Healthy living starts here see Homestar check list

It's a scary statistic, but true: nearly a million homes in New Zealand are still underperforming in terms of health and comfort. And, not surprisingly, there is a negative impact for homeowners. Families are more vulnerable to illness and there are increased energy and water costs.

The good news is that there are simple, practical things you can do to improve the health of your home. And you can start by measuring its current state of health, which is where Homestar¢ can help. Homestar is a comprehensive rating tool a joint venture between BRANZ, and the New Zealand Green Building Council, with support from the building industry and key government agencies.

Homestar director Krista Ferguson says the first step for homeowners should be to complete the free online Home Health Check test. This covers areas including insulation, heating, water use, waste management, ventilation and other features that are important for healthy, warm, comfortable and efficient homes.

"The interactive test then calculates a rating from one to ten stars based on these factors, and uses the information entered to generate a Recommendations Report," says Ferguson. "This report suggests cost-effective improvements that are specific to your home. You can then take the report into any PlaceMakers store in the country, where staff will provide practical help and advice for improving your Homestar rating."

Ferguson says one of the key reasons Homestar was created was to provide practical guidance to help Kiwis create healthier, more comfortable living spaces that ultimately provide a cost benefit both in the short and long term.

"Professor Howden-Chapman of Otago University undertook a study that showed that home insulation can provide a health benefit cost return ratio of 2:1. For every dollar spent on insulating old, cold houses, there is close to a two-dollar benefit in terms of health savings from not ending up in hospital, or in less time off work or school. And there are also the energy savings to consider.

"The fact is, the savings you will get when you put the Homestar recommendations into practice will be tangible and they will add to the health and value of your home."

The house featured on these pages, designed by architect Darren Jessop, incorporates a number of sustainable features that contribute to a healthy home.

Clerestory windows and large areas of glazing on the north side allow for maximum solar penetration; and the concrete floor slab absorbs the warmth of the sun and releases this overnight. In-concrete water-pipe heating is an additional, effective heating source. And rainwater runoff is collected for drinking water and irrigation.

To contact Homestar director Krista Ferguson, phone (09) 379 3996 ext 915, mob 021 522 220. For the free online home health test, visit www.homestar.org.nz. Email: krista.ferguson@nzgbc.org.nz.

Story by: Trendsideas