Greater Wellington helps to warm up the region
Greater Wellington Regional Council decided today that it would participate in the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority's home insulation and clean heating scheme by providing a grant of up to $2,600 per ratepayer to fund the remaining cost of home insulation and clean heating over and above the monies provided by EECA. This grant would then be repaid by way of a targeted rate over a 10-year period. Greater Wellington's grant scheme should be available from September 2009.
Greater Wellington's Chair Fran Wilde said that today's Council decision should help to accelerate the uptake of EECA's scheme in the region.
"Modern insulation systems and clean heating appliances mean that people shouldn't be living in cold and unhealthy homes. As well as health benefits, insulation also reduces heating costs and adds value to properties. Our Council believes that this new grant scheme is a way it can offer tangible benefits to all of the region's residential property owners.
"This initiative also offers benefits in terms of reduced air pollution from open fires - important in towns like Masterton and Greytown - and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
"In addition to the assistance currently available through EECA, Greater Wellington has agreed to provide additional assistance of up to $2,600 per ratepayer (including GST), and a total spending cap for this scheme of $3 million per year. This means up to 1,150 households in the region can be helped out each year," Fran Wilde said.
To qualify for Greater Wellington assistance, ratepayers need to initially approach EECA under the terms of its scheme. If EECA accepts that application, and the applicant then wishes to obtain funding assistance from Greater Wellington, then the following additional steps are required:
- The approved service provider advises Greater Wellington/EECA of the details regarding costs, homeowner etc.
- Greater Wellington confirms with the rating database that the homeowner qualifies for assistance from Greater Wellington and that there are no rates arrears
- Contract signed between homeowner and Greater Wellington
- Service provider sends a copy of the invoice to Greater Wellington for the amount to be funded by Greater Wellington after deducting the EECA grant
- Greater Wellington confirms back to the ratepayer details of the grant
- Greater Wellington pays EECA or the service provider.
- A targeted rate is charged to the property over a 10 year period.
Greater Wellington will not undertake any marketing, quality control, monitoring of installations etc. This will be undertaken by EECA.
This scheme is designed to be self-funding and will not impose any additional costs on regional ratepayers other than those who own properties covered by the scheme.
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Details of EECA’s scheme
The scheme is owned by EECA and is limited to houses built prior to 2000. It applies to insulation (ceiling and floor), ground damp lining, draft stopping, and hot water pipe and cylinder wrap. In respect of clean heating, it would apply to externally flued gas heaters, efficient log burners and heat pumps. Clean heating will only be offered by EECA to those homes that have ceiling and floor insulation.
To be eligible for the grant, only EECA accredited service providers (installers), goods and services can be used. EECA also operates an audit regime to ensure service providers supply quality service and products.
The EECA insulation scheme will provide a grant for one third of the cost of home insulation up to a maximum amount of $1,300 (including GST) for non Community Services Card ratepayers.
For those homeowners who hold a Community Services Card, EECA will pay 60% of the cost of home insulation.
In respect of clean heating the maximum grant is $500.
Further details of EECA’s scheme are available at http://www.energywise.govt.nz/funding-available/insulation-and-clean-heating