Many homeowners may receive help to be energy-wise

Thousands of Wairarapa homeowners could be in line for a new Government scheme targeting insulation, clean heating and energy efficiency in older homes.
In a move to improve the energy efficiency of about 70,000 New Zealand homes and make them warmer and healthier, the Government has earmarked $23 million nationally for the EnergyWise scheme over the next four years, EnergySmart project manager Emma Walker said.
Homeowners earning less than $100,000 a year one or two incomes or $140,000 a year three or more incomes with homes built before April 1, 1978, are eligible for the subsidy, she said.
Ms Walker said the new EnergyWise funding "is good news" for the thousands of Wairarapa homes with little or no insulation and inefficient forms of heating.
"We are very excited about the opportunities this new funding stream provides for people not eligible for assistance under the Wairarapa Healthy Homes project. These households are now able to get help with clean and efficient heating and insulation which save energy, improve health and reduce air pollution," she said.
"Insulating old, cold and draughty houses makes them warmer, reduces damp and consequently decreases the incidence of asthma attacks and respiratory related hospital admissions," Ms Walker said.
"The savings in health costs, days off work and days off school repay the investment twice over. Being able to access additional funding in order to include environmentally-friendly heating options is a fantastic initiative which will enable residents in Wairarapa to contribute to the reduction in New Zealand's carbon footprint."
Ms Walker said the new scheme comes on top of the existing Wairarapa Healthy Homes project that has been insulating low-income households since 2004 at little or no cost to the occupants.
EnergySmart manages the Wairarapa Healthy Homes project and is one of the organisations that secured funding for the EnergyWise scheme, she said.
Since 2004 the project has insulated 830 houses of people on low-incomes and health needs, she said.
Funded by the Wairarapa DHB, district councils, Trust House, Eastern and Central Community Trust and the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority, the project is ongoing and continues to take new referrals from health providers and social services, she said.
Insulation measures and clean-heat options can be selected by homeowners from a range of options which are flexible and the package on offer to Wairarapa homeowners includes an energy audit of the home, ceiling, under-floor and hot water cylinder insulation, and other energy efficiency measures including pipe lagging, low-flow shower heads and efficient lights.
The new funding is available as either an interest subsidy or a lump-sum grant, she said, with the interest option covering interest up to a maximum of $1250 so homeowners can pay off the cost of energy-efficiency improvements over time.
The second option is a grant of 10 per cent of the cost of insulation and clean heat, up to a maximum of $500, she said.
Clean-heat sources including heat pumps, modern wood and wood pellet burners or gas space heating also qualify for the interest subsidy or one-off grant.
The package also includes the option of a Home Energy Ratings Scheme.
This assessment gives a home a star rating similar to the ratings found on refrigerators, heat pumps and other appliances, Ms Walker said.
The EnergySmart not-for-profit organisation based in Wellington has worked in Wairarapa since 2004 project managing the Wairarapa Healthy Homes project that provides free or heavily subsidised home insulation retrofits to low-income households, she said.
"Under the EnergyWise funding initiative EnergySmart has partnered with the ANZ bank to deliver residential energy efficiency measures in the Wairarapa through the flexible funding package for energy efficient solutions."
n Homeowners interested in applying for the new subsidy can contact EnergySmart on 0800 777 111.