Healthy Homes
Cold, damp homes can increase the risk of respiratory issues and other preventable health conditions, such as rheumatic fever, skin infections, and bronchiolitis. There is strong evidence nationally and internationally, of improved health outcomes resulting from warmer and drier homes.
Below is useful information for whānau to be able to help eliminate some of the above health issues they face and reduce the impact of preventable illness associated with cold, damp, and mouldy homes.
- Insulation and energy option
- City Council programmes
- Banks offering Healthy Home loan packages
- Home energy audits
Insulation and Energy Options
Community Energy Action – Canterbury and West Coast
Whether you are looking for (subsidised) insulation or heating, other energy efficiency services or independent energy advice that are helping households in the community keep warmer and healthier for less.
Visit : https://www.cea.co.nz/
or contact Shannon Goldsmith: [email protected]
EECA – Warmer Kiwi Homes Programme
Grants cover:
- 80% of the total cost of ceiling and underfloor insulation. In some areas the cost to you may be even lower. Funding available from community organisations.
- 80% of the cost of an approved heater. This could be a heat pump or an efficient wood/pellet burner for the main living area. Heater grants are capped at $3000 including GST.
https://www.eeca.govt.nz/co-funding/insulation-and-heater-grants/warmer-kiwi-homes-programme/
Habitat for Humanity NZ
The Home Repair programme is an affordable, no interest solution for modest income homeowners struggling to afford maintenance and repair work to their homes. This includes services to address challenges associated with keeping a home warm, dry, healthy and safe.
https://habitat.org.nz/what-we-do/habitat-in-nz/
Te Puni Kōkiri
Te Puni Kōkiri fund rōpū to coordinate repair programmes in communities. The rōpū must be a legal entity. Rōpū are expected to manage the repair programme, including accessing other Government funding to improve housing quality, such as EECA’s Warmer Kiwi Homes programme which offers insulation and heater grants to low-income homeowners.
NOTE: Demand exceeded the amount TPK have available for FY22/23, but TPK encourage you to register your interest for future funding
Awarua Synergy – All Southland houses
Home and heating insulation subsidies.
https://awaruasynergy.co.nz/home-insulation-subsidies/
City Council Programmes
While some District councils have a ‘Targeted Rates Programme’, other Councils will direct homeowners to access the Warmer Healthier Homes programme through EECA.
Christchurch City Council
Homeowners can access free expert advice and financial support to help improve the health and energy efficiency of their homes.
https://ccc.govt.nz/environment/sustainability/build-smarter/healthier-homes-canterbury
If you have a good history of repaying your rates, and they are up to date, you can add the cost of home insulation, heating and ventilation products and installation to your rates bill (to a maximum of $6,000 including GST per ratepayer). The full amount, plus interest will be repaid via your rates bills over nine years.
Healthier Homes Canterbury financial support is available for:
- Insulation – ceiling and underfloor insulation, draught stopping and a plastic ground moisture barrier beneath a home with a raised floor.
- Heating appliance – heat pump, wood burner, pellet fire or flued gas heater.
- Ventilation – kitchen and bathroom extractor fans.
For more information and to apply visit Healthier Homes Canterbury(external link).
Otago Regional Council
The Clean Heat, Clean Air subsidy is available for houses built before 2008. General income households can access $2,500 towards their heating upgrade. For lower income households there may be little to no cost to improve their heating source.
From July 2019, lower income households will benefit from the Warmer Kiwi Homes subsidy, which pays the first 67% of their heating appliance, and the Clean Heat Clean Air subsidy will top this up with a maximum contribution of $2,000. Clean heating appliances include heat pumps, flued-gas heaters, pellet fires and ultra-low emission burners; the subsidy no longer includes standard low-emission wood burners.
To find out the status of existing appliances and how to access this and other subsidies, and to see a full list of ultra-low emission burner models and approved contractors, visit the ORC website: here
Council Voluntary Targeted Rates Programmes
Lets you pay off home insulation (and sometimes heat pumps, ventilation, extractors and more) via your regular rates bills over a period of 9-10 years at a discounted interest rate. Terms, conditions, amount of funding and interest rates vary by Council.
- South Waikato District Council (currently on hold)
- New Plymouth District Council
- Hawkes Bay Regional Council
- Clutha District Council
Nelson City Council
Nelson City Council has partnered into the Warmer Healthier Homes Nelson-Tasman-Marlborough programme by contributing some funding into the Warmer Kiwi Homes scheme (EECA)
Banks Offering Healthy Home Loan Packages
ANZ
The new ANZ Good Energy Home Loan top up has a great low rate of 1.00% p.a. fixed for three years, up to $80,000, to help you make eligible energy efficient upgrades to your home.
https://www.anz.co.nz/personal/home-loans-mortgages/loan-types/healthy-homes/
Westpac Warm Up Loans
Up to $40,000 interest free for five years to invest in heat pumps, insulation and more.
https://www.westpac.co.nz/home-loans-mortgages/options/warm-up/
Kiwi Bank
Sustainable energy loan.
You can use the loan for solar power, small-scale hydro, wind energy or geothermal resources.
https://www.kiwibank.co.nz/personal-banking/home-loans/managing-your-loan/sustainable-energy-loan/
BNZ
BNZ offer a top-up mortgage loan: https://www.bnz.co.nz/personal-banking/home-loans/manage-your-loan/top-ups
Home Energy Audits
Do-it-Yourself Home Energy Assessments
https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/do-it-yourself-home-energy-assessments
Borrow a Home Energy Audit Toolkit
Energy Audit Toolkits are available to be borrowed from Libraries around the Country. Contact your local Library to see if the Energy Audit Toolkits are available to borrow.
Each kit includes tools to measure air temperature and moisture levels, find heat loss due to poor insulation or air leaks, measure water temperature and flow, and check the moisture levels of firewood and power consumption of appliances.
https://www.dunedinlibraries.govt.nz/collections/home-energy-audit-toolkit-heat-kit
Ngā Aromatawai Tiaki Pūngao Kāinga – Home Energy Saver Assessments
Through this programme, you can get a free impartial assessment from the Sustainability Trust and a customised action plan for your needs and budget.
Environment Canterbury – Home Performance Assessments
In Christchurch, assessments are offered free of charge for people paying rates in the Christchurch City Council area, while subsidies last. These have a retail value of $150. CCC provide these subsidies.
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