Tighter rules promise toastier homes

[MotherBear]

Tighter rules promise toastier homes
5:00AM Saturday June 28, 2008
By Eloise Gibson

New homes will be better protected from icy weather under tougher insulation rules being extended on Monday.

Changes to the building code requiring more insulation and, in most cases, double-glazed windows, will apply to all houses south of Auckland.

Builders in Auckland and Northland are already preparing for the changes, which will cover the whole country from October 30.

So how much will the changes cost?

The Government says the new rules add between $3000 and $5000 to the cost of building a house, which it says will be recovered in lower heating bills within seven years for a home in Auckland, six years in Wellington, four years in Christchurch and three years in Dunedin.

More here.