b'How Homestar worksHomestarisacomprehensiverating systemlaunchedlatelastyeartohelp homeownerscreatehealthier,more comfortableandenergy-efficientliving spaces.Aninitiativeofourbuilding industry, Homestar provides a free online assessmentatwww.homestar.org.nz allowing owners to assess their homes performanceincomfort,healthand energy-efficiency. If the house doesnt achieve a minimum performance level in core areas of overall warmthandcomfort(specificallythe ability for the house to achieve healthy winter-timetemperatureswithoutusing excessive energy), Homestar will provide suggestions on how to make the home healthier and more comfortable, as well as being kinder to the environment. Somesuggestionsmayinvolvesimple actions that involve little or no cost, while othersmayinvolveinvestmentsthat willpayforthemselvesthroughlower runningcostsorotherbenefitstothe household. To gain a higher star rating the homeowner needs to address the core issues highlighted in the initial assessment, andthenreassessthehouseoncethe changes have been made.Homestarwasdevelopedbyajoint venturebetweenBRANZ,Beacon PathwayandtheNewZealandGreen Building Council with the support of the buildingindustryandkeyGovernment agencies, the Department of Building and HousingandtheEnergyEfficiencyand ConservationAuthority.Homestaris officially supported by industry partners, including Resene, and is also working with industryorganisationssuchasCertified Builders,RegisteredMasterBuilders, theDesignersInstituteofNZ,andthe Concrete and Cement Association of NZ, amongst others. AboveA cosy library off the living room was formed by the old porch/laundry and is painted in Resene Pohutukawa. The Metro woodburner supplements the already warm house in winter.36'