Ten years of warm, healthy housing

SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE: Lyn Tankersley (left), manager Wairarapa Healthy Homes, Robyn McKeown, founding member, James Gallagher, Terra Lana general manager, Bob Francis and Camille Armstrong celebrate a decade of subsidied home insulation. PHOTO LYNDA FERINGA

Healthy Homes chairman Bob Francis is proud of what Wairarapa has achieved in a decade of subsidised home insulation.

Mr Francis and members of the original Wairarapa Healthy Homes steering group committee, as well as insulation partners and recipients, gathered on Thursday at the Frank Cody Lounge in Masterton to celebrate the decade.

He said the project, with assistance from Carterton, Masterton, South Wairarapa district councils, plus Trust House, Wairarapa DHB and energy efficiency company EnergySmart, had insulated nearly 1900 homes.

The project has a long-term goal to ensure every homein Wairarapa is properly insulated.

Some low-income households, referred to the project by Work and Income and other social agencies, were fitted out at no cost.

"It was hard work at the beginning, but it ticks along beautifully now," he said.

It had been a $5 million investment in the community's health.

Being an asthmatic, Mr Francis took a particular interest in the health benefits.

"I see the major difference it makes, respiratory problems especially."

Masterton's Camille Armstrong can vouch for that, with an asthmatic son who had hospital visits annually before insulation being fitted in 2013.

As a family of six, including a baby, the power bills were "going through the roof".

"It was really the condensation, right up the windows," she said. "It was really cold, really moist.

"We only had a heat pump."

After insulating, the condensation reduced dramatically and the house stayed warm.

"Now the sun heats up the house during the day, and the house stays really warm through to next morning.

"We hardly use the heat pump, our power bill shrunk right down."

After the house was insulated, they hadn't had to take their son to hospital.

Govt project

Healthy Homes is a three-year $100 million government insulation programme delivering about 46,000 warmer, drier and healthier homes. The programme is targeted at households (including renters) that have a Community Services Card and are at a high health risk.

EECA works with project partners to target households known to be at high risk from illnesses linked to cold, damp housing. The programme provides grants for up to 60 per cent of the cost of insulation. Project partners, such as trusts, primary health organisations, and iwi, will top up the government grants to provide free insulation to eligible households.

There may be a charge for landlords of eligible tenants.

For more details, google "Wairarapa Healthy Homes".

Details of service providers offering Warm Up New Zealand: Healthy Homes are posted on the ENERGYWISE website. People can also call 0800 749 782 for more information.