By REBECCA DEVINE
Many Rotorua homes would fail an energy efficiency test and government funding will be needed if all houses have to pass in future.
This week the Government unveiled plans to improve New Zealand's energy efficiency.
They included a home energy rating scheme, greater promotion of solar energy, changes to the building code to make homes and workplaces more efficient, more retrofitting of older homes and tighter standards for appliances.
The home rating scheme would probably be a five-star system similar to that used on appliances, taking into account details such as insulation, windows, water heating and lighting.
It would initially be voluntary.
Healthy Homes Rotorua spokeswoman Jo Hunt, from Energy Options, has seen the "absolutely amazing" benefits of retrofitting poorly or uninsulated homes but doubts many people could afford it if it had to come out of their own pockets.
Ms Hunt said she had seen families who were previously in and out of hospital with asthma having no problems after a retrofit.
There were also improvements in other health areas as well as reduced electricity costs and a better sense of pride in their homes, she said.
The Government's proposal was in its early stages and it was good people were becoming more aware of energy efficiency, she said.
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But the regulatory approach was only part of it and there needed to be increased education and information and more central government funding for projects like Healthy Homes Rotorua.
Those who needed their homes retrofitted were often the ones who could not afford it.
"I definitely think they need to put more money into programmes," she said.
A Healthy Homes retrofit - including ceiling and underfloor insulation, damp-proofing and a hot water cylinder wrap - costs about $2000 for an average home and many of those who needed it did not have that kind of spare money.
Ms Hunt said virtually all houses built before 1985 could do with a retrofit because insulation deteriorated and was not made compulsory prior to 1977.
Healthy Homes Rotorua was launched as a pilot programme in the middle of last year.
More than 100 homes received the retrofit.
Work recently started on Phase Two of the programme, which will see about 150 homes retrofitted.
Funding for the project comes from Rotorua Trust, Bay Trust, Lakes District Health Board, Toi Te Ora - Public Health, Ministry of Health and the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority.
It means residents need to pay only 10 per cent of the total cost - often less than $200.
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Real estate agents, meanwhile, doubt that many home owners will bother getting an energy efficiency rating unless it is compulsory, but they say more buyers are inquiring about the energy efficiency of houses.
Richard Evans of property management company Rotorua Rentals said he didn't see the proposal having any impact at all on the rental market.
"Landlords never do anything that isn't compulsory unless they are essential repairs," Mr Evans said.
He added that rental firms were already turning down properties that were in a substandard condition - like those likely to score poorly in the proposed rating system - but insulation was often not the problem.
Mr Evans said landlords who voluntarily got ratings which were good would probably not be able to fetch more in rental income.
"It will have little impact if [the property] is a five star."
Real Estate Institute of New Zealand's Rotorua spokesman Ian McDowell said people were becoming more conscious of energy-saving measures such as insulation and double glazing. Heat pumps were also becoming more popular.
Despite that, however, Mr McDowell did not believe it was a huge issue when people were deciding what houses to buy.
"Any extra information is beneficial. It will be another thing people will use to their advantage when they are negotiating a price," he said. |
