Thousands more kiwi homes to be insulated

1 February 2007

The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) is seeking applications for funding for new projects to insulate homes throughout New Zealand.

EECA’s EnergyWise home grants has $2.5 million available in this tender round to help local organisations make energy efficiency improvements to older homes in their communities. Around 7,000 families will benefit from energy savings and improved health and comfort under the scheme this year.

The project provides funding to community groups, trusts or businesses to improve the insulation in pre-1977, low income houses through insulation and other energy efficiency measures.

Any organisation interested in running a project to insulate 30 or more homes is invited to bid for a grant under the competitive tender round which opens today.

“Thousands of people in New Zealand are living in homes with either little or no insulation” said Angus Davidson, Acting Chief Executive of EECA. “The World Health Organisation recommends an optimal indoor temperature of 18 degrees Celsius but nearly 30% of New Zealanders live in homes where the average winter temperatures fall well below this level. Studies show that installing insulation raises internal temperatures, and has a positive impact on the health of the occupants”.

Around 350,000 New Zealand homes are poorly insulated or not insulated at all because they were built prior to 1977 when insulation became mandatory in the Building Code.

To date, nearly 30,000 New Zealand homes have been made warmer, more energy efficient, and healthier through EECA’s EnergyWise home grants. Approximately 7,000 of these homes have been in the lower North Island.

EECA’s EnergyWise home grants improvements include installing ceiling and underfloor insulation, hot water cylinder wraps and pipe lagging, draught proofing of doors, and low-flow showerheads.

More information about EnergyWise home grants and the current tender round is available on the EECA website

Applications close at noon on 29 March 2007.

For further information contact: Marketing and Communications Advisor, EECA, 04 495 8255 or 021 941 140.