Resources and practical advice to help improve the health and efficiency of your renovations or new build.
Home improvement guide
If you are making improvements to your existing home, this guide provides practical tips for improving the health and efficiency of your home.
There are many simple and affordable ways to make your home warmer and reduce running costs.
Knowing where best to start and what actions will make the biggest difference can really help.
View and download our guide to home renovations [PDF, 2.4 MB].
New home building guide
If you are building a new home or undertaking major alterations this guide provides practical tips for improving the health and efficiency of your home.
Having a healthy and efficient home may not cost more, it's about thoughtful design and knowing what makes the biggest difference to your comfort and running costs.
View and download our guide to building a new home [PDF, 1.8 MB].
More help and information
| Agency/Resource | Description |
| EECA(external link) | Tips, funding and online calculators to help cut energy use |
| Smarter Homes(external link) | Healthy home guides, tools and case studies |
| Building Essentials(external link) | Guides on the building process, regulations, weather tightness and earthquake resilience |
| Consumer NZ(external link) | Guides on home heating, building, renovation, maintenance, gardening and appliances |
| Level(external link) | Detailed technical information on home building, maintenance and repairs |
| Eco Design Advisors(external link) | Simple guides and videos on home building and improvement |
| Community Energy Action(external link) | A charitable trust providing advice, services and products to improve the health of homes |
| Community Public Health(external link) | Seasonal tips about keeping your home warm and healthy |
| Canterbury Regional Council(external link) | Healthier Homes Canterbury funding and guides on low emission wood burners and efficient burning |
| Home Fit(external link) | Find out how warm, safe and dry your home is with this online home assessment tool |
| Home Star(external link) | The sustainability of your new home can be certified by the NZ Green Building Council |
| Lifemark(external link) | A detailed checklist for creating homes that work well for people of all ages and abilities |
| Passive House NZ(external link) | Internationally proven framework for a super energy efficient home |
| Living Buildings(external link) | Tools to create a regenerative home that is beautiful, healthy and efficient |
| Power Switch(external link) | Find the best energy provider in your area |
| Superhome Movement(external link) | Find designers, builders or suppliers who build high performance homes |