Sally Furniss
Well-known member
NZ population is 4.3 million
Poor insulation in NZ houses is causing 100s of deaths per year
860,000 houses across the country have no insulation causing dire health risks
Mon, 25 May 2009 9:12p.m.
Each winter hundreds of New Zealanders die from cold-related illnesses, many cases due to poorly insulated houses.
At least 860,000 houses across the country have little or no insulation, causing dire health risks in the wintery months.
The Jessup?s house has no insulation and the parents say it makes their children sick every year - especially their young son.
?He's three years old now and he's been in hospital ever year because he finds it hard to breath, especially during winter time cold days,? says Edelyn Jessup.
Phillipa Howden-Chapman is a leading researcher on the health effects of living in cold houses, she says children are especially at risk in a non-insulated house.
At low temperatures children?s lungs have to work a lot harder, she says.
Poorly insulated houses in New Zealand means many families around the country are living in a home below the temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation.
Ms Howden-Chapman says a house temperature of 18 to 21 degrees is the best for children, any lower and they face potential cardiac problems.
The Jessup?s have three oil heaters and spend $200 a month on power during winter, but still struggle to heat the house.
The family are finally having their house insulated this winter, fully funded by the Government?s Energywise programme.
The programme targets low and middle income earners and is overseen by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA).
It costs approximately $3000 to insulate a house and cuts monthly power bills by 25 percent
http://www.3news.co.nz/Poor-insulat...bid/817/articleID/105772/cat/526/Default.aspx
Poor insulation in NZ houses is causing 100s of deaths per year
860,000 houses across the country have no insulation causing dire health risks
Mon, 25 May 2009 9:12p.m.
Each winter hundreds of New Zealanders die from cold-related illnesses, many cases due to poorly insulated houses.
At least 860,000 houses across the country have little or no insulation, causing dire health risks in the wintery months.
The Jessup?s house has no insulation and the parents say it makes their children sick every year - especially their young son.
?He's three years old now and he's been in hospital ever year because he finds it hard to breath, especially during winter time cold days,? says Edelyn Jessup.
Phillipa Howden-Chapman is a leading researcher on the health effects of living in cold houses, she says children are especially at risk in a non-insulated house.
At low temperatures children?s lungs have to work a lot harder, she says.
Poorly insulated houses in New Zealand means many families around the country are living in a home below the temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation.
Ms Howden-Chapman says a house temperature of 18 to 21 degrees is the best for children, any lower and they face potential cardiac problems.
The Jessup?s have three oil heaters and spend $200 a month on power during winter, but still struggle to heat the house.
The family are finally having their house insulated this winter, fully funded by the Government?s Energywise programme.
The programme targets low and middle income earners and is overseen by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA).
It costs approximately $3000 to insulate a house and cuts monthly power bills by 25 percent
http://www.3news.co.nz/Poor-insulat...bid/817/articleID/105772/cat/526/Default.aspx
