Warm Dunedin Trial Ending Soon

Dunedin (Friday, 4 April 2014) – Now is the time to think about warming up your house.

The Dunedin City Council’s Warm Dunedin targeted rate programme finishes soon, with applications closing at 5pm on 30 April.

The programme helps increase household warmth, health and comfort by providing a rates advance to help with the upfront costs of installing insulation and/or heating.

The trial programme, which started in February 2013, has helped insulate and/or install a heater in 514 homes as at the end of February this year.

DCC Warm Dunedin Co-ordinator Nathan Keen says, “Uptake slowed over the summer and we expect a late rush of applications in April as people take advantage of the programme and prepare for winter.”

The process of arranging quotes, choosing your preferred option and applying can take some time so it is recommended to start calling service providers by at least mid-April to ensure the DCC receives your application in time.

The Council will discuss a report on the trial programme in May. At that time a decision will be made as to whether the programme will continue.

Mr Keen says ratepayers who meet the Warm Dunedin criteria are able to apply to the DCC for up to $5,000 towards insulation and/or heating, which is paid off over 10 years using a targeted rate.

It is estimated that by 30 April, over the length of the programme, between $1,800,000 and $2,100,000 (excluding GST) will have been spent by homeowners and landlords to enable Dunedin homes to be warmer and healthier.

The current EECA Energywise programme provides funding under The Warm Up New Zealand: Healthy Homes programme. This programme targets low-income households

for home insulation, particularly elderly people and those families with children and high health needs. Warm Dunedin, which is a separate programme, provides homeowners

not eligible for the fully-funded Healthy Homes funding with an alternative option to install insulation. Heating currently does not have any subsidy and can be installed under the Warm Dunedin programme.

More information on the Warm Dunedin programme is available at ww.dunedin.govt.nz/warmdunedin or phone 03 477 4000.
The process of arranging quotes, choosing your preferred option and applying can take some time so it is recommended to start calling service providers by at least mid-April to ensure the DCC receives your application in time.

The Council will discuss a report on the trial programme in May. At that time a decision will be made as to whether the programme will continue.

Mr Keen says ratepayers who meet the Warm Dunedin criteria are able to apply to the DCC for up to $5,000 towards insulation and/or heating, which is paid off over 10 years using a targeted rate.

It is estimated that by 30 April, over the length of the programme, between $1,800,000 and $2,100,000 (excluding GST) will have been spent by homeowners and landlords to enable Dunedin homes to be warmer and healthier.

The current EECA Energywise programme provides funding under The Warm Up New Zealand: Healthy Homes programme. This programme targets low-income households

for home insulation, particularly elderly people and those families with children and high health needs. Warm Dunedin, which is a separate programme, provides homeowners

not eligible for the fully-funded Healthy Homes funding with an alternative option to install insulation. Heating currently does not have any subsidy and can be installed under the Warm Dunedin programme.

More information on the Warm Dunedin programme is available at ww.dunedin.govt.nz/warmdunedin or phone 03 477 4000.

Ends

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