Community Energy Action Charitable Trust has various subsidies for heating or insulating your home with higher levels of assistance for Community Services Card holders especially those with health conditions, elderly and those with a young child. Please phone them on (03) 374 7222 or 0800 GET WARM (0800 438 9276 ).
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) administers the government’s solar finance assistance programme which offers assistance with the cost of solar water heating installations. Landlords can now also get subsidies of up to 55 per cent for insulation and other energy efficiency measures for rental properties built before 1978 and occupied by low income tenants. For more information, phone 0800 358 676 .
Determining if your existing fire is clean air approved
For detailed information please refer to ECan’s approved heating options. There are a number of things which are considered, such as the area you live in could mean different rules around approved woodburners and the year that the logburner was installed.
View the CleanHeat website for other useful information.
The rule regarding the phase out of older style log burners is Rule AQL11
Non-complying enclosed burners older than 15 years from 1 January 2008 in the Christchurch Clean Air Zone 1 - prohibited activity for which no resource consent shall be granted.
Except where permitted by Rules AQL2, AQL3 or AQL8, the discharge of contaminants to air in the Christchurch Clean Air Zone 1 from the burning of any solid fuel in any enclosed burner after the latter of the following dates:
1 January 2008 or 15 years following the date of its first installation, as recorded by the relevant building permit or building consent.
Is a prohibited activity for which no resource consent shall be granted.
Provided that, if no building consent or permit to install the device was issued, or if such a consent or permit was issued but specifies no date of installation, then the date upon which discharge of contaminants becomes a prohibited activity under this rule is 1 January 2008.
For more information on this rule contact Environment Canterbury.
Chimney or flue height requirements when installing a fire or logburner
Appliances to be installed within Christchurch and Banks Peninsula must first be approved by Environment Canterbury. Please visit the Environment Canterbury website for a list of approved appliances.
Solid/liquid fuel heaters are required to be installed as per the appliance manufacturer's instructions and Environment Canterbury (ECan) rules and with the appropriate standard that they have been tested to i.e. AS/NZ 2918:2001 for domestic solid fuel burning appliance installation.
The minimum flue heights specified in AS/NZ 2918 (for solid fuel heaters) or the manufacturers’ installation instructions may be insufficient if combustion problems and smoke or odour nuisance are to be avoided. The presence of adjacent tall trees or buildings may mean that an even greater flue height is needed.
In addition to these requirements, chimneys installed after 1 January 2003 are subject to Environment Canterbury's Proposed Canterbury Natural Resources Plan rules relating to chimney height, location and performance. Applicants should seek advice from Environment Canterbury on those requirements before proceeding with a chimney installation.
Clean heat and insulation programmes and associated funding
The Christchurch City Council Building Control Team are responsible for the safety of heating appliance installations as required by Building Consent.
Clean heat and insulation programmes and associated funding schemes are administered by the Canterbury Regional Council (ECan) and the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA).
For more information visit the ECan website and the EECA website.
