Welcome
We are committed to using research and projects to show New Zealand:
- How our homes can be warmer, drier, healthier, cost less to run, be adaptable for the future, and use less resources.
- How our neighbourhoods can be adaptable, sustainable, and a place where residents enjoy interacting, working, living and relaxing locally.
- How our communities can be resilient and strong, and work together.
Latest News
31 January 2019
New Zealand now has over 100 Home Performance Advisors!
New homes
Designing and building new homes - our projects:
- Developing tools to guide medium density development
- Addressing housing affordability in Europe
- Cost Tower - construction costs for affordable and social housing
- Warmframe duplex at Hobsonville
- High Performance House at HIVE
- NZHF HomeSmart Home
- Waitakere NOW Home
Existing homes
Upgrading existing homes - our projects:
- Options to upgrade or retire homes in Tamaki
- Rental housing fact bank
- Build Back Smarter in Christchurch
- HomeSmart Renovation project
- Papakowhai Renovation project
Neighbourhoods
- Helping communities to lead change
- Assess your neighbourhood’s sustainability
Housing Matters
Find out about upcoming events in the Housing Matters seminar and study tour series in Canterbury.
Home Performance Advisor training
Find out more about training to become a certified Home Performance Advisor and upcoming courses.
New on the website!
How is Europe addressing housing affordability challenges?
A 2016 scoping tour found there is much to learn from Europe
Resources for homeowners
Come here to find out how to make your home warmer, drier, healthier and cheaper to run.
- A homeowner manual
- Information on how to make your home warm, dry and healthy with lower power and water bills
- Checklists for upgrading and maintaining your home
- Where to go for advice
Resources for councils
Come here to find:
- A Resource Manual for Local Goverment
- Water demand management tools
- Neighbourhood sustainability assessment tools
- Community-led planning toolkit
- Community placemaking facilitation and expertise
- Housing typologies in your area
Resources for government
Come here to find:
- The National Value Case for Sustainable Housing
- Rental housing fact bank
- Unflued gas heater fact bank
- Toolkit for Residential Design & Build Competitions
- How large scale house upgrades can create jobs
Our services
Check out the services and expertise we can offer your organisation
- Share our knowledge
- Robust tools and help to use them
- Expert advice from our team
- Experience in scoping and running projects
- Bringing together partners in collaborative ventures
Follow us
Check out The Beacon Blog - in the latest, Nick Collins says buildings are key to a low carbon future.
Follow us on Facebook
Early research
Beacon’s original research programme included work on:
- Energy
- Water
- Indoor Environment Quality
- Systems/Materials
- Market Transformation
Quick links
- Performance of Rental Housing Resource More
- Home Performance Advisor training More
- Policy options for sustainable homes: A resource manual for local government More
- Making your home HomeSmart: A homeowner manual More
- Neighbourhood Sustainability Framework and Assessment Kit More
- National Value Case for Sustainable Housing More