Council Exits Healthy Homes

As part of cost cutting measures in the Long Term Council Community Plan (LTCCP) the council will no longer be funding the healthy homes programme.

Healthy Homes was set up three years ago by the Energy Efficient Conservation Authority (EECA).
However the programme will continue to operate in Tararua as part of the government’s newly launched ‘Warm Up New Zealand’ initiative.

For three years, in conjunction with Scanpower, MidCentral Central Energy Trust and the Eastern and Central Community Trust the council has been a third party funder to the popular scheme contributing $10,000 on an annual basis.

Other funding has come from the Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority (EECA) with specified contributions from home owners or landlords.

The Tararua Healthy Homes project will now end on June 30 but is on track to complete at least 40 of the 43 homes scheduled for the 2008/09 financial year.

Under the government’s new initiative the scope for eligibility has widened making it more available to a greater range of people.

While the priority is for insulation retrofits the programme also provides funding to install clean, energy efficient heating devices in homes that are well insulated.

There are three criteria.

For all eligible houses built before 2000 the government will fund 33% of the total insulation cost up to $1300 and $500 for clean heating; for homeowners who hold Community Services cards there will be 60% for insulation and $1200 for clean heating; landlords with tenants who hold Community Service cards will have 60% funding and $500 for clean heating.

Tararua residents can access more information on the website www.energywise.govt.nz. Look out too for brochures and advertising.