete the Registration Form, confirm that they have read and agreed to the Homestar Terms and Conditions, and email to registrations@nzgbc.org.nz. A project can be registered before engaging a Homestar Assessor, but we recommend discussing the project with a Designer or Assessor first. Refer to the process and fees page for an estimate of registration fees. 

Homestar Registration Form (PDF)

If you are intending to submit a multi-unit development in stages, please register each stage as a separate Homestar project. Splitting projects after registration can result in processing delays and additional charges.

Multi-unit registrations must be accompanied by a Typology Breakdown including:

1. A site plan with dwelling typologies clearly shown.
2. An explanation of how the Typologies were defined as per the definition in the Technical Manual. 

Please attach this to your email when you submit your registration form.

Typology Breakdown Example simple (PDF)

Typology Breakdown Example complex (PDF)

Resources for Homestar Project Teams

Homestar Embodied Carbon Calculator

REBRI SWMP Template (link to BRANZ website)

Download EMP Template (zip)

Download HUG Template (docx)

Resources for Trainees, Practitioners and Assessors

Some of the resources needed for Homestar are only available to qualified professionals who have completed Homestar training courses. These resources can be accessed below.

Note: you need to be logged in to the NZGBC website to view these pages.

Resources for Trainees

Resources for Practitioners

Resources for Designers and Assessors

Innovations

The NZGBC may award innovation points as part of a Homestar rating. These recognise initiatives that don’t currently fit into the main framework of these tools but that we believe are important to encourage. They cover environmental, social and economic sustainability initiatives. 

The NZGBC has published a set of Innovation Challenges for Homestar and Green Star that any project may target. Or, Homestar Assessors may suggest new innovations to the NZGBC for approval by independent experts. Please refer to the Innovations section of the Technical Manual to understand how these fit into the framework of the Homestar tool.

Innovation Challenges (PDF)

Previously approved innovations (PDF) last updated 1 March 2022

Products and Materials

Homestar assesses the whole dwelling, not dwelling components. Products and materials can contribute to a Homestar rating, but we rely on third-party certifications and eco-labels rather than endorsing specific products. These third parties test and carry out environmental assessments of products and materials, independent of manufacturers, suppliers and the NZGBC.

Products and materials relate to Homestar in two different ways:

1. In the Materials category, points are awarded for healthy & sustainable materials. 
2. Product may contribute to the overall sustainable performance of the building. For example, low-flow water fittings are recognised in the Water Use credit.

Please refer to the Homestar Technical Manual for more details. 

Approved eco-labels and air quality schemes for Homestar (PDF)

If you’re a manufacturer or supplier of a product or material that is eligible for points under Homestar, get in touch with membership@nzgbc.org.nz for advice on marketing your product and communicating its benefits through NZGBC membership.

If your product has an eco-label that is not currently recognised by the NZGBC, please refer to the Product Certification information from the Green Building Council of Australia. This provides further details on how the product certification scheme providing the eco-label can apply for assessment against the GBCA Assessment Framework. A submission may be made by the product certification scheme or by another party on their behalf, provided the appropriate documentation can be supplied.

Embodied Carbon

Homestar v5 includes a new credit (EN2: Embodied Carbon) that rewards projects taking steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with the products and materials used to construct a home. The embodied carbon content of a project is an important metric that should be considered when delivering the homes needed for a sustainable future while meeting our obligations to decarbonize the building industry. While other (third-party) tools may also be used to comply with the EN2 credit, BRANZ has developed the Homestar Embodied Carbon Calculator (HECC) for NZGBC, as an easy to use tool for estimating the embodied carbon content of a typical home. 

We are making this tool freely and publicly available to encourage industry professionals to consider the embodied carbon content associated with their projects.

Download the Homestar Embodied Carbon Calculator (HECC)

Thermal Bridges: Psi and fRsi Calculations

Homestar v5 requires some knowledge of building physics. To assist designers and assessors with some of the fundamentals, NZGBC has prepared a brief guide with additional links to useful resources. 

Thermal Bridge Reference Document: Psi and fRSsi Calculations

In addition, some experience consultants are available to assist with calculating psi and fRsi values. These consultants are listed below. 

High Performance Construction Details Handbook

The High-Performance Construction Details Handbook was written by Jason Quinn on behalf of Passive House Institute New Zealand (PHINZ) with funding from the Building Research Levy and others. The handbook provides ISO standard thermal analysis of the most useful building elements and junctions commonly used in New Zealand. This resource can be used as a reference for thermal bridge performance and fRSI values for junctions.

HPCD Handbook | Passive House Institute New Zealand

Mixed-use buildings

For buildings containing both residential and commercial activities we have issued guidance for how to apply both Homestar and Green Star.

Guidance for Green Star DAB NZv1.0 and Homestar v5 Certification of Mixed-Use Buildings