| • | More than 70 per cent of Taranaki homes are not insulated properly – or at all. That equates to between 25,000 and 29,000 homes* |
| • | In an un-insulated home, up to 88 per cent of the heat generated is lost (see details below) |
| • | Other developed countries with colder climates such as Sweden, North America, the UK and Japan have warmer homes than New Zealand |
| • | Our cold, damp homes mean we have a higher seasonal mortality rate than other countries with colder climates (8.1 per thousand people) |
| • | One in four Taranaki children suffer from Asthma –one of the
highest rates in the world |
| • | Approximately 1,400 school days are lost each year in Taranaki from Asthma** |
| • | The indirect cost of Asthma and other respiratory illnesses including days off work, loss of healthy life due to disability and premature death is approximately $17.5 million*** |
| • | The Taranaki community spends $34 million on domestic energy each year* |
| • | By having a properly insulated home, families can save up to $500 per year on heating costs – and thousands in GP or hospital visits, or days off work or school |
42% is lost through the roof
24% is lost through the walls
12% is lost through open chimneys and drafts
10% is lost through the floor
“Retro-fitting insulation in houses leads to a reduction in colds,
flu and respiratory symptoms, less time off work and school,
and fewer doctor and hospital visits.”
Dr. Philipa Howden Chapman, Associate Professor
Wellington School of Medicine.