Warmer Healthier Homes: Making a Difference in Our Community

The Nelson City Council is proud to announce the remarkable progress of the Warmer Healthier Homes publicity campaign. This initiative is making a significant impact by assisting low-income families in installing insulation, thereby ensuring that homes in Nelson, Marlborough, and Tasman are warmer, drier, and healthier.

The Warmer Healthier Homes programme works in collaboration with the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) through the Warmer Kiwi Homes Project, ensuring that more families can benefit from warmer, drier homes. For the year commencing 1 July 2023, the Nelson City Council has committed $55,577 to further support this initiative. This funding underscores the Council’s dedication to improving living conditions and promoting health and well-being in our community.

Key Highlights
331 properties insulated across Te Tauihu from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024
3,549 properties occupied across Te Tauihu have been insulated since the project’s inception in 2014
1,713 properties insulated in Nelson since the project’s inception
The programme is funded by EECA, which in 2024 increased its funding from 80% to 90% for homeowners with Community Service Cards and added 80% funding for homes in deprivation area 7. Some of these neighbourhoods might include parts of Victory, Washington Valley, and Toi Toi. The local trust supported by Council top-up the remaining amount providing a funding of up to 100% of the cost.

Campaign Success

This year, the number of homes insulated is over 20% higher than the previous year, thanks to a successful publicity campaign initiated by the Nelson City Council. The campaign featured a video explaining the criteria and a letter sent to eligible homes, signed by the Mayor, which included a QR code linking to the video. This targeted marketing approach was also rolled out to Tasman and Marlborough, significantly boosting the number of homes insulated.

The campaign’s videos, featured on the Nelson City Council Facebook page, reached over 16,000 views, demonstrating strong community engagement and interest. As a direct result of the campaign, 95 homes were assessed in August alone.

If you are looking to get 100% cover, this is possible thanks to the Warmer Healthier Homes Te Tauihu Charitable Trust, which covers the gap funding provided by EECA. They have selected Absolute Energy as their preferred supplier.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the Warmer Healthier Homes project, homeowners must meet the following criteria:
Permanently occupy the home.
The home was built before 2008.
The home does not have adequate insulation.
The homeowner has a Community Services Card or SuperGold combo card, or the home is in a lower-income area.
Check your eligibility for the EECA grant here.

For more information, visit Nelson City Council’s Climate Action page.

By working together, we are making a tangible difference in the lives of many families, ensuring that everyone has access to a warm and healthy home.