Strong support for mass insulating cold homes

Embargoed until

9 July 2007

Media Release

Strong support for mass insulating cold homes

Policymakers have a strong mandate from New Zealanders to tackle the major problem of uninsulated homes as a health and climate change measure.

Nine out of 10 believe the country's 300,000 uninsulated homes present a problem which should be tackled now or urgently.

And they back the Government undertaking a mass insulation programme, costing taxpayers more than $760 million, even if this reduces the money available for a personal tax cut over time. They also say the elderly, low income families with children under 15 and those in the coldest parts of the country who are living in uninsulated homes should get priority in that order.

The independent ShapeNZ online poll covers 1378 respondents nationwide between June 15 and 20. The results are weighted by age, gender, personal income, employment status and party vote at the 2005 general election. The margin of error is plus or minus 2%.

Under current policies about 30,000 pre-1977 homes have been insulated during the past 10 years. At this rate it will take 100 years for all homes to be brought up to standard.

The ShapeNZ poll shows:

• 91% believe the problems being caused by 300,000 insulated homes needs to be tackled now or urgently
• When first asked, 58% believe the Government should fund the mass insulation of 300,000 uninsulated homes (even when advised the cost could be more than for $2200 each home, or more than $760 million), while 31% say no to the idea
• If it went ahead, 71% believe the Government should implement this insulation programme over five years
• The elderly (28%), low income home occupiers with children under 15 (24%) and those living in uninsulated homes in the coldest parts of the country (23%) should be given priority in an insulation programme
• 67% would still back Government funding for a programme even if it meant less were available for a cut in personal income tax. If the programme can be managed without reducing the amount available for personal income tax cuts, support rises to 81%
• 78% want any resulting savings in health spending used to fund other health services.

The poll follows recent world-first scientific research, published in the British Medical Journal, by a collaborative group involving a medical and building team, based at the Wellington School of Medicine, which showed a conclusive link between home insulation and an improvement in the health of the occupants.

Completed to strict medical and technical research criteria, and involving 1350 households and 4407 people throughout New Zealand, the study found that insulating existing houses led to a significantly warmer, drier indoor environment and resulted in improved health, including a reduction in wheezing, days off school or work, general practitioner visits as well as a trend for fewer hospital admissions for respiratory conditions.

The New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development, funding another major policy research project to determine what's stopping widespread use of current technology to produce warmer, healthier and more energy efficient homes and other buildings, says the latest poll could not send a stronger signal to Government to fix the sick houses problem as both a health and climate change measure.

"It's clear New Zealanders want to cut the suffering of the elderly and children living in uninsulated homes," the Business Council's Chief Executive, Peter Neilson, says.

"They want the Government to be bold. They see the value in a mass insulation programme. The Government should address this as part of its climate change initiatives.

"It's also clear they understand the link between this as a health measure – and its spin off benefits in freeing up money to plough back into other health services - and also help manage climate change. It's 'co-benefits' include using energy more efficiently, and potentially lowering greenhouse gas emissions."

The poll is ongoing at www.shapenz.org.nz. Other results, including New Zealanders' responses to policy proposals to bring in two new waste-related taxes; on their preferred general direction for climate change management policy; and on what actions Kiwis will take personally to manage climate change will be released tomorrow.

ShapeNZ is run by the Business Council to give the public input into public policy options. The Business Council's 57 members' annual sales equate to 30% of gross domestic product. Its aim is to mainstream sustainable practices.

ENDS

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