News

Eastland Community Trust Healthy Homes

The Eastland Community Trust (ECT) is proud to announce over 1,000 Gisborne and East Coast homes will soon be healthier and more energy-efficient, thanks to a new community partnership to which the ECT has contributed $500,000 per year for three years.

'Eastland Community Trust Healthy Homes' is run in conjunction with the separately funded Housing New Zealand Corporation’s housing programme, EnergyWise subsidies and grants, the national rental scheme and specialised local projects like the Tairawhiti DHB Heating Pilot.
 
The 'Eastland Community Trust Healthy Homes' scheme prioritises homes that were built before 1978 and where owners – who must live in the house - have a community services card and high health needs. The project aims to install 400 packages this year.
 
Under the programme, eligible Gisborne and East Coast residents can apply for a full subsidy Healthy Homes retrofit valued at around $3000, which includes a home energy check through to under-floor and ceiling insulation, hot water cylinder wrap and draught-stopping where necessary.
 
'Eastland Community Trust Healthy Homes' is the new face of a project that has been running since 2005. Although the old scheme installed over 430 energy-efficient packages around the district, local financial support could not keep up with demand, and the sustainability of the project was questioned.
 
Seeing the long-term benefits of the project, and realising the project needed to be community-driven and governed by local funding, ECT offered its support.  Without this local contribution the project would not be possible said Energy Options Charitable Company Executive Director Jo Hunt.
 
“ECT’s substantial contribution has been integral in setting up a local project that is sustainable. Deciding to be aligned with the project and provide the community with long-term benefits of energy-efficient homes is fantastic,” she said.
 
Providing health benefits to those who receive a healthy homes package has always been promoted, but the underlying objective from the beginning was to create local employment said Ms Hunt. A healthier and more energy-efficient home means fewer days off work and school, and fewer visits to the doctor.
 
“With an annual project budget of over $1.3 million, a project coordinator is now based in Gisborne, with a supervisor and two installation teams.
 
“Reaching some of the more remote areas posed some logistical nightmares with limited resources.  But now, with permanent local teams in place, the East Coast is a primary focus and we can start to get the balance right for the whole district more effectively,” said Ms Hunt
 
The Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority (EECA) projects, advertised throughout the country, show positive signs toward energy-efficient homes for the future.
'Eastland Community Trust Healthy Homes' hopes to continue the project past the three-year timeline and continue to contribute to a warmer, healthier energy-efficient community.
 
The ECT would like to acknowledge the financial contributions of the EECA, J.N. Williams Memorial Trust and the Eastern and Central Community Trust for this project. Gisborne District Council and Tairawhiti District Health Board also provide substantial in-kind support.