Insulating and Heating Grants ? Apply now
If you have money to spend to make your home healthy, it?s best to look at insulating the floor and ceiling. In the Wellington region there are currently two subsidies on offer to help people afford home insulation. The government?s $323 million healthy homes programme means someone who owns a house built before 2000 is eligible for a third off the total cost of insulation up to $1300. The scheme also means community service cardholders can get subsidies of 60 per cent off their home retrofits with no cap, as can landlords with cardholding tenants. On top of this the Greater Wellington Regional Council offers financial assistance of 33 per cent (up to $1300) of insulation for homes built before 2000. They have implememnted the rate to help homeowners pay back the grant over time through their rates. The government healthy homes grants will receive a great boost from this offer by the council, as people can now spread part of the payment for insulation over a number of years, making the cost much more affordable. People need to make sure they contact the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) to ensure the insulation is installed properly and the correct materials are used. As well as insulation a it?s a good idea to draught-proof all the doors and windows, and lighting an incense stick by doors or windows to see if the smoke is sucked out is a good trick to find out the worst spots. Reducing air infiltration is the most effective thing you can do to keep warm and promote cost-effectiveness. A good way to heat a specific area is to heat corresponding rooms. If you want the lounge heated try placing other heaters on low in the other rooms, as this balances the heating and prevents cool air pushing the warm air around. Ventilation is also very important for warmth and health, and leaving windows only slightly open for a time is an effective way to quickly air out the home. It?s also good to find the coldest area in your house, as placing a heater against the coldest wall or window will help. It?s recommended to use a blanket form of insulation material (polyester) for your ceilings. And it?s important to use rolls that go over the top of the ceiling joists as opposed to a biscuit form, which is put between the ceiling and the joist. For an average house (100sqm) expect to pay $2500 for the floors, and $2000 for high-level ceiling insulation. This will reduce your energy bills by 10 to 15 per cent and living healthy can save you much more than that in the long run.
