Residents of insulated homes healthier, finds study

People living in insulated homes are indeed healthier, a nationwide study has revealed.

Initial results show that those in insulated homes have fewer days off work sick and fewer visits to their GP or hospital.

The study, by the Wellington School of Medicine and Health Science's housing and health research group, monitored 1400 homes nationwide for 18 months, including that of Raleigh and Rose Emerson, of Christchurch.

Aged 70 and 68, Mr and Mrs Emerson have lived in the same house for 47 years and were sure their lives have improved now it is insulated.

Mrs Emerson suffered pneumonia each winter before the house was insulated, but not since.

Mr Emerson, who has heart problems, has fewer "funny turns" and sees his specialist less often.

"We also don't get grumpy so easily," he said.

"When you're cold and miserable, everything else is miserable too."

The Emersons are both diabetics and must regularly measure their blood levels, but the instruments for doing so do not work below 14C. For the first time, they have been able to use them in the coldest part of winter.

The insulation study monitored 1400 homes to assess health, mould in the home, power consumption and heating spending before and after insulation.

Initial results, presented in Christchurch yesterday, show that people in insulated houses reported visiting the GP less and being admitted to hospital less often for respiratory conditions.

Adults in insulated houses were significantly less likely to report sick days off work and children were less likely to have days off school.

Study head Associate Professor Philippa Howden-Chapman said hospital data backed up the results.

"Although hospitalisation is a rare event, it is a traumatic one and costs about $1500," she said. "You've only got to stop one admission and you've paid for the insulation - and the insulation lasts for the lifetime of the house."

Half of NZ houses, about 600,000, are estimated to have poor insulation. A quarter are not insulated at all.

"We get warrants of fitness for our cars but we need the same for our houses," the professor said.

Early this year she linked lower life expectancy among Maori and Pacific people with cold, damp homes.

- NZPA