Health researcher wins major award

2 November 2007

A Wellington health researcher has won special recognition at the country’s top energy awards.

Professor Philippa Howden-Chapman, who has spent over a decade investigating the health benefits of well insulated homes, is the winner of the EnergySmart Outstanding Contribution to Sustainable Energy Award at this year’s EECA Energywise Awards.

Her research has proved that well insulated homes are warmer, drier and healthier – as well as cheaper – for their occupants. The health benefits exceed the actual cost of retrofitting the houses by a ratio of almost 2:1.

Professor Howden-Chapman leads the Housing and Health Research Programme at Wellington’s School of Medicine.

“Professor Howden-Chapman is a public health champion and a tireless advocate of the benefts of making smart energy choices in our homes,” says Mike Underhill, chief executive of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA).

The Award was presented by the Government Spokesperson for Energy Efficiency and Conservation, Jeanette Fitzsimons who paid tribute to Professor Howden-Chapman’s work.
“Philippa’s work has been instrumental in getting energy efficiency principles accepted as something of real practical benefit.

“She has demonstrated conclusively that good health and good insultation go hand in hand and her work over many years has directly improved the lives of tens of thousands of New Zealanders,” says Jeanette Fitzsimons.

Professor Howden-Chapman’s findings have paved the way for programmes fitting insulation and other energy efficiency measures into thousands of New Zealand homes. Over 35,000 homes have been insulated through EECA’s Energywise Home Grants programme alone.

‘In the New Zealand Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy, released recently, we’re setting a target of insulating up to 162,000 homes,” says Jeanette Fitzsimons.

See attached backgrounder for full list of Energywise Award winners.

For further information contact; Janice Rodenburg, EECA Senior Communications Advisor, 021 705 301 or 04 470 2545.