Make sure you compare like with like
When you get quotes for installing insulation or clean-heating devices - make sure you're comparing like with like.
There’s been exceptional interest in Warm Up New Zealand: Heat Smart, the government’s programme to insulate 180,000 homes over the next four years.
The programme offers various subsidies. But to get them you must use approved products installed by a provider registered with EECA (the government’s energy efficiency agency). The provider is required to come to your home, assess your insulation and heating, and provide a free quote. They must also install products using industry best-practice methods. EECA monitors the prices these providers charge and can take action if they’re too high.
Some non-registered providers have reportedly dropped their prices so they match the subsidised ones. If you get quotes from registered and non-registered suppliers, make sure they are for the same products, installed to the same standards - so you’re comparing apples with apples.
What subsidies are available?
- Homeowners and landlords: For homes built before 2000, 33 percent of the cost (up to $1300 GST-inclusive) of installing ceiling and under-floor insulation.
For houses where EECA has determined there’s adequate ceiling and under-floor insulation, a subsidy of $500 (GST-inclusive) is available for installing in the main living area a clean-heating device (approved wood or pellet burner, heat pump or flued gas heater). - Homeowners with a community services card: The insulation subsidy rises to 60 percent and the clean-heating subsidy increases to $1200. In some areas, local organisations may contribute additional funding.
- Landlords with tenants who have a community services card: The insulation subsidy is 60 percent and the subsidy for clean heating is $500.
Remember you must use approved products and registered providers for installation.
Our advice
- When comparing quotes make sure they’re for the same products, installed to the same standard.
- Use our insulation and heat-pump databases to compare products and prices.
More information
- Warm up New Zealand: Heat Smart: www.energywise.govt.nz
More from consumer.org.nz
- Insulation - insulation options, including a database of over 140 products
- Heat-pumps - guide to choosing a heat-pump, with a database of over 80 models
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I am with Jonathan, we have done some costing ourselves and have had some quotes, and it appears that the quotes that are coming in seem over the top. We are having someone else doing one next week as they did a installation for a friend and the price seems ok. Also if you have existing insulation in the roof this needs to be topped up to a new EECA standard this is where I believe the pencil does a big number as it is a stab toward the costs. I am just saying some think this is a getting rich scheme.
Beware of the difference between extruded and expanded polysytrene. The expanded is not a patch on the extruded.
What is the criteria for which insulation products are approved for use in this program? Surely if they're on the market in NZ then they should be approved anyway?
The underfloor insulation, for instance, appears to be EXPOL polystyrene (one polystyrene product is essentially equivalent to others, which aren't approved) or Cosy-foot pink batts (the most expensive product available for underfloor?)
If other installers can match or beat a price that includes a 33% discount, that almost ensures that either the "approved" product is overpriced, or the installation costs are overpriced!