New insulation and heating scheme help offered

Ratepayers in Greater Wellington will soon have access to a new insulation and heating scheme.
Greater Wellington Regional Council decided this week it would take part in the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority's (EECA) home insulation and clean heating scheme by providing a grant of up to $2,600 per ratepayer to fund the remaining cost of home insulation and clean heating over and above the monies provided by EECA.
This grant would then be repaid by way of a targeted rate over a 10-year period.
Greater Wellington's grant scheme should be available from next month.
Council chair Fran Wilde said the decision should help to accelerate the uptake of EECA's scheme in the region.
"Modern insulation systems and clean heating appliances mean that people shouldn't be living in cold and unhealthy homes.
"As well as health benefits, insulation also reduces heating costs and adds value to properties. Our council believes that this new grant scheme is a way it can offer tangible benefits to all of the region's residential property owners.
"In addition to the assistance currently available through EECA, Greater Wellington has agreed to provide additional assistance of up to $2600 a ratepayer (including GST), and a total spending cap for this scheme of $3 million per year. This means up to 1,150 households in the region can be helped out each year," Ms Wilde said.
To qualify for Greater Wellington assistance, ratepayers need to initially approach EECA under the terms of its scheme. If the EECA accepts that application, and the applicant then wishes to obtain funding assistance from Greater Wellington, and if the ratepayer meets the criteria for assistance then it is granted.
The scheme is designed to be self-funding and will not impose any additional costs on regional ratepayers other than those who own properties covered by the scheme.