Eion Scott, Development Manager, Residential Projects, for the Council, outlined a new scheme called Homefit which is targeted at existing homes and is designed to assess them from the point of view of warmth, safety and dryness.

Describing the initiative at a Waikato ‘Green Speak’ event in APL’s Research and Development facility, Mr Scott said that HomeFit would allow New Zealanders to examine their own homes, or a home they’re looking to buy, sell or rent, using an online checklist process in the first instance (at homefit.org.nz).

As a further step, people could get an independent appraisal carried out by a trained assessor. The assessment looks at damp, mould, insulation, heating, ventilation and other key areas and, if a home passes, it will be awarded a HomeFit stamp.

HomeFit is a supplement to the Green Star and Homestar rating systems which are focused on new commercial and residential projects rather than existing dwellings. The scheme has been developed over the last 18 months in consultation with a wide range of housing and health experts. The NZGBC is a not-for-profit organisation and APL Window Solutions is one of its corporate sponsors.