MEDIA RELEASE
Monday June 25

Home retrofit will take bite out of winter

The Hamilton Energy Blitz campaign has ended on a warm note, with one participant’s purchase of energy efficient lightbulbs winning him a home energy retrofit worth up to $3000.

Eduardo Hall owns a 1910 cottage in Hamilton East which he bought in 1995 after it had been used as a rental property since about 1970. In the backyard he found traces of the stables of one of the first owners.
Eduardo is committed to maintaining the cottage’s original character, so he has resisted structural changes that would open up the north-facing side of the house to more sunshine. The trade-off, however, is a house that is very cold in winter.

“I teach English to new immigrants and usually prepare lessons early in the
morning. When it’s frosty out, I pile on layers of woolly jerseys, overcoats,
hats and gloves instead of lighting the fire too often. After the retrofit,
if the house stays warmer while using less energy; that’s got to be good.”

The retrofit was supplied for the Energy Blitz campaign by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) as part of their EnergyWise home grants programme. The prize will include underfloor and ceiling insulation, hot water cylindar wrap and pope lagging, energy efficient lightbulbs, low-flow shower head, and an energy audit. It will be carried out by the Huntly Energy Efficiency Trust (HEET).

Hamilton Environment Centre trustee Ian Balme, who led the Energy Blitz campaign, said increased public awareness of the benefits of home retrofits was one of the successes of the campaign.

“This campaign is the first step towards Hamilton becoming the national leader in energy efficiency, and it has created a platform that the Hamilton

Environment Centre will continue to build on.”
EECA Chief Executive Mike Underhill says insulating a house is the most effective single measure a homeowner can take to improve the warmth and comfort of their home.

“Good quality, well-installed insulation will significantly reduce energy losses in all parts of your house: ceiling, underfloor and external walls. This means lower power bills and a much healthier home. There are an estimated 300,000 homes in New Zealand with little or no insulation – that is a lot of wasted energy.”

Hamilton Environment Centre co-ordinator Katherine Hay said Waikato people would be encouraged to continue using the Centre in Ward Street as a source of information, advice, and energy efficient bulbs.
www.envirocentre.org.nz

ENDS

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