A selected range of Watersmart products (Aquacomb, FenceTank and Leaf Diverter) have been awarded with a GreenRate™ Level C certification by Global GreenTag. This means that each of these product ranges are formally recognised for use in green building projects under the Green Star® building rating tool.
Earn Homestar Points With Our GreenTag Certified Products
Homestar is NZGBC’s independent rating tool for assessing the health, efficiency, and sustainability of homes across Aotearoa. Ranging from Homestar rating 6 – 10, it recognises a home that has been built above the current standards set for the NZ building code.
The table below show’s how our offer fit into Homestar version 5:
Method | Approach | Points |
| 1 | At least 50% of the site and roof area meets the above criteria. | 0.5 points |
| OR | ||
| At least 50% of the site and roof area meets the above criteria, and the first 10mm of any storm event is retained on site. Living roofs, permeable areas, and on-site filtration systems meet this by default. | 1 point | |
| 2 | At least 90% of the site and roof area meets the above criteria. | 1 point |
| OR | ||
| At least 90% of the site and roof area meets the above criteria, and the first 10mm of any storm event is retained on site. Living roofs, permeable areas, and on-site infiltration systems meet this by default. | 1.5 points | |
To meet the criteria, Watersmart can facilitate the whole process; from issuing a stormwater report, providing a site-specific design of a detention/retention system, as well as the installation and commissioning of the system.
There are also up to 2 points available for rainwater harvesting, which is new for version 5.
Our tanks combined with our custom range of pump systems allow captured rainwater to be recycled through the home for non-potable uses (toilets, laundry & outdoor taps). This roughly accounts for ~55% of a household’s water usage.
As previously mentioned we can facilitate the manufacturing, design, supply, and installation of a rainwater harvesting solution.
Rainwater Harvesting
Points are based on the percentage of total water demand from toilet flushing, dishwashing, laundry, and outdoor use that can likely be met through harvesting rainwater in any two-week period of the year. For apartments, this includes common area water use. See the table below for full details.
Percentage Offset | Points: Apartments | Points: Other Dwellings |
5% | 0.5 | – |
10% | 1 | – |
15% | 1.5 | – |
20% | 2 | 0.5 |
40% | 2 | 1 |
60% | 2 | 1.5 |
80% or more | 2 | 2 |
This combined with the points available for decreasing indoor water consumption all add to a significant chunk of the 60 – 69.9 or 70 – 79.9 points required for Homestar 6 or 7.
Table: Estimated Daily Indoor Water Consumption
Litres Per Person Per Day | Points |
≤ 165 | 4 |
≤ 150 | 5 |
≤ 135 | 6 |
≤ 120 | 7 |
≤ 105 | 8 |
≤ 90 | 9 |
≤ 75 | 10 |
Additionally, we see opportunity to use any of our solutions such as Aquacomb, FenceTank, or Hydraloop to gain points (from the 10 available!) in the innovation category.
Table: IN1: Innovations
Points Available | 10 | ||
Mandatory Minimums | None | ||
Aim | To recognise and encourage the uptake of building initiatives that significantly reduce the environmental impact of the dwelling | ||
Project Wide | 2 | Calculator | No |
The second method under Innovation is described as: “A design feature, technology or strategy that results in a quantified environmental benefit which significantly exceeds an existing Homestar benchmark or which is currently not included in the Homestar tool”.
What Does It Mean to Be GreenRate Certified?
The Global GreenTag GreenRate™ certification system is a sustainability assessment certification procedure for products. To be GreenRate certified means that a product has undergone substantial screening and assessment against criteria that includes eco performance, CSR (Corporate and Social Responsibility), health and eco-toxicity. Every product assessed under GreenRate is primarily screened for toxicity, and must first achieve the Global GreenTag Certification Standard’s Cautionary Assessment Process. This is a robust, scientifically backed process that helps to validate a product’s green claims, providing credentials and critical information that industry professionals, project specifiers, and consumers need assurance about – that is, no issues of concern or red light comments exist regarding the toxicity of a product that meets this qualification process.
To be GreenRate certified, also means that Watersmart have cared about being validated as an ethical and green manufacturer by engaging Global GreenTag International assessors to independently certify for the market that their green product claims are correct, in the best interests of product buyers and also the company itself. Today, having the depth of a GreenRate certification, which is also a rated system and not just a pass/fail model, is critical. When choosing products, both professional buyers and consumers alike are increasingly demanding greater transparency about product information and manufacturing processes. Being GreenRate certified means that buyers can avoid the confusion created by greenwashing tactics, employed by manufacturers who unethically market unsubstantiated, environmental and sustainability claims about their products that mislead and deceive the market.
What Is Global GreenTag International?
Global GreenTag™ International Pty Ltd assesses products for all aspects of impacts on human health, ethical labour supply, and the environment. The company was established in 2010 as a third-party verified Conformance Conformity Assessment Body that conducts the award-winning Global GreenTagCert™ certification program, and a third-party, multi-criteria, consensus-based, and externally verified Type 1 Ecolabelling Program that complies and operates under strict International Standards. Global GreenTag is legally approved as a Certification Mark operator by the ACCC in Australia and by equivalent government agencies in NZ, USA, Canada, and South Africa.
Global GreenTag websites and all marketing collateral for every product certified by Global GreenTag is verified as ‘fit for purpose’ and compliant with ISO 14021. What’s more, Global GreenTag’s governance and its own external verification and certification against standards such as ISO 14024 (Ecolabelling), ISO 17065 (Conformance Assessment) and ISO 9001 (Quality Management) among others, is unparalleled.
Voted one of the Top 100 Most Trusted Brands in Australia for 3 years running, Global GreenTag currently has more than 16,000 products in certification by over 230 manufacturers with factories in more than 20 countries. Global GreenTag™ certified products are determined as healthy for use using the best science available, with the results being peer reviewed by highly qualified, external consultant Toxicologists.
Have questions? We’re happy to help, contact our friendly team today!
