Clean air funding
Old, inefficient dirty fires and burners release fine particles of soot and chemicals into the air. This is a big component of air pollution and is a problem in many parts of New Zealand.
If you live in an area where the level of these particles is high (a polluted air shed) funding is available to help cover some of the costs of removing your inefficient open fire or non-compliant wood burner and to have efficient heating installed in its place.
What is an air shed?
An air shed is a defined area where air quality is monitored. A polluted air shed is where the air quality exceeds limits set by the National Environmental Standard for Air Quality.
Funding available in a polluted air shed
On top of the Warm Up New Zealand: Heat Smart grant for heating, you can get extra funding towards removing your inefficient open fire or wood burner, if you live in a polluted air shed. In total, you can get $1000 towards the costs of decomissioning your inefficent heater and installing a new, efficient heater in its place. If you have a Community Services Card, you can get a total of $2000.
Funding towards removing inefficient open fires and woodburners and the installation of efficient heating
| Funding available (all figures include GST) |
|
| Householders who have a Community Services Card | $2,000 |
| All other householders - including landlords (irrespective of tenants eligibility for a Community Services Card) |
$1,000 |
To be eligible your home must:
- be located in a polluted air shed; and
- have been built before the year 2000, and,
- have insulation to the required EECA standard,
- have an open fire or non-compliant burner decommissioned by the Service Provider when they install the new efficient heater in your primary living area.
Note: you cannot get clean air funding for decommissioning alone, your old fire or burner has to be replaced with an efficient heater as part of the process.
How do I know if I live in a polluted air shed?
Regional or District councils that have polluted airshed areas within their boundaries are listed below. For more information please contact the Council or follow one of their website links.
What new heating can I install?
There are four types of heating available once you have had your inefficient open fire or non-compliant wood burner removed:
- Approved wood burners;
- Approved pellet burners;
- Energy Star ® heat pumps; and
- 4-star AGA-rated flued gas heating.
Find out more about the approved heating options.
Who can I get the funding from?
To access the clean air funding simply contact an approved Service Provider(s) in your area. They can answer all of your questions and can provide you with a free no obligation assessment and quote.
What will removing my open fire or wood burner involve?
The removal of an open fire involves making sure that it can no longer be used as a fireplace - generally by permanently blocking off your chimney.
If you are having an insert wood burner installed, it involves having the appliance installed in the space where your fireplace was, and the wood burner flue going up your chimney.
