Research & reports
To help improve the quality of our homes and buildings we consider input from the sector and publish independent research. We are driven to improve our understanding of the impact of construction on our environment and how we can help you design and build the best buildings for our people and the planet.
Why build green? Find out more
Construction, buildings and climate change
A practical guide to electrification for existing buildings, New Zealand Green Building Council + Green Building Council of Australia, May 2023
Near zero emission houses and offices, BERL, September 2022
Ratings Snapshot: Built environment sustainability frameworks commonly used in New Zealand, New Zealand Green Building Council + Property Council New Zealand, September 2022
Green Star Design & As Built v1.0 Guidance for Healthcare Projects New Zealand Green Building Council, March 2022
Making the performance of buildings transparent: A low hanging policy option to save energy and carbon, Sense Partners, October 2021
Is the New Zealand government doing enough to deliver zero carbon buildings? New Zealand Green Building Council, September 2021
NZGBC GHG Report FY 19 - 20 and CarboNZero Certification, Toitū, November 2020
NZGBC GHG Report FY18-19, The New Zealand Green Building Council, September 2020
A green recovery: Kick-starting a just transition with healthy homes, providing a multi-billion dollar economic boost, New Zealand Green Building Council, May 2020
A Zero Carbon Road Map for Aotearoa’s Buildings, New Zealand Green Building Council, September 2019
Infographic: Zero carbon road map for Aotearoa's buildings, New Zealand Green Building Council, September 2019
Under Construction: Hidden emissions and untapped potential of buildings for New Zealand’s 2050 zero carbon goal, thinkstep ANZ, on behalf of the New Zealand Green Building Council, August 2019
The carbon footprint of New Zealand’s built environment: hotspot or not? thinkstep Australasia, May 2018
Energy policies of IEA countries - New Zealand 2017 review, International Energy Agency, February 2017
Transition to a low-carbon economy for New Zealand, The Royal Society of New Zealand Te Apārangi, April 2016
Climate change mitigation options for New Zealand: buildings summary, The Royal Society of New Zealand Te Apārangi, April 2016
Strategic review of New Zealand's green building market, NZGBC, September 2015
Our homes
Overseas programmes for improving the operational carbon emissions from existing residential buildings – lessons for Aotearoa New Zealand, Berl and BRANZ, March 2023
6 Homestar Specification: Homestar v5 Review and costings, Aurecon, February 2023
Homestar v5 consultation scoping paper, New Zealand Green Building Council, June 2020
Homestar v5 consultation executive summary, New Zealand Green Building Council, June 2020
Homestar and the UN Sustainable Development Goals: an infographic, New Zealand Green Building Council, June 2020
Homestar Value Case Study Cost Benefit Analysis, Ecubed Building Workshop, September 2018
Codebreakers - constructing KiwiBuild homes to a standard above the New Zealand Building Code, Sense Partners, June 2018
Results from a Rental Housing Warrant of Fitness pre-test, He Kainga Oranga University of Otago, May 2014
Homestar cost-scoring appraisal for Christchurch City Council district plan revision 0.1, Jasmax and Rawlinsons, December 2013
Homestar case study cost benefit analysis, Ecubed Building Workshop , March 2013
Homestar cost-scoring appraisal for Auckland Council draft unitary plan, Jasmax and Rawlinsons, February 2013
Our buildings
Green Star consultation document, New Zealand Green Building Council, December 2021
Green Star in focus: The case for sustainable social infrastructure, Green Building Council Australia, New Zealand Green Building Council, May 2021
Reducing risk and improving returns towards 2030, New Zealand Green Building Council, December 2020
Green Star in focus: the case for sustainable industrial buildings, New Zealand Green Building Council and Green Building Council Australia, August 2020
The case for sustainable healthcare, New Zealand Green Building Council and the Green Building Council Australia, September 2018 and see summary here
Smart office guide Best practice in sustainable workplace management, Sustainable Business Network, May 2017
Green is good, Bayleys and New Zealand Green Building council, March 2017
Creating healthier classrooms for NZ primary school students, Health Research Council of NZ, 2015
Green Star schools handbook, NZGBC, June 2014
Benefits of Green Star certification, NZGBC, April 2014
Global publications
Beyond Buildings: Why an integrated approach to buildings and infrastructure is essential for climate action and sustainable development, WorldGBC, October 2021
Advancing Net Zero Status Report 2021, WorldGBC June 2021
Bringing embodied carbon upfront, WorldGBC, September 2019
A guide to healthier homes and a healthier planet, WorldGBC, December 2018
World Green Building Trends 2018 SmartMarket Report , Dodge Data and Analytics, November 2018
WHO Housing and Health Guidelines, World Health Organisation, November 2018
Doing right by planet and people: the business case for health and wellbeing in green building, WorldGBC, April 2018
Towards a zero-emission, efficient, and resilient buildings and construction sector Global Status Report 2017, UN Environment, December 2017
From thousands to billions - coordinated action towards 100% net zero carbon buildings by 2050, WorldGBC, May 2017
Better Places for People, WorldGBC ongoing reports on health and well-being in buildings, 2015 onwards
Energy in buildings 50 best practice initiatives, The Clean Energy Finance Corporation, June 2017
Green Star financial transparency, Green Building Council of Australia, July 2016
World Green Building trends 2016: developing barkets accelerate global green growth, Dodge Data & Analytics/ United Technologies Corp, WorldGBC, February 2016
The business case for green building, WorldGBC, 2013
Additional resources
| NZGBC Brand Guidelines For all logos or certification marks, refer to this document. These guidelines show the correct application of NZGBC brands. | |
| Carbon reduction illustrations | |
| Performance Leasing Guide and Model Clauses | This Guide enables tenants and landlords to create better performing, more energy efficient buildings. A joint initiative between government and industry, it was developed by EECA, lawyers DLA Piper New Zealand, and NZGBC. The model clauses are designed to insert directly into lease agreements, and cover issues of:
The Guide was adapted from a resource produced by Sydney’s Better Buildings Partnership (BBP), a government/ industry initiative. |