23 June 2006
Contact to support Christchurch insulation project for elderly
Contact Energy is donating $60,000 over two years to a Christchurch community trust which will use the money to insulate
the homes of elderly residents.
The Christchurch Community Energy Action Trust runs a community project heavily subsidising the insulation retrofit of
around 1,000 Christchurch homes per year.
Contact Chief Executive David Baldwin said Contact was pleased to support a scheme that was making such a difference to
the health and comfort of Christchurch residents.
“We appreciate that increasing energy costs make it harder for some people, particularly those on fixed incomes. The
$60,000 that Contact is donating will be spent exclusively on people aged over 70 years old or people over 65 with
health conditions linked to cold, damp housing,” he said.
Residents who qualify for the retrofit are referred to the scheme by social service agencies and health care providers.
Mr Baldwin said there was a wealth of evidence that people living in well-insulated homes enjoyed greater levels of
comfort, reduced energy bills and improved health outcomes.
“This scheme will make a real difference to the lives of many elderly people and will further demonstrate the benefits
of a well insulated, energy efficient home.”
Mr Baldwin said the scheme would become a part of 10 community retrofit projects across the country which Contact was
supporting, including the South Canterbury Healthy Homes project which insulates around 300 homes per year.
Chief Executive of the Christchurch Community Energy Action Trust, Bede Martin, welcomed Contact’s support for the
scheme.
“The $60,000 that Contact is contributing will enable us to improve the health and comfort of a number of elderly
residents over the next two years.
“This funding will enable us to significantly expand from the 70 or so homes we currently assist each year and help more
elderly people manage their energy bills better and live in a healthier, warmer house,” he said.
ENDS