Beacon

Existing homes represent around 90% of the estimated 1.7 million homes New Zealand will have in 2012.  They are where most New Zealanders will live in the short and medium term future, and they represent a considerable resource investment.

Increasingly evidence is showing the costs, environmental, economic and social, of cold, damp, inefficient housing.  Upgrading the condition and performance of our existing housing stock to a higher level of sustainability is critical.

   
 
Beacon cannot single-handedly create the step change required to renovate 1.6 million houses, but we can influence those who, together, will make a difference.  Our research, through both the renovation projects and supporting research in energy, water, indoor environment and materials, is providing the proof and demonstrating the benefits of sustainable home improvement.

Beacon is partnering  with other organisations to extend the scope of renovations and to offer homeowners more sustainable choices in their renovation projects.  We’re working with industry to develop the capacity and capability to meet the increasing demand for sustainability improvements.  Our results are made public to help homeowners understand the benefits of sustainable housing and how to achieve it.

We’re engaging with New Zealand’s leadership and central government departments to facilitate large scale renovations of existing housing, to achieve the necessary critical mass.  This will need both incentives for homeowners and an improved level of regulation requiring a high standard of sustainability, rather than the current minimum standard.