100 local homeowners eligible for free insulation
Counties Energy will insulate 100 local homes for free this year, under a Warmer Kiwi Homes scheme.
In partnership with the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA), Counties Energy is looking for low-income homeowners to support with free insulation.
The insulation will be done by South Auckland company GreenSide Energy Solutions and includes ceiling and underfloor insulation, where appropriate.
It's the second time Counties Energy, Greenside Energy and the EECA have linked up. In 2020, they insulated 43 homes across Pukekohe, Waiuku, Tuakau, Port Waikato, Drury and southern Papakura - all for free.
Counties Energy Chief Executive Judy Nicholl said the partnership is about keeping families healthy, and reducing their energy bills.
"As your local lines company, tackling energy hardship in our region is extremely important to us, with this initiative just one of the ways we’re helping our local families stay warm and reduce their energy bills.
"If you know of a low-income owner occupier whose home was built before 2008 and needs insulation, please encourage them to apply for this wonderful initiative."
New Zealand homes are often colder than international indoor temperature standards - the World Health Organisation said houses ought to be 18 to 20 degrees Celsius.
"Cold, damp air affects respiratory health, promotes mould growth and supports the survival of viruses. It is particularly important to have a warm home to protect lung health and to prevent hospital admissions for asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, cardiovascular disease and rheumatic fever," Nicholl said.
To find out more about the programme, click the Read More button below.
Best way to use leftovers?
I'm sure you've got some excess ham at home or cold roast potatoes.
What are some of your favourite ways to use leftover food from Christmas day? Share below.
⚠️ DOGS DIE IN HOT CARS. If you love them, don't leave them. ⚠️
It's a message we share time and time again, and this year, we're calling on you to help us spread that message further.
Did you know that calls to SPCA about dogs left inside hot cars made up a whopping 11% of all welfare calls last summer? This is a completely preventable issue, and one which is causing hundreds of dogs (often loved pets) to suffer.
Here are some quick facts to share with the dog owners in your life:
👉 The temperature inside a car can heat to over 50°C in less than 15 minutes.
👉 Parking in the shade and cracking windows does little to help on a warm day. Dogs rely on panting to keep cool, which they can't do in a hot car.
👉 This puts dogs at a high risk of heatstroke - a serious condition for dogs, with a mortality rate between 39%-50%.
👉 It is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act to leave a dog in a hot vehicle if they are showing signs of heat stress. You can be fined, and prosecuted.
SPCA has created downloadable resources to help you spread the message even further. Posters, a flyer, and a social media tile can be downloaded from our website here: www.spca.nz...
We encourage you to use these - and ask your local businesses to display the posters if they can. Flyers can be kept in your car and handed out as needed.
This is a community problem, and one we cannot solve alone. Help us to prevent more tragedies this summer by sharing this post.
On behalf of the animals - thank you ❤️