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.
“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
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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.