Source: Environment Canterbury Regional Council
Financial help is available to replace log burners with new, cleaner forms of heating as thousands of wood burners around Canterbury are set to expire by the end of 2027.
When Lorraine and Gerald Brown discovered they had to replace the log burner that had kept their west Christchurch home cosy and warm for the past 15 years, they weren’t sure how they were going to pay for a replacement.
But through a home heating subsidy programme, they’ve secured a new ultra-low emission burner (ULEB) for free. Not only has it halved their heating costs, but they’ve had to take the electric blanket off the bed.
Subsidies making better heating more affordable
To reduce home heating emissions and improve air quality, low-emission wood burners are being phased out in Christchurch, Rangiora, Kaiapoi, Ashburton and Timaru, under the Canterbury Air Regional Plan. As existing log burners expire, homeowners are encouraged to replace them with either a heat pump or ULEB.
“We were gutted when we realised we had to take out our old fire,” Lorraine said.
Thankfully, like many other Cantabrians, the couple were eligible to have their expired wood burner replaced with a ULEB, pellet fire or heat pumps. Through the subsidy scheme, homeowners with an expired burner who are either a Community Services Card or SuperGold Combo card holder, or who live in an eligible Social Deprivation Index area 8-10 are eligible for the subsidy.
“The process was the easiest thing we’ve ever done,” Lorraine says of getting in touch with Community Energy Action (CEA), which organised site visits to assess the home’s existing heating and insulation, providing recommendations based on size and layout. “We barely had to do a thing!”
They were rapt to find out their new ULEB would be supplied and installed at no cost. The couple’s existing insulation they had previously installed themselves was still in great condition and didn’t need replacing. However, they were able to access CEA’s curtain bank, a service where good quality, lined curtains that have been donated and are adjusted to fit, are provided to help people create a warmer, more energy-efficient home.
“Both my husband and I were thrilled with the fire and the process.”
Cleaner heat options warm up winter
Lorraine and Gerald were pleasantly surprised by the amount of heat produced by their new, efficient burner. “We got it in our heads that the new fire wouldn’t be nearly as hot. Boy, were we wrong!” Lorraine says.
“We are delighted with the new fire and the huge amount of heat it throws out. We can’t keep the internal doors shut with the fire going anymore. It’s so warm in here we have to open the house up to let the heat circulate. We’ve even taken the electric blankets off the bed.”
The best part? All that efficiency means the couple are using half as much wood and their new fire creates significantly less ash, which means less cleaning the fire out. “We used to go through eight blocks of wood in a night – we’re now down to four,” Gerald says.
“Our old fire was really big and really pumped out the heat, but this is just so much better!”
Team Leader Northern Compliance, Brian Reeves says modern woodburners produce significantly more heat with less fuel. “This makes modern woodburners more efficient, converting much more of the fuel energy into heat in the room,” he explains.
Importantly, he adds, they are designed to burn much more cleanly than older models, and can help to reduce harmful air pollution in our cities.
Financial assistance to get cleaner heating options
Replacing old wood burners with new, cleaner forms of heating can be a costly exercise at a time when simply making ends meet is front of mind for many.
However, the transition is easier and more affordable, with home heating subsidies available to help low-income households living in Clean Air Zones transition to cleaner forms of heating and further improve air quality. Those who meet the eligibility criteria can get up to 100 per cent of the cost of a replacement ULEB or efficient heat pump.
If you have any questions, contact our advisory team on 0800 324 636.
Alternatively, if you don’t meet the eligibility criteria, you may be able to get a loan from your bank or retailer. Some banks allow you to add the cost of home heating appliances to your mortgage without additional fees, while some retailers offer interest-free loans for a certain period. We encourage you to investigate these options.
