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Many residents in Auckland dream of living in an eco home. However, there’s a perception that hiring an NZ Green Building Council house builder and sourcing the materials for such a home is expensive. While this might have been true in the past, a recent offer created by New Zealand’s ANZ bank can help you create the sustainable home of your dreams. They’ve announced the release of a Healthy Home Loan Package, which will offer financial incentives to homeowners who build or upgrade their homes to a higher standard of health, warmth and efficiency. The ANZ’s Healthy Home Loan Package offers:
Based on current prices, the fixed rate discount translates to an annual rate of 3.75%. For an average home, this could mean savings of $1000 a year in interest costs Who Qualifies For The Healthy Home Loan Package Benefit? Proposed builds need to rate six out of ten or higher on an independent rating tool called Homestar to qualify. Ratings are based on health, warmth and efficiency factors. Research by ANZ shows that most houses, including new homes built to the NZ Building Code, only rate between two and four on Homestar home ratings. Reasons for this include the relatively low standard set by the NZ Building Code (compared with other developed countries), lack of sustainable house builders in Auckland, a lack of knowledge by existing home builders and the perceived cost implications of such a choice. How Can Homeowners Meet The Minimum Requirements? To determine if you meet the minimum requirements, you should contact a Homestar practitioner and assessor, such as an Auckland based sustainable homes expert. Make sure the company you approach is both certified and licenced, as well as affiliated with the New Zealand Green Building Council. This type of sustainable building specialist will help you determine your current Homestar rating, as well as identify what steps you need to take to improve your rating if you don’t qualify. They can also help you meet the sustainability requirements and achieve the rating you need to qualify. Sustainability goals include ensuring homes are dry, warm, energy efficient and have a reduced carbon footprint. Benefits Of A Sustainable Home In addition to the ANZ Healthy Home Loans financial rewards, improving your home’s sustainability standard also provides the benefit of living in a healthier, more comfortable and more environmentally-friendly home. Furthermore, having a more energy efficient home means that you’ll save money on energy costs in the long run, as well as help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This improved standard will also boost the property value of your home, as well as its appeal to prospective buyers should you wish to sell your home in the future. If you need guidance on determining your rating or how your home could be improved, you need to work with sustainable home builders who have the experience and accreditation to assist you. Craft Homes are approved Homestar Practitioners and Assessors offering full-service project management and a guarantee on all work done. Contact us today for a no-obligation, free consultation on moving forward. Comments are closed.
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AuthorToby and Cat Tilsley Archives
August 2021
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