What’s happening Nationally
The Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority is launching the - Home Energy Rating Scheme. For more detail on this go to www.eeca.govt.nz
The following has been quoted from this website.
“The Home Energy Rating Scheme (HERS) is currently being developed to make New Zealanders aware of the energy performance of their houses. The scheme will make the right information available to enable people to make informed choices about what they want from their homes. HERS will be launched on a voluntary basis in December 2007.”
What is a HERS?
“Similar to star rating on appliances -HERS will be applied to homes in a similar way to the star rating that is currently seen on appliances. An accredited assessor will inspect the home to look at its energy performance over a range of criteria. Using an energy rating tool, the home will be given a home energy rating that reflects its performance. “
“We have too many old, cold homes - Insulation only became mandatory for New Zealand homes in 1977 – as a result we have over 300,000 homes that are old, cold and poorly insulated, and our houses compare poorly against other countries in the OECD.”
“New Zealand also has one of highest rates of asthma in world – cold, damp homes are a contributor.”
EAC was one of the first companies trained to have assessors accredited to the scheme. The trial was launched in December and will be further publicised April / May 2008