Budget delivers home insulation

Thursday 28 May 2009

The Government has delivered on its promise of dealing with the chill in tougher economic times. The Budget has promised a grant of up to $1800 to pay for insulation and heating for homeowners, and it’s not subject to income testing.

By Vicki Holder

More than 180,000 homes will have access to grants as a major investment in household energy efficiency.

While Community Card Holders can get $1800 for insulation and a further $1200 for heating, landlords of card-holding tenants will be entitled to an $1800 grant and $500 for heating.

More than $323.3 million has been set aside over four years to fit houses built before 2000 with insulation and clean heating devices such as heat pumps and approved wood burners. The scheme will start on July 1 this year.

Energy and Resources Minister, Gerry Brownlee says the scheme is designed to reduce health risks and play an important role in stimulating the economy.

The programme will be delivered through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) as part of its EnergyWise programme.

"The programme will work with private sector partners such as construction firms and energy retailers, as well as councils, health boards and iwi, so households can borrow money to help them invest further in a well-insulated and warm home," says Brownlee. "At the same time, money will be set aside to ensure that low income households in particular are targeted."

Bookmark and Share

Comments from our readers

On 29 August 2009 at 4:14 am Heating Insulation Grants ChCh said:
At least the government is doing its part of giving back to the community.
Add your comment:
Your name:
Your email:
Not displayed to the public
Comment:
Comments to Landlords.co.nz go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved.

Anti-spam verification:



House Prices

Soft housing activity predicted for the rest of the year amid weak REINZ data

Economists are predicting the housing market will stay soft for the rest of the year after Real Estate Institute data showed sales volumes stayed under pressure last month.

Commercial

Review may give investors some depreciation relief

Commercial and industrial property investors should still be able to claim significant depreciation allowances, an asset depreciation expert says.

Mortgages

Economist pushes out dates for next OCR hikes

One economist has pushed out the date for the Reserve Bank’s next official cash rate hike citing recent downgrades to its forecasts for global GDP growth, including in Australia and New Zealand.

 
Previous News

1 September 2010
Showcase Auckland hotel Westin Lighter Quay in chaos

31 August 2010
Housing consents fall

29 August 2010
Economist pushes out dates for next OCR hikes

27 August 2010
Property investors need be careful with family trusts

26 August 2010
Review may give investors some depreciation relief

20 August 2010
Latest immigration numbers good for housing market

18 August 2010
Property investors targeting private sellers

Search archive for more news >>