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Busting the myths of home health

MEDIA RELEASE


Busting the myths of home health

Homestar™ challenges Kiwis to take the Healthy Home Myths Quiz and be in to win home health kits

AUCKLAND, 19 March 2012 – Homestar™ is putting a challenge out to all New Zealanders this week to test their knowledge on what it takes to create a healthy home.

The ‘Healthy Home Myth Quiz’ was launched today as part of Home Health Check Month, an initiative led by Homestar – the government and industry backed rating tool for New Zealand homes.

Over the next three weeks, Kiwi homeowners who complete the true-or-false myth-buster quiz through Homestar’s facebook page - www.facebook.com/HomestarNZ - will be in to win a series of home health kits, each valued at up to $800.

Krista Ferguson, Director for Homestar, says there are a lot of myths about home health that need busting, including some that might surprise homeowners.

“When we’re making home improvement decisions, we can easily get overwhelmed with the products and services that get pushed our way. Homestar, through the Home Health Check and Quiz aims to provide independent and helpful information about what really makes for a better performing, healthy home, and show New Zealanders that there are simple, practical things they can do to make it a reality.”

Home Health Check Month has, in its first few weeks, encouraged hundreds of New Zealanders to complete an online questionnaire at www.homestar.org.nz to help them find out how to make their homes warmer, healthier and more comfortable as winter approaches.

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“This means we now have over 10,000 homes assessed online and indicates the strong interest Kiwis have in healthy homes,” says Ms Ferguson

Ms Ferguson says Homestar is hearing great enthusiasm for improving home health from Kiwis, along with a need for clarity about what they can do when renovating or building new.

“We really hope the Quiz will be a fun way of encouraging even more New Zealanders to think about the issues of home health and comfort.”

For more information on Homestar, the Mythbuster Quiz and the Home Health Check test, visit www.homestar.org.nz

- ends -

About Homestar™
Homestar – a comprehensive, national voluntary rating tool that evaluates the environmental attributes of New Zealand’s stand-alone homes – was created to address the fact that most New Zealand homes are under-performing in comfort, health and energy-efficiency. Homestar is a joint venture partnership between BRANZ and the New Zealand Green Building Council with the support of the building industry and key Government agencies; the Department of Building and Housing and the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority. Homestar's industry partners include PlaceMakers, The Healthy Home Group, Pink Batts, Gib Living, Fletcher Aluminium, Stonewood Homes, Metro GlassTech, Resene, Cavalier Bremworth, Methven and Mico. Homestar also receives support from industry organisations such as Certified Builders, Registered Master Builders, Master Plumbers, Gasfitters & Drainlayers NZ and the Concrete and Cement Association of NZ.

How Homestar™ works
Homestar is a comprehensive, national, voluntary residential rating tool that evaluates the environmental attributes of New Zealand’s stand-alone homes. The Homestar rating tool framework has been developed to assess new and existing homes and allows for both self-assessment by the homeowner using the free online tool and also independent assessment that results in the issue of a formal Homestar Certified rating. After taking the online assessment, the homeowner/tenant is provided a provisional rating out of ten along with a Recommendations Report with suggestions on how to make the home healthier and more comfortable to live in. Some suggestions may involve simple actions that involve little or no cost, while others may involve investments that will pay for themselves through lower running costs or other benefits to the household. To gain a higher star rating the home owner will need to address the core issues highlighted in the initial assessment, and then can reassess the house once the changes have been made. To gain a formal Homestar Certified Rating on their property, a homeowner can engage a Homestar Assessor who does a comprehensive, in-depth audit assessment on the property. This is useful information if selling or purchasing a home and may add value by giving potential purchases peace of mind at point of sale.

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