Christchurch woman wins Mitre 10 Dream Home viewers prize

Local Christchurch woman Rachel Wislang is the proud owner of a home insultation package worth $1500, thanks to her winning entry in the Mitre 10 Dream Home viewers competition.

Rachel is looking forward to having a warm, comfortable and easy to heat house after the insulation is installed in her new home in Roxburgh.

A well insulated house is cheaper and easier to heat in winter, and cooler and more comfortable to live in on during hot summer days.

In New Zealand, about 900,000 homes have either no or poor insulation.

The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) offers a variety of funding programmes for Kiwi homeowners to assist with the costs of home insulation.

Mitre 10 Dream Home is a reality television series, which follows the experience of two couples in creating their dream home. The show screens every Monday night at 7.30pm between 23 February and 20 April 2009.

EECA and its ENERGYWISE™ programme play an important role in the series. EECA's energy expert Glenn Murdoch assists the couples by providing technical expertise, advice and ideas, and helping them to incorporate energy efficient choices into their renovations.

Glenn Murdoch says, "It's easy to design a more energy efficient home and include energy-efficient choices, particularly during a major renovation. In the end these choices will benefit the families with a healthier home and reduced energy bills".

ENERGYWISE™ is offering viewers the chance to win one of nine home energy efficiency weekly prizes. Prizes include:

• Prize 20 April 2009 - Insulation installed in the ceiling or underfloor up to the value of $1,500 (GST inclusive)
• Prize 16 March 2009 - An ENERGY STAR® washing machine
• Prize 24 March 2009 - An ENERGY STAR® laptop
• Prize 30 March 2009 - An ENERGY STAR® fridge/freezer

To enter the prize draw go to www.competition.energywise.govt.nz