Advice on Insulation Subsidy

Filed under Insulation, Subsidies and Financial Assistance.

June 14th, 2009

We are passing your freephone no on to customers (0800 388 588) only to be told the call is outside the free calling zone/or cellphone range and directs you on to either Auckland/Wellington or the South Island land-line no’s. This means the customers have to pay to contact you and it is being advertised as a ‘free service’ can you please explain?

6 Comments

editor, June 14th, 2009 on 8:08 pm

Our advice service is free to everyone in New Zealand; however the phone call may not be free of charge. Our first Centre was established in March last year in Wellington as a pilot project funded by Ministry for the Environment and Wellington City Council. We had to establish calling boundaries to establish a region we could service with limited funding. We now have Advice Centres in Auckland and Christchurch and have also had to establish calling boundaries. We are currently seeking funding to enable us to expand the service and offer toll free calls to all householders in New Zealand. In the meantime we would be very happy to call clients back if they request it. If you would like to discuss further, please do contact us on the freephone number.

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Doug Jermyn, July 8th, 2009 on 3:27 am

Hi Folks

I own a Lockwood house on a concrete pad. I cannot insulate either ceiling (no ceiling) or floor.My questions are:-
1. If I double glaze my windows, will that work qualify for a subsidy?

2. I understand the $500 subsidy for a clean heat installation (heat pump) is contingent on the house being insulated under floor & ceiling. How am I placed?

Cheers Doug J

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Efficiency Dude, July 20th, 2009 on 9:46 pm

Hi Doug

Funding for windows is not available from energywise, also because you have a Lockwood you will have some insulation which will not be accessable to replace. You have a R1.3 with your concrete floor already so you will need to book in with a provider and you will find that you can get the subsidy for clean heat as long as the EECA checklist is completed and accurate.

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HeatingInsulation Grants ChCh, August 25th, 2009 on 1:20 pm

This topic on heating insulation for homes and offices is a major concern. The government should focus on giving insulation grants for the people.

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Norman Chester, December 24th, 2009 on 3:27 am

Hi,
My neighbour (a single senior Citizen lady,) has an old Lockwood home which makes very loud expansion and contraction noises within the house, which frighten her. It was built around 1980 I think.

Is it possible to minimize these noises in some way? and is it possible to pump in insulation to any space that might be between the internal ceiling lining and the roof lining? We think that this would reduce the temperature effects on the timber lining, beams etc. Can you please help us with this serious problem which affects her well being so much.

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editor, January 11th, 2010 on 10:12 pm

Hi Norman,

I would suggest that your neighbour contacts a builder ( the Master Builders Association, http://www.masterbuilder.org.nz could be a place to start) just to confirm the likely cause of the noises and what could be done.

It is not always easy or possible to pump insulation into a skillion roof, but a competent builder should be able to give an assessment of the options available.

One option ( not cheap but definately possible) might be to install ceiling insulation when replacing the roofing iron, or to take off the internal linings, install insulation and then replace the linings.

I would be interested in hearing what she eventually decides to do .

Best wishes,

Sarah Free (energy advisor, Wellington)

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