Warming up our homes
November 23, 2009
National MPs Craig Foss and Chris Tremain welcome the news that funding for the hugely popular Warm Up New Zealand: Heat Smart programme is being brought forward.
“I am delighted that the Government has made funding for the $323 million scheme a multi-year appropriation,” Craig Foss says.
“This will keep the momentum rolling and ensure a steady stream of homes in Hawke’s Bay will be retrofitted with insulation and clean heating.”
The announcement came as the latest figures show that nearly 20,000 New Zealand homes have been retrofitted in the first four months of the programme.
“More than 1534 houses in Hawke’s Bay have been retrofitted since the scheme began in July. And last month, 381 houses in Hawke’s Bay were provided with insulation and clean heating.”
Nationwide, 5720 homes were retrofitted last month, bring the four-month total to 19,759.
The latest figures also show the trend continuing for a considerable number of these retrofitted homes occupied by low-income earners. More than 12,600 of the households were low income while more than 7100 general income households have been retrofitted.
“Kiwis have embraced this scheme that is making homes warmer, drier and healthier and we expect the more than 27,000 homes allocated for funding in the first year to be retrofitted within six months,” Chris Tremain says.
“The scheme is reaching those most in need”.
Under the four-year scheme the Government is providing grants of up to $1800 for houses built before 2000 that need ceiling and under-floor insulation or a clean heating device. Grants of up to a third of the cost of the work are available to all households regardless of income with Community Service Card holders qualifying for a 60 per cent subsidy.
