Media statement from Hon Gerry Brownlee, Minister of Energy and Resources

A high profile television campaign has been launched to help New Zealanders increase the energy efficiency of their homes and businesses, Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee announced today.

The new prime time campaign, called The Energy Spot, will screen three nights a week (Sunday, Monday and Tuesday) at 6.50pm, on four television channels, as well as 13 other times during the week.

Smaller-scale renewable electricity generation received a boost today with the announcement that the Distributed Generation Fund, run by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA), has opened and is receiving applications.

The fund helps potential developers of distributed generation projects, such as community-owned wind farms, small-scale hydro, geothermal, solar, or other renewable energy technologies, complete detailed feasibility studies to assess whether the project is viable.

Insulation is a great way of making your home cosier and easier to heat. Over the next four years, many homeowners can get assistance to make their homes warmer, drier and healthier, through the government's new $323 million insulation and heating programme.

Check out the information below to learn more about the Warm Up New Zealand: Heat Smart funding, provided by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority's ENERGYWISE^TM programme.

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Press release from the Minister of Energy and Resources

More than 180,000 New Zealand homes will have access to grants for insulation and clean heating over the next four years, as part of a major investment in household energy efficiency.

"A large number of New Zealand homes are cold and damp because they are inadequately insulated. This scheme is an important step towards warmer homes as well as invigorating the retrofit industry," Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee says.