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Questions and answers about the Warm Home Standard proposal

Q. What is a Warm Home Standard?

A. The principle is one of affordable warmth for all by ensuring that all our houses are capable of providing minimum healthy indoor temperatures in a manner that is affordable to its occupants.

The original concept derives from a Winter Warmth Standard proposed by representatives of Age Concern Canterbury, the Canterbury District Health Board and Community Energy Action in 2004.

Q. Who will it apply to?

A. It applies to all New Zealand housing, old and newly built.

Q. Are you proposing this as a mandatory requirement on home owners?

A. That is not what we are proposing. Initially we want to see a commitment from government to this as an outcome to be achieved, and for government assistance to be focussed around achieving it.

Q. How realistic is the achievement of the standard?

A. Many homes currently will fall well short of achieving it. Retrofit insulation in some cases may be sufficient, while in other cases a more comprehensive approach requiring insulation and an efficient heating system will be necessary. It is really important that heating systems in the lower running cost band are made available because these provide the key to achieving affordable warmth. Heating systems providing heat in the 5-9c/kWh band include heat pumps, pellet burners and low emission wood burners.

Q. What do you want to see happen to make the Warm Home Standard a reality?

A. We believe that a working party involving community energy organisations, other community NGO's and government could sort out the details of a Warm Home Standard, and the measures to achieve it, relatively quickly. We believe that with government commitment, energy organisations and other parties will be enthusiastic partners to make it happen. This is a whole-of-government issue involving the health, welfare and energy sectors.