29 July 2008
Some relief is on its way for those living in chilly Southland homes with the launch of a multi-million dollar projected aimed at making houses in the region warmer. It also promises to help improve the health of Southlanders as well.
The Southland Warms Homes Project seeks to make homes better insulated and more energy efficient by offering financial assistance to home owners. Houses are first assessed by Energy Smart, efficient energy solution providers, for energy inefficiencies and then financial assistance is offered based on the owner’s income.
Southland is one of the coldest regions in New Zealand and has a large number of old and poorly insulated houses. Poor insulation and heating can have major effect on the health of residents, particularly those with respiratory problems. By improving insulation and heating, the Warm Homes Project hopes to see a reduction in hospital admissions.
The Warm Home Project also addresses the air quality of the region, so offers financial incentives for residents to adopt new, energy efficient methods of heating. The smoke from wood burning can affect the air quality of an area, and this smoke is dangerous to the health of those who are young, elderly or whose health is bad.
"Health is the biggest benefactor of the project." Neil Boniface, the Warm Homes project's main driver and co-chairman, said it was the first time in his memory where so many key southern organisations had come together to support a project.
"All the funding has just about been put in place. "At the end of five years we will have 12,000-13,000 homes assessed (by EnergySmart). The living environment will be far better for (the home owners) and that is going to be for the betterment of Southland," he said.
The Warm Home Project in Southland is funded by the Government in association with local government, public health organisations and community trust. Contact Environment Southland for more information.
