Warm Homes Initiative Funded for Another Year

Funding Stories

The Otago Community Trust is continuing its goal of creating warmer, healthier homes for families in Dunedin and Otago.

Since July the Trust has put funding into its Warm Homes initiative, a project set up to provide subsidised insulation in the homes of low-income people in the city.

The Trust will donate $400,000 over 12 months into the Warm Homes initiative.

That funding is matched with funding from the Energy Efficient and Conservation Authority (EECA) and insulation providers Smart Energy Solutions and Technobond, owned by Ellis Fibre. Otago’s key Social Service Agencies are also involved, helping to identify the low income homeowners and renters in need of help.

The local providers involved in the project assess the insulation problems of houses built before

2000 that are home to low income families. Subsidised individual insulation solutions tailored to each home are then offered to households that qualify - available to renters as well as home- owners.

Over 400 Otago homes have already been insulated through this project since it began in 2013, and it is aimed to have a further 1000 Otago homes warm and cosy homes by June 30, 2015.

The Trust took the initiative to establish partnerships and set this up, something it is very proud of.

Otago Community Trust Chief Executive Barbara Bridger said there is a clear correlation between people living in cold damp houses and poor health. "'We know that improving the insulation of colder homes is making a noticeable difference to the health of those on low incomes, and the same time improving the energy efficiency of these properties."

This observation is backed by research, including a recent study by the University of Otago, which indicate a $5 return in reduced health costs for every $1 spent.

Otago Anglican Family Care Director Nicola Taylor said each house insulated has made an enormous difference to the family living in it.  “Warmer living literally transforms lives.”

As an example, advisors working with one family living in a big old uninsulated Dunedin villa found the insulation work bought the power bill down considerably, as well as substantially improving the health of one of the family members. 

“It’s always a struggle for low-income people to cope with market rents and big power bills together, and that can become a downward spiral when health is also an issue. Having insulation really has made a difference to the financial concerns and health issues for this family this year,” Ms Taylor said.

The estimated percentage of Dunedin people living in "fuel poverty ' is 47 percent, compared to 14 percent in Auckland. With its high proportion of "old, cold and damp" homes, Dunedin has seen much of the initial focus of the Warm Homes project, but homes in other parts of Otago are also benefitting.