NEWS RELEASE 14 July 2008

$300 grants available for 'green' technology in homes

Wellington City Council is now providing $300 grants to homeowners and developers who wish to install 'green' technology - including solar heaters and small wind turbines - in and around new and retrofitted homes. The Council has set aside a total of $90,000 over the next three years to fund the new grants.

The Council's Environment Portfolio Leader, Councillor Celia Wade-Brown, whose own home already has heat exchange water heating, says greater uptake of sustainable energy technology in homes will reduce network energy consumption, reliance on fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions.

"By making the option of sustainable energy more affordable we can encourage homeowners and developers to install environmentally-friendly technology. We also want to raise awareness of sustainable energy among building professionals. Increased uptake of sustainable-energy options will help the Council meet its community CO2e emissions reductions goal for Wellington of 30 percent by 2020."

"Several other Councils provide resource consent subsidies for solar water heating but we believe a wider choice of technology is appropriate. This modest grant is a pilot system and funding for future years will depend on a good uptake."

The Sustainable Energy Grant is available through the building consent process. The following technologies will attract the $300 grant:

* solar water heating systems * wood-pellet stoves or low emission wood-burners with hot water wet-backs * hot water heat pump systems * solar photovoltaic systems * micro wind turbines * micro hydro systems.

Applying for the new grant is straightforward. Applicants submit their Sustainable Energy Grant application with their building consent application. Approval of the grant is given when the building consent is issued. The $300 grant will be handed over once building work has been completed and a code of compliance certificate has been issued.

For more information, please visit www.Wellington.govt.nz or phone 499 4444.

ENDS

© Scoop Media