Our Stories

Despite a nearly two months lockdown, CEA’s Curtain Bank managed to collect, resize, and hand out more than 12,000m2 in recycled curtains which would otherwise have ended up in landfill. Instead these curtains have been given a new lease on life in the homes of low income New Zealanders, keeping them warmer and healthier.

In 1995 our fledgling charity started an innovative project that hadn’t been seen in New Zealand before: A curtain recycling service resized and gave away donated curtains to low income households so they could keep their homes warmer. Now, 26 years later, we are helping hundreds of households a year with close to a thousand sets on the shelves to choose from.

CEA performed a Home Energy Check on the home of Kaiapoi resident Dyanne and installed subsidised insulation in her home, making a huge difference to her life.

Old venetian blinds on single glazed windows are hardly a recommended option when it comes to preventing heat loss through windows. But it was exactly what was in Sherona's house. Curtains from our Curtain Bank made all the difference to the health of her young family .

Renee and her partner Tim had been renting a house in Phillipstown for quite some years, when the landlord decided to sell. They were keen to stay in the beautiful old villa so they checked out options to buy their rental. They just managed to make that work but the house was cold and money tight.

Rochelle used to work for the Christchurch City Council when one day they had a seminar at work by one of CEA’s energy advisors. What she heard there made such an impression that as soon as she bought a house with her partner, they called in CEA to check on their new purchase.

Now we often hear stories of landlords not keeping their tenants warm but Danielle’s landlord installed insulation through CEA to keep her partner, who has asthma, healthy. And when the couple moved out because they had bought their own house, he advised them to get in touch with CEA to make sure their new house would be warm.