Guidelines aimed at improving the sustainability of buildings in the Queenstown Lakes District have just been released.

The new guidelines, called Sustainable Building in the Queenstown Lakes District, were originally an initiative identified in the 2005 HOPE strategy.

"As the project progressed, we realised that these guidelines would prove an excellent resource that could be applied to all new housing in the District," QLDC policy planner Daniel Wells said.

The guidelines, produced by the charitable trust Sustainable Wanaka, provide general advice on sustainable building and how to achieve the best possible energy efficiency and reduced effects on our districts natural environment.

"If the principles of sustainability are adopted early in a project and followed throughout, the results will be a high quality building that will stand the test of time, result in lower utility costs, and reduce the footprint on the natural environment", Mr Wells said.

Building sustainability had been a nationwide issue that had been receiving increasing attention.

Further information produced nationally on sustainable building could be found at www.smarterhomes.org.nz, and for local information, www.sustainablewanaka.co.nz.

The guidelines could be found on the council website – www.qldc.govt.nz or picked up from any council office district-wide.