Changes needed in 2009 for unhealthy homes

Media release
5 January 2009

Changes needed in 2009 for unhealthy New Zealand homes

Many New Zealand homes are making their occupants sick and Future-Proof Building hopes 2009 will be the year homeowners improve their living environment.

Future-Proof Building’s National Education Manager Jamie Fear says many occupants don’t even realise the harm their homes are causing to their health. “Most New Zealand homes don’t even meet the World Health Organisation’s guidelines of having a home temperature of 18 degrees. By the time winter comes it’s too late to try to rush in insulation and energy efficient heating. Homeowners need to start thinking now about improvements they should make this year,” says Jamie Fear.

Half of all New Zealand homes were built before the introduction of insulation requirements in 1978 and as a result these homes fail to meet current building standards without renovation. Future-Proof Building welcomes the significant changes that have been made to the Building Act over the last 12 months, promoting the use of double glazing and higher levels of insulation to increase the efficiency of new homes built in New Zealand. However, Jamie Fear warns that there is still much work to be done and it is the standard of existing housing stock that most urgently needs to be addressed.

“The responsibility for addressing this issue lies not just with the Government, but with the building industry and homeowners”, says Jamie Fear. “The building industry can take a lead by educating homeowners on how to make their homes healthy and safe as well as energy efficient”. In cooperation with energy efficiency assessors, RightHouse, Future-Proof Building will be running seminars throughout New Zealand in 2009 to educate home owners on how to make their homes warmer, drier and more energy and water efficient today and in the long term.

“We’ve accepted houses that are cold and damp without regard to the impact this has on the health of our families for too long. Until the New Zealand attitude towards housing changes we will not see a general lift of the quality of our existing homes,” says Jamie Fear.

Future-Proof Building recommends homeowners consider the following options to make their homes healthier, warmer and more comfortable:

Get an energy assessment: Many homeowners may be confused about how to go about making their home more energy efficient. However, an assessment from an independent solution provider such as Righthouse costs around $350 and provides homeowners with recommendations on heating and insulation options specifically tailored to the homeowner’s house and lifestyle. EECA's Energywise website also provides information on how to make homes more energy efficient (see www.energywise.govt.nz).

Glazing and insulation. For an average three bedroom New Zealand home, an upgrade from the minimum level of insulation to the recommended best practice standard costs around $1,200. Double glazing costs around $3-4,000. The combination of improved insulation and double glazing alone can improve the energy efficiency of a home by 30-40 per cent.

Energy efficient heating. Heating is also a key area to address for health, comfort and energy efficiency. The World Health Organisation recommends an average year round temperature of 18 degrees indoors, yet New Zealand homes average around 15 degrees. It is important to keep homes warm and dry to prevent mould and dampness which have a negative impact on family health as one in four New Zealand kids are estimated to suffer from asthma and one in three New Zealanders suffer from allergies. A correctly fitted heat pump that is appropriate to the size of the space that it heats, operates on a timer and neither overheats nor underheats is a highly efficient means of heating a home.

Ventilation. New Zealand homes also tend to lack adequate ventilation which can cause a rapid build up of moisture which can damage curtains, wall coverings, windows and carpets. Mould, mildew and dust mites thrive in poorly ventilated homes leading to a higher risk of asthma, allergies and respiratory problems. Addressing this problem can start with simply opening windows to allow air to pass through the home, and a good quality mechanical ventilation system will cost around $3,000-4,000

Remove dust and allergens. For asthma and allergy sufferers, central vacuum systems are an effective means of significantly reducing contacted dust, mites, pollen, animal dander and other allergens in the home and are three to four times more powerful than a normal vacuum cleaner. A central vacuum system can be installed for around $2000-3000. Anti-Allergenic carpets also provide effective control of house dust mites as well as the growth of bacteria, moulds mildews and fungi.

Future-Proof Building

Future-Proof Building provides free information to homeowners who are building, renovating or improving their home to help them make the best decisions and create a home for their family that’s better to live in now, and worth more in the future. More information is available on the Future-Proof website at www.fpb.co.nz.

ENDS

© Scoop Media