Council extends scheme to insulate more homes

Thousands more homes will become warmer and healthier with Greater Wellington Regional Council extending its Warm Greater Wellington scheme through to 2016.

The Warm Greater Wellington initiative has been broadened to ensure that people in the region cover the cost of insulation, by putting the full cost on their rates bills.

“The Warm Greater Wellington scheme has been hugely successful and has helped more than 7000 families in the region make their homes warmer and healthier. The regional council is pleased to be extending this scheme to ensure that thousands more residents may benefit,” GWRC chair Fran Wilde says.

Greater Wellington Regional Council has also increased the amount of assistance available to homeowners from $2600 to $3900 to accommodate the majority of insulation retrofits.

“By increasing the amount that residents are able to borrow onto their rates bills, more homeowners will be able to better insulate their homes and keep their families warm and dry,” Ms Wilde says.

The Wellington initiative follows the transition from Warm Up New Zealand: Heat Smart to a more targeted Warm Up New Zealand: Healthy Homes programme aimed at low income households at risk from health conditions related to cold, damp housing.

In the year to 30 June 2013, 2,486 properties received regional council assistance to insulate their homes, bringing the total to 7,240 since the scheme began in 2010.

The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA), which administers Government insulation programmes, will continue maintain a list of approved insulation products, and manage the audit programme of the installers’ work to ensure quality installations occur.

ENDS

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