Rising demand for healthier homes
Katheren Leitner, Chief Executive of Asthma New Zealand, discusses the impact of rising respiratory health conditions and energy costs on our approach to building homes in Aotearoa.
Owning a home is part of the Kiwi dream. While the budget, size, location and aesthetics are key considerations, we often overlook the simpler, more vital role of a home – to provide an adequate shelter that supports our health.
In New Zealand, that vital role is not something to take for granted. “Around 53 per cent of our 1.8 million homes in Aotearoa are unhealthy,” says Katheren.
Unhealthy homes are burdening our health system due to chronic illnesses caused by dampness, cold and mould which are also present in newer homes without proper ventilation systems.
“Our health system is under considerable strain that will only increase as the population ages,” says Katheren. “There is an asthma attack every five minutes in New Zealand. While not everyone is directly impacted by chronic respiratory illness, the burden on our health system does impact everyone.
“Respiratory diseases cost New Zealand $6.7 billion per year. What if we could halve that number with healthier homes?” says Katheren, who also notes that long Covid and mould caused by recent flooding have increased the asthma numbers even further.
While affordability is often the top consideration for many home buyers, the price and interest rates are only part of the affordability picture. Rising energy costs are increasingly impacting our choices.
In 2022, the Government began a five-year phasing out of the maximum fixed charge on electricity plans for low users. What was a 30 cents daily charge in 2021 will be $1.80 by 2026. From 2027 power companies in New Zealand will no longer be required to offer customers a low daily fixed charge.
According to the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment, increasing wholesale electricity prices, changes in how transmission charges are calculated, general inflation, and the need for increased investment in our electricity network infrastructure are also set to increase the cost of energy in New Zealand.
Building smaller, more energy-efficient homes not only reduces power usage, it also improves our health. Katheren says, “We need to reconsider our priorities, build for health and sustainability and consider the cost to run and maintain our homes.
When it comes to buying an existing home, Katheren says it’s essential to factor the healthiness of the house into your total spend. There is currently no regulated way to assess the energy performance of the homes we buy, so we need to buy smarter. For example, pay attention to the glazing and window joinery. Ask about the insulation and the quality of the heating. “Ask to see the power bills from the vendors for the last six months,” says Katheren.
“Don’t maximise your budget on an unhealthy home. Keep some money aside to improve the thermal envelope before you spend on updating the kitchen, bathrooms and aesthetics.”
On the Asthma New Zealand series Healthy Homes A Kiwi Dream, Homestar builder Mike Bonne says it costs an extra 6 to 15 per cent to build a healthy home. Mike says the current Building Code standards would only reach a 3 or 4 Homestar rating and recommends at least a 6 Homestar rating for greater thermal comfort, improved health and energy efficiency.
There are ways to meet the higher standard without impacting the build budget. Building
a carport instead of an internal access garage which could be added later, reducing the spend on kitchens and bathrooms and building homes with fewer rooms are all options to consider. A smaller footprint without a second living room, guest bedroom or extra bathroom could be enough to ensure a healthy home within budget. “We need to ask the question, what is the minimum we need to give up to protect our health?” says Katheren.
For more information about making your home healthier, watch the Healthy Homes A Kiwi Dream series on the Asthma New Zealand website.
09 623 0236 | asthma.org.nz
