Heat Pumps Installed in All OCHT Homes – Curtain Programme Extended

Programme To Be Completed More Than Two Years Ahead of Legislative Requirement

“It’s made a massive difference like you wouldn’t believe.”

That from one of the Ōtautahi Community Housing Trust (ŌCHT) Tenants after the last of more than 2000 heat pumps were installed on Friday (31 July).

ŌCHT Chief executive, Cate Kearney says despite losing around a month because of the Covid-19 lockdown, the heatpump installation programme is now complete and the next stage of the Warm & Dry Initiative (WDI) is well underway.

“The feedback we have had from tenants is really heart-warming,” she says. “Not only are they thrilled with the heatpumps, but the contractors who installed them have also been praised for their professionalism and personable manner. We are getting around twenty compliments a week from tenants who are loving their warm and cosy homes.”

The next stage of the Warm & Dry Initiative, a joint programme by the Christchurch City Council and the Trust aimed at improving the health and comfort of tenants in Council and Trust owned homes, involves draught stopping and a curtain programme.

“We are checking all homes for draughts and as a part of that, we intend to extend the Council’s curtain programme to upgrade all units.  Heat can escape through windows, and properly installed curtains help reduce this loss.  “We have been progressively installing thermally backed curtains, which drop to the floor and have pelmet tracks designed to reduce heat loss” says Council ‘s Head of Facilities, Property and Planning , Bruce Rendall.  “Council’s Warm and Dry funding allows us to accelerate the programme and upgrade units, some of which have very thin or very old drapes.”

The WDI is part of the Healthy Homes upgrade (which addresses heating,  insulation, ventilation and draughts in the tenant’s homes), and barring unforeseen circumstances, Ms Kearney says, it will be completed in May 2021, more than two years ahead of the date that legislation requires it to be done – July 2023.

-Ends-

Please contact Ali Jones for more information on 027 247 3112.

Find OCHT on Facebook       https://www.facebook.com/otautahicommunityhousingtrust/

Additional:

All 2,300 homes have been offered heatpumps *except for homes that ŌCHT intends to demolish and rebuild in the next year.
Installations completed on 31 July, two weeks ahead of the post-COVID plan 

• Tenant called to say after 26 days of having a heat pump his health has improved
• Tenant called to say she now has as a beautiful, warm and cosy unit
• Tenant passed on thanks to The Trust for their new heat pump, they said it has made a massive difference “like you wouldn’t believe” to their family’s quality of life
• Tenant thought what they had was a “good heater” before, however the heat pump “is amazing” and “has made such a big difference”. He wanted the Trust to know how grateful they are.
• Tenant rang to say their power bill was the lowest it has been in years