Home Energy Rating Scheme (HERS)

New Zealand’s homes generally have very poor standards of energy efficiency compared with other developed countries.  That is partly due to New Zealand’s early building standards.

To help homeowners understand what energy efficiency measures would be best suited to their home, a home assessment can be carried out by professionally trained consultants.  The assessment can be completed on any home regardless of design, age, size or location.  The assessment will determine how well the building’s design, construction and orientation enables it to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature, and the efficiency of a home’s two biggest energy users: the space heating system and the water heating system.

A good time to get a Home Energy Rating completed is at the design stage of a new home or prior to renovation so that energy efficiency recommendations can be included into the final design.

Who should get a Home Energy Rating?

Getting a Home Energy Rating is voluntary but it’s beneficial at almost any stage – for example:

• People designing, building or developing new homes – a Home Energy Rating assessment at the design stage can identify potential changes for a higher standard of energy efficiency. These changes can then be incorporated into the final home design before construction begins, when more effective energy performance improvements are easier to incorporate and for considerably less cost.
• People looking for a measure of a home’s energy efficiency – for example, potential buyers or renters wanting to factor a home’s energy performance into their purchasing or leasing decision, or sellers wanting to demonstrate the energy performance of a home.
• Homeowners looking for the best and most cost-effective way to incorporate energy efficiency features into their existing home.
• To find out more visit www.energywise.org.nz/yourhome/home-energy-ratings/index.html