Free home insulation scheme underway

1 November 2011

Free home insulation scheme underway

A home insulation project offering free insulation for up to 500 vulnerable West Coast households is under way, with applications open and work on the first home due to start soon.

The Warm Up West Coast project is a joint venture between Healthy West Coast, Autex GreenStuf, contractor The Insulation Company, and the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) via the Government’s insulation programme Warm Up New Zealand: Heat Smart (WUNZ).

Home insulation is available for both homeowners and tenants who can apply for funding by filling in the Warm Up West Coast application form. The home owner or tenant must hold a valid Community Services Card and the house must have been built before 1 January 2000 to be eligible for the free insulation package.

The role of Healthy West Coast (a collaboration between the West Coast District Health Board, the West Coast Primary Health Organisation, and Community and Public Health West Coast) is to then identify those most at risk due to living in households with poor home insulation.

The project will give priority to households with children under two years, someone over 65 years and those that have a housing related health problem, such as a respiratory condition. The nominated households will also have to meet other criteria required by the WUNZ and Greenstuf Home Insulation programmes. The ceiling and underfloor insulation will be installed by The Insulation Company in conjunction with local installers on the West Coast. The insulation material to be used is called GreenStuf, an environmentally-friendly polyester product that has Asthma Foundation approval.

Research shows that better home insulation and heating leads to better health outcomes for people, with the added benefit of reduced public health costs.

Wayne Turp, the West Coast DHB’s General Manager Planning and Funding, says the scheme will mean a healthier, more comfortable home environment and an opportunity for vulnerable people who live in low income households to save money on heating. “If the scheme means that there are fewer hospital admissions from respiratory illness, then that will free up funding for the provision of other health services.”

• For an application form or more information visit www.westcoastdhb.org.nz.
• For more information on GreenStuf home insulation visit; www.greenstuf.co.nz.

ENDS

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