More than 1622 Canterbury homes have been retrofitted in the first eight weeks of the Government’s insulation scheme.

Aaron Gilmore National List MP says he is delighted that 1094 homes in Canterbury have taken up the Warm Up New Zealand: Heat Smart scheme in August. This is 22.4 per cent of all retrofits, and is on top of 528 homes retrofitted in July.

“This shows both the popularity of the Government’s scheme and the delivery being performed by EECA,” Mr Gilmore says.

Under the National-led Government’s Warm Up New Zealand: Heat Smart scheme owners of homes built before 2000 are eligible for a third of the cost of ceiling and underfloor insulation, up to $1300. They may also get a $500 grant towards a clean heating device.

Community Service Card holders are eligible for 60 per cent of the cost of ceiling and underfloor insulation, and $1200 towards clean heating.

The $323 million scheme was announced in the May 28 Budget and launched on July 1. The Government aims to insulate 180,000 houses in four years which will provide warmer drier homes for more than 500,000 Kiwis.

“While the first month’s operation indicated this scheme is popular across the country, the second month shows a significant step-up in the number of homes being retrofitted,” Mr Gilmore says.

“In August, 4889 homes had insulation and/or heaters installed nationwide, up on the 3282 homes in July. It means in total 8171 homes have been retrofitted in the first two months.”

News of the scheme’s popularity follows an announcement from EECA that another 71 service providers are being signed up nationwide and are expected to be on the job from the start of next month.

“In our region, 22 more providers have been approved,” Mr Gilmore says.

The Heat Smart scheme complements Environment Canterbury’s Clean Heat Project which offers financial help to homeowners and landlords to change to cleaner forms of heating.

“This is great news for homeowners who want to get their homes insulated and it is great news for businesses which will soon have contracts in place.”