Business council calls for efficiency rating for homes

30th of November 2008 - 7:58 AM

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All homes being sold or rented should have an energy efficiency performance rating, the Business Council for Sustainable Development said today.

 The council's chief executive Peter Neilsen said a survey funded by
the organisation showed that a quarter of New Zealand's homes could be
making their occupants ill.

The survey of 3526 people showed that poor insulation and
inefficient homes caused widespread suffering, with 26 percent of those
surveyed saying their homes had made one member of the family sick.

Only 29 percent said their homes were very warm or comfortable,
while 59 percent said their homes were warm, but could be better.

The survey confirmed earlier studies showing 16 percent of homes had
no insulation at all, 71 percent had uninsulated walls, 64 percent had
no underfloor insulation and only 29 percent of ceilings had been fully
insulated.

This meant of 1 million of 1.6 million homes were not adequately insulated.

Some of those surveyed said they lived in the lounge during winter
to avoid mouldy and damp bedrooms, and there were reports of asthma and
respiratory problems due to cold with children in particular suffering.

Those who had improved their homes reported health improvements and lower bills.

Suggestions by the council included:

A mandatory home performance rating system to apply to all new and existing homes when they were rented or sold;

Linking government accommodation supplements to homes
that have an adequate rating performance, and consideration of paying a
rent supplement to landlords with good performing homes;

Reducing consenting delays for innovative designs for better performing homes;

Education on what options were available and training for the renovation industry; and

Finance packages for home performance improvements that
could be paid back through energy savings or reclaimed from an owner's
estate.

Prior to the election, the Greens and Labour agreed on implementing
a $1 billion insulation and efficiency programme though that was never
included in the budget.

Mr Neilsen said it was known how to build and renovate homes so they performed well, but it was not happening fast enough.

Currently, the easiest way to improve a home's value was by upgrading the kitchen or bathroom.

"If you buy a car it must have a sticker telling you about is fuel
performance and how much it cost to run a year. For our most valuable
asset, we have no such information," Mr Neilsen said.

"In Australia and the United States homes with performance ratings sell for a premium and sell faster."

Mr Neilsen said those who owned their own homes often did not have
the money to upgrade their homes and there was a lack of incentives for
landlords to do the work.

Improving the housing stock would reduce the number of people being
hospitalised, and reduce work days lost through sickness and cut power
bills.

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