Insulation of older homes should follow new stds

4 May 2007

Media Release

Business: Mass insulation of older homes should follow welcome new moves to raise standards in new houses

Business leaders are welcoming major new Government moves to require new homes to be better insulated, and make it easier to install solar water heating systems nationwide.

The New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development – whose 56 member companies' annual sales equate to 30% of gross domestic product – says moves to raise insulation, heating and ventilation standards for homes and refitted commercial buildings will lead to significant health and productivity gains.

"They are a great step toward healthier homes and offices which, while they might cost more initially, will cost less to run and have the potential to cut hundreds of millions of the nation's health bill," the Business Council's Chief Executive, Peter Neilson says.

"The Government is to be congratulated on what it describes as the most significant step in 30 years on home insulation.

"The evidence is firm that warmer homes are cutting illness and asthma. What we need to do next as a country is radically step up the rate of insulating existing homes.

"About 400,000 are uninsulated and progress is slow with existing schemes. The Prime Minister has said there is a $4 pay back for every $1 spent. What we'd like to see now is a new policy to mass insulate all the old housing stock. In the UK, the Government has a progressive programme which sees up to 250,000 homes a year insulated and a pledge that no pensioner will live in a cold home.

"We need to do that here. I hope we see something like that in this month's Budget.
The improvement in quality of life, savings and cuts in greenhouse emissions will be immense," Mr Neilson says. "Our research shows 93 of every 100 New Zealanders will support a programme to insulate homes as part of the Government's climate change policy package."

ENDS

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