Successful year for Clean Heat Clean Air programme

More than 700 Otago households received assistance from the Otago Regional Council’s Clean Heat Clean Air programme during 2011-12 through subsidised replacement of non-complying heating appliances and home insulation.

The programme aims to improve air quality and help homeowners meet national standards, especially in the Air Zone 1 towns of Arrowtown, Alexandra, Clyde, Cromwell, and Milton.

Programme manager Jeff Donaldson said 727 homes received new appliances and insulation throughout the financial year.  About half of all insulation installs were in Air Zone 1 areas (53%), as were the majority of heating installs (87%).

Participation was highest in Alexandra (185 insulation and heating installations) and Cromwell (156 installations), followed by Arrowtown (69 installations) and Clyde (51 installations).

Of the 239 installations completed in Air Zone 2 areas (Wanaka, Hawea, Ranfurly, Naseby, Roxburgh, Queenstown, Kingston, Oamaru, Palmerston, Waikouaiti, Port Chalmers, North Dunedin, South Dunedin, Central Dunedin, Green Island, Mosgiel, and Balclutha), 142 (59%) included a grant from the Dunedin City Council and Aurora Energy, with the rest receiving a subsidy from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA). 

Mr Donaldson said the successful installation programme was supported during the financial year with grants from the Community Trust of Otago, Central Lakes Trust, Aurora Energy, Clutha District Council, and Milton Rotary. 

“Without the assistance and co-operation of these funders, the programme would not operate as successfully as it does,” Mr Donaldson said.

ORC has begun a series of expos designed to provide homeowners with more information about the Clean Heat Clean Air programme in the coming months.