Media Release
3 April 2013

Good time to improve home heating and insulation

So you’ve enjoyed a long warm summer in Hawke’s Bay, but winter is coming and if you want to stay warm, Hawke’s Bay Regional Council encourages homeowners to make use of the HeatSmart scheme.

HBRC is proud that more than 3500 Napier and Hastings families will be warmer, having joined the HeatSmart scheme so far for replacing open fires, wood burners and upgrading insulation.

Grants or loans are still available for home owners who want to replace pre-1996 wood burners. But get in quick, says Mark Heaney, HBRC’s Heat Smart manager.

“Homeowners in urban Hastings and Napier will be prohibited from using these older burners after 1 January 2014, as these are not compliant with national air quality standards.”

An approved burner is more efficient and produces little or no air pollution, which is an issue across our cities in winter.

Grants for upgrading insulation in roof spaces and under floor have been popular. Adding a layer of insulation will keep in the warmth from your wood burner or heater in the house, saving energy costs.

HBRC is also encouraging people to use dry wood this winter to help reduce pollution from smokey fires..

“Whether you buy it or collect it yourself, burning dry wood with moisture content below 25% makes sense. It burns hotter with less smoke and you get better and faster heat from less wood because you aren’t drying the wood in the fire,” says Mark Heaney, HBRC’s HeatSmart manager.

“Burning damp wood is effectively boiling water ... which wastes energy that could be keeping you warm.”

Six merchants in Hawke’s Bay will be updating their approved dry wood merchant stickers for their vehicles. HBRC have approved them for 2013 and the new stickers confirm that for customers. “These merchants have committed to supply you dry wood this winter “says Mr Heaney.

“If they say it’s dry, it has less than 25% moisture content, if it’s higher than 25% they will replace it…..”

People interested in applying for a grant for insulation or compliant heating can contact the HeatSmart team on 0800 108 838 or 835 9200, or check www.hbrc.govt.nz.