Nick Smith MP
National Party Building & Construction Spokesman

16 October 2008

Hot water cylinders also on nanny state hit list

“Regulations limiting the size of home hot water cylinders are another unnecessary and unworkable interference in people’s lives,” says National’s Building & Construction spokesman, Nick Smith.

The new regulations amend the Building Code and limit the size of an electric hot water cylinder to 180 litres for smaller homes and 315 litres for larger homes. The new regulations come into effect on 1 February for new or refurbished homes as part of the Labour Government’s home energy efficiency strategy.

“This is not a recipe for energy efficiency, but rather a blunt rule that will see households run out of hot water for bathing and showering. Larger families will be particularly discriminated against.

“This is more of Labour’s nanny statism, stopping us having long showers or big baths.

“Industry advice is that the new limit on hot water cylinder size will most adversely affect people in the South Island, where the recommended installation is 250 litres, but will now be limited to 180 litres.

“The industry is also concerned that smaller cylinders limit future conversions to solar systems which require greater storage capacity to work most effectively and allow for cloudy days.

“It is not credible for the Labour Government to dismiss these concerns by saying these are only proposals open to consultation. These have been approved by Cabinet and announced by Minister Shane Jones. The Department of Building and Housing has advised industry that ‘Changes to the NZBC clause H1 have now been made and come into force on 1 February 2009’.

“Nor can these requirements be dismissed as just an alternative to the more complex hot water energy efficiency calculator. This applies the same sort of limits on hot water cylinder sizes and shower flow rates but with a complex algorithm. Despite having solar water heating, my own home would not comply.

“Household energy efficiency is very important for National and that’s why we have sensible policies for housing insulation, solar hot water, and heat pump technologies. Labour imposes state regulations needlessly on people’s lives.

“These foolish regulations on hot water cylinder sizes and shower flow rates show Labour needs an early shower on November 8.”

ENDS

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