Warming Up the Bay
April 16, 2010
More than 445 Hawke’s Bay homes were retrofitted during summer under the Government’s Warm Up New Zealand: Heat Smart scheme, Craig Foss says.
“The scheme has been well ahead of projections since it was started in July last year with a total of 2105 Hawke’s Bay homes receiving retrofitted insulation and clean heating,” Craig Foss MP for Tukituki said.
“Demand has kept up during summer with 135 homes taking advantage of the scheme in February, 212 in January, and 98 in December.
“We have made 33,500 households throughout New Zealand warmer, drier and healthier since the scheme started. This is great news considering we expected to retrofit 27,500 households in the first year of the four-year scheme.”
Under the four-year scheme the Government plans to insulate at least 180,000 homes by 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.
“It’s a fact that 1600 more people die each winter than in summer. Researchers at the Housing and Health Research Programme at the University of Otago, Wellington think this is largely due to poor houses not protecting us from the cold, wet weather,” Chris Tremain says.
“Warm houses lower the risk of being ill and depressed.
“If 180,000 houses are insulated under the current scheme, and half a million people will benefit from improved living conditions, then Otago University health researchers estimate that this programme will have the following benefits:
It will mean 72,000 days more at school during the winter months, or 373 more child years of education.
There could be up to 33 per cent fewer respiratory admissions for people with pre-existing respiratory conditions.
“Given that the cost of the average night in hospital is $950 you can see that this makes sense, even on a purely practical financial basis.”
Of the 33,500 homes retrofitted so far, 60 per cent were properties occupied by low-income tenants.
Warm Up New Zealand: Heat Smart is open to all New Zealanders with houses built before 2000. For more information visit: www.energywise.govt.nz <http://www.energywise.govt.nz/>
