Boost for eco buildings
by Metropol | July 23, 2025 8:30 am
A new Council initiative aims to raise the profile of eco buildings.
Owners of energy-efficient buildings in Christchurch can now have that noted as a badge of honour on their property files.
Christchurch City Council has launched a new initiative as part of its eco design advisor service where buildings that meet recognised energy efficiency standards can have their certified ratings added to building consent records.
Eco Design Advisors is a service established in 2006 by various New Zealand city councils, including Christchurch. The aim is to improve the comfort and health of New Zealanders by providing free independent advice on home performance. Working for local councils, their advice can range from new builds and significant renovations to behaviour change and simple retrofits.
Council Head of Building Consenting Steffan Thomas says the energy-efficient building initiative offers a number of benefits to people looking to buy, sell or invest in energy-efficient buildings.
“It will help property owners to add visibility to their buildings’ energy efficiency ratings and also help more people to understand the added value of such buildings when it comes to performance, comfort, quality and sustainability.
“This aligns with the Council’s climate objectives and supports residents who are looking to buy or renovate homes or commercial buildings or make the most of sustainable finance from banks in the form of lower interest rates and other ‘green loan’ incentives.”
Steffan says buildings in the Christchurch district that are certified Homestar, Green Star (commercial), Passive House or Superhome are all eligible for the Council’s service.
Property owners who already have a code compliance certificate can email their building’s energy efficiency rating certificate to the Council at residentialprocessingteam@ccc.govt.nz.
The Council will then add the rating against the property’s building consent, so that any future requests for the property’s Land Information Memorandum (LIM) will have the rating included.
A LIM is a summary of information about a property – at the point in time at which it is requested – held by the Council.
It can be requested by anyone and can include building permits, consents and activity licences information, as well as property-related information and services.
Book a free eco design advisor consultation
The Christchurch City Council’s Eco Design Advisor service offers personalised advice for designing sustainable homes and buildings. So, whether you’re building a new home or renovating, an Eco Design Advisor can guide you on reducing your carbon footprint, lowering energy bills, and creating healthier spaces.
Consultations for new builds will be held at the Council’s Civic Offices at 53 Hereford Street.
Consultations for renovation and retrofit can either be at your home or the Civic Offices.
Advice is available for everyone – homeowners, home designers, builders and any industry professionals. Architects can earn 10 CPD points for a two-hour consultation with a Council Eco Design Advisor.
The service can take the form of a conversation around a table or a comprehensive on-site home assessment.
Eco Design Advisors work closely with EECA (Energy Efficient and Conservation Authority), BRANZ (Building Research Association of New Zealand), and leading industry players to provide the best available information to homeowners, landlords, tenants and the building industry.
To talk with an Eco Design Advisor, call 03 941 8999, email eco-advisor@ccc.govt.nz or go to ecodesignadvisor.org.nz.
Source URL: https://metropol.co.nz/boost-for-eco-buildings/