The Southland Warm Homes Trust (SWHT) celebrated 15 years of operation recently with an event at Awarua Synergy recognising the achievement with past and present stakeholders.
The Southland Power Trust and Electricity Invercargill Ltd established the SWHT in 2008 with the support and funding of several local Councils and Community organisations. Annual funding is provided by these organisations to the SWHT, which in conjunction with Government funding provided through the EECA (Energy Efficiency & Conservation Authority) Healthy Homes and Warmer Kiwi Homes initiatives, has enabled homes in Southland and parts of West Otago to receive subsidised home insulation or an efficient heating appliance.
The Southland Power Trust and Electricity Invercargill are the principal funding partners of the SWHT, while PowerNet provides the administration support to run the Trust.
Under the Warmer Kiwi Homes programme, with the additional support of the Trust’s funding, eligible homeowners can have up to 95% of their ceiling and underfloor insulation costs or a new efficient heating unit (heat pump or wood/pellet burner) subsidised. To be eligible, homes must have been built before 2008, and the homeowner (owner-occupier) must have a community services card or own and live in an area identified as low-income.
During the 15 years the partnership with the various stakeholders has been very successful, with over $18 million of Government funding raised and over 10,000 subsidised home insulation and heating appliance installations.
In addition to the EECA programme, SWHT and Awarua Synergy offer other subsidies of up to $2,000 for households with high health needs or situations of financial hardship to install insulation or an efficient heating unit.
