Insulation good for the health and the pocket, says survey

David Baldwin. Marty Melville / Getty Images

Insulating homes improves health and decreases power bills, a survey has shown.

More than 2500 homes across New Zealand have been insulated under the Contact Energy Healthy Homes programme in the past 2 years.

The programme provides free insulation upgrades for low-income New Zealanders.

Reports from 500 of those homes surveyed showed 91 per cent of people felt warmer, 71 per cent drier, 86 per cent more comfortable, 39 per cent healthier and 58 per cent reported power bill savings.

Contact chief executive David Baldwin said the results reinforced the importance of ongoing investment in home insulation and energy efficiency.

"The strength of these results has surprised even us," he said.

"For 39 per cent of people to say their health had improved simply through living in a properly insulated home shows what a difference the Healthy Homes programme is making, and how home insulation is a significant public health issue."

He was heartened by people reporting lower power bills and an improved quality of life.

"With so many New Zealand homes cold, damp and energy-inefficient, there are huge gains to be made through simple energy-efficient steps around the home."

Ten Healthy Homes programmes have been running in Dunedin, Christchurch, South Canterbury, Nelson, Kapiti/Horowhenua, Hawkes Bay, Wellington/Hutt Valley, Taranaki, Gisborne, and the Ngati Kahungunu rohe from Wairoa to the Wairarapa.

Contact Energy planned to start a new programme in South Auckland this year.

- NZPA