Dear landlord, please make sure there's insulation above my head

(with apologies to Bob Dylan)

Green Media Release 7th November 2006

In light of a new Parliamentary report today into the health and environmental effects of poorly insulated housing, the Green Party is writing to landlords, as well as encouraging tenants to write to their landlords, asking them to improve the insulation of their rental properties.

“The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment’s Healthy Wealthy and Wise report shows that well-insulated, warm, dry, energy efficient houses are much better for peoples health and for the environment. Incredibly, about one quarter of all housing in New Zealand is not insulated, which is why the PCE recommends that greater effort needs to go into retrofitting older houses," says Russel Norman, Green Co-Leader .

“If you’re amongst the one third of us renting, you’re dependent on your landlord to make sure that your house is properly insulated. So we are encouraging tenants to write to their landlords asking them to do a few simple things to improve the insulation of their houses and units.

“We have put a draft letter on our website to make it easier for tenants to send a letter to their landlord.

“And we’re writing to landlord organisations to ask them to encourage their members to do the same.

“Landlords can start by insulating the ceilings and floors of their houses and the hot water cylinders. If they are more ambitious they could take advantage of the Green solar hot water programme once it gets underway.

“Of course this is a cost for the landlord and it would be great if the Government provided some assistance. Nonetheless EECA is developing their Home Energy Rating Scheme which will provide the option of a voluntary energy rating for housing so that landlords who do insulate their houses will receive some recognition in the marketplace for it.

“Retrofitting rental housing will add to the value of the house, make it a healthier place to live for tenants, and will reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and help reduce climate change.”

“I’ve been in contact with my landlord and I suggest other tenants do the same.”

ENDS

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