Warm Up New Zealand: Heat Smart key to warmer, drier homes

We have had a harsh start to winter with cold temperatures affecting most people across the country, and snow hitting both the North and South Islands. 

The cold snaps have highlighted why it's so important our homes are warm, healthy, and well-insulated. 

Around 860,000 homes in New Zealand have either no insulation, or are poorly insulated.  More than a quarter of the people who live in these houses are on low or fixed incomes.

This is why the National-led Government is spending $323.3 million to help insulate and install clean-heating in homes built before 2000.  Warm Up New Zealand: Heat Smart will help more than 500,000 Kiwis live in warmer, drier homes.

The scheme officially began on 1 July and gives more than 180,000 homes access to grants of up to $1800 to install insulation and clean heating.  

Our goal is to have up to 60,500 homes insulated each year by 2012/13.

An insulated house helps reduce energy consumption, puts less pressure on our electricity network and cuts energy bills.

People living in insulted homes are healthier.  Warm and dry homes also help people with respiratory or medical problems which can be made worse by living in a cold, damp house. 

The scheme is also a much needed boost for our economy.

Warm Up New Zealand: Heat Smart is providing vital jobs across the country at a time when many businesses are feeling the effects of the global economic downturn.

The scheme will create about 2000 jobs over four years with local firms employed to assess and install the insulation and clean heating.

The insulation firm doing the first retrofit the day the scheme began said it had already increased its staff by 20 people. Nine of those had been unemployed young men who are now learning new skills.

As a boost to homeowners, all main trading banks have agreed to join the scheme, and have agreed to waive their fees for top-up loans homeowners can get as part of insulation retrofits.

A number of local bodies are working to offer residents the opportunity to pay off energy efficiency investments through their rates.

If you are interested in making your home healthier, visit http://www.energywise.govt.nz/ to find out if you are eligible under the scheme and to find a local installer.

National's Warm Up New Zealand: Heat Smart scheme will help make homes warmer, drier, and healthier for more than 500,000 Kiwis, reduce their power bills, and provide jobs for local businesses.