18 November 2008
There is good news for Waitakere residents thinking about renovating their home with plans to retrofit 20,000 homes over the next 10 years. These retrofits will make substantial improvement to the quality of life for those living in the city, while at the same time saving them money.
Waitakere City Council aims to make high-quality retrofits available to all Waitakere residents, including landlords, irrespective of the property’s age or the owner’s income. Funding for the work can take a variety of forms, including an interest free loan, depending on the circumstances of the applicant.
Home improvements could include roof and under floor insulation, water tanks, solar water heating and dual flush toilets, as well as energy saving bulbs and water saving shower heads.
The council gains from the initiative as well as it expects to save money on water infrastructure investments, operational costs and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The wider community also benefits as drier and warmer homes can reduce hospital admission and time off from work and school due to winter chills.
The Waitakere City Council is no stranger to retrofitting, as it has worked with the EcoMatters Environment Trust to retrofit 1,275 homes in the last five years. Less than half the 66,000 homes in Waitakere were built before there was a legal minimum requirement for insulation.
To find out more about this project, check out the Waitakere City Council website or contact Lisah Henry on 09 836 8000 ext 8917.
More news
