Warm homes help prevent asthma

7 May 2008

“Get serious about preventing respiratory illness by taking steps to make your home warmer, drier and healthier” - that’s the message to New Zealanders from Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) Chief Executive Mike Underhill on the eve of the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation’s annual Balloon Day, held on 10 May.

New Zealand has one of the highest rates of asthma in the world, with one in four Kiwi kids suffering the condition. It is also a leading cause of hospitalisation among children. This is partly attributed to homes that are damp, draughty, and cold.

Mike Underhill says: “We know that houses with insufficient insulation and poor heating are uncomfortable and unhealthy to live in. This has a far-reaching effect because it so often leads to general ill health and respiratory sickness including asthma, as well as energy waste and higher power bills.

Recent studies conducted by the Wellington School of Medicine show that homes which are well-insulated, draught-stopped and heated with good quality energy efficient clean heating options such as heat pumps, wood fuel burners or flued gas appliances, result in clear improvements in the health and comfort of the occupants. The spin off is a reduction in damp, mould and condensation – known triggers for respiratory illness - lower energy costs and less time off school and work through sickness.

Mike Underhill says: “EECA’s serious about helping New Zealanders improve their homes, and their family’s health, and we’ve got a number of great programmes that can help people make good choices. I’d like to challenge New Zealanders to think about what they can do to their home to reduce respiratory illness – and how they can help support Kiwi kids with asthma on Balloon Day.

EECA offers information and funding to help New Zealanders choose to make their homes warmer, drier and healthier. We have a series of free action sheets that offer a range of helpful information and steps to get people started. We also make grants available to homeowners and landlords to help with the cost of installing insulation, clean heating systems, general energy efficiency measures and solar water heating.”

EECA’s ENERGYWISE™ programme offers a range of funding options to help New Zealanders into warmer, healthier and more efficient homes:

• energy efficiency retrofits for Community Service Card holders;

• a 55% insulation subsidy for landlords with low-income tenants;

• an interest subsidy on energy efficiency packages for middle-income homeowners;

• solar water heating grants on certain solar water heating systems.

 

The funding is limited and applicants must meet eligibility criteria.

Further information about EECA’s ENERGYWISE™ information and funding can be found at www.energywise.govt.nz or call 0800 749 782.

For more information about Balloon Day or to make a donation, text BREATHE to 3979, visit www.asthmafoundation.org.nz or call Malcolm Aitken on 027 62 52 835.