Insulation project kicks off in Northland
Tai Tokerau Healthy Homes, a project that will see 800 Northland homes a year fitted with insulation, was officially launched in Kaitaia this month.
The five-year project is part of the ENERGYWISE™ home grants programme. To date 42,000 low-income homes around New Zealand have received retrofits of insulation and other energy efficiency measures thanks to the programme.
Speaking at the Northland launch, Minister for Building and Construction, Hon Shane Jones, said: “Many homes here in Kaitaia were not built with warmth in mind. Through the launch of Tai Tokerau Healthy Homes, this is about to change.”
Home grants are available to low-income earners living in houses that were built before 1978 – a time when home insulation was not mandatory. Tai Tokerau Healthy Homes prioritises people with high health needs, particularly respiratory illnesses, because of the significant health benefits insulation provides.
The start of Tai Tokerau Healthy Homes is already the result of a lot of hard work and commitment from a number of organisations across the wider Northland region. ASB Community Trust, Housing New Zealand, Northland’s energy trusts, six Public Health Organisations and the Northland District Health Board have joined together with EECA to make this project happen. All recognise the importance and benefits of healthy homes to their community and the project is a significant undertaking for all involved.
Professor Philippa Howden-Chapman, Director Housing and Health Research Programme, Wellington School of Medicine & Health Sciences, also attended the launch to stress the importance of home insulation on health. Her research has shown that installing insulation can significantly reduce respiratory illnesses and have a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of residents. People living in insulated homes tend to visit their GP less, have fewer hospital admissions and less sick days off school and work.
