Council can assist with home insulation

Auckland City Council is encouraging homeowners to have their homes assessed to see if they qualify to be retrofitted for insulation or clean heating.

Around 1000 homeowners have already applied for assistance through the Council's Retrofit Your Home programme

Under the programme eligible homeowners can apply to the council for a free "home sustainability assessment" and retrofit plan along with up to $5000 towards the cost of insulation and/or clean heating solutions, with repayments added to their rates bill.

The scheme was piloted in West Auckland before being offered region wide last year. It received $2 million extra in funds last month .

Auckland's Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse says the council estimates up to 400,000 homes in Auckland have no or inadequate insulation.

"The aim is to assist in ensuring more families in Auckland have well-insulated, warmer and healthier homes," she says, "and with winter approaching we're encouraging people to apply now for the support available."

She says people should apply early before the cold weather sets in."

More information on the Retrofit Your Home programme

Or call 09 301 0101.