$5000 extra for hot homes
5:00AM Friday May 04, 2007
By Angela Gregory
Builders will have to conform to far more stringent regulations in the future.
Insulation rules for new homes will add up to $5000 to the cost of a house - but the Government says that will be offset by savings on power bills.
From November new houses in the South Island and the North Island's Central Plateau will need more insulation and double-glazing.
Improvements to house insulation in most of the North Island will take effect in July next year and in Auckland and Northland from October next year.
Prime Minister Helen Clark yesterday announced the new building code requirements which aimed to make homes more energy-efficient. New homes and major extensions to existing homes would need to use about 30 per cent less heating energy to achieve the same indoor temperatures.
The code was performance-based so home-owners would be able to choose the insulation and design features that best suited their needs. Window double-glazing would be necessary in most cases, but it would be possible to retain single-glazed windows in warmer climates provided attention was given to house orientation, window size and design features.
Improved efficiency of lighting in new and refitted commercial buildings would also be required. Helen Clark said home-owners would benefit from warmer and drier houses.
The Government was also simplifying the compliance procedures for the installation of solar hot water systems which would lower the cost by about 10 per cent, or $500.
More
here .