12. RUSSELL FAIRBROTHER (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister for Building and Construction
What measures have been proposed to improve the energy efficiency of new homes?
Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE (Minister for Building and Construction) Link to this
Changes to the building code and to compliance documents will make new homes warmer, drier, healthier, cheaper to run, and ultimately worth more in capital value. Tougher insulation requirements, including double glazing in most areas, will result in new homes using 30 percent less energy to achieve healthy average indoor-air temperatures. Homeowners will save between $760 and $1,800 per year on average, which will allow for reduced power and gas bills, thus quickly making up for additional upfront costs of between $3,000 to $5,000, on average. New rules making it easier to install solar water heating systems will cut the cost of installation by as much as $500. These are the most significant steps in improvements in energy efficiency for new homes for 30 years.
Russell Fairbrother Link to this
Has there been any response to these proposals; if so, what are they?
Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE Link to this
The New Zealand Herald columnist Colin James stated of the policies: “… energy efficiency measures for buildings … were significant and timely.” The New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable—
Hon Bill English
Madam SPEAKERThe member will please leave the Chamber. We are hearing this in silence. The member’s answers are long. They were not pejorative; they were just long. I am sorry about that. Would the Minister please continue, but remember that answers have to be succinct. He is not giving a speech.
Gerry BrownleeI raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I would ask you to reconsider your decision there. Mr English is the acting Leader of the Opposition in the House today. That is one very significant point. Secondly, the answers that have been given by Clayton Cosgrove are extremely provocative, and the House has to express some sort of view when he tries to say that his energy efficiency moves are widely accepted and then starts quoting Colin James, a political columnist, as though he were some form of expert. Of course that will get some sort of mild response. But I do think the fact that Mr English is in the role of acting Leader of the Opposition today should be considered in this matter.
I think that is a fair point. I have been listening to the Minister’s answer, which is why I have cut him off before when he does in fact make pejorative comments that, quite legitimately, will get a response. Will the Minister please succinctly address the question. In respect of the fact of the position that the acting Leader of the Opposition has, he may remain.
Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE Link to this
The New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development “congratulated” the Government and stated the changes “are a great step towards healthier homes and offices, which, while they might cost more initially, will cost less to run and have the potential to cut hundreds of millions of dollars off the nation’s health bill”. Finally, the Green Building Council states the changes are “encouraging” and “will benefit both users and our environment in the longer term”.