Thermal insulation is “sound building”

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32657, 13 July 1971, Page 14

Thermal insulation is “sound building”

The Minister in Charge of the State Advances Corporation (Mr Rae) was asked in Parliament recently whether he would allow the corporation to extend its loan limits to meet higher costs when local authorities add to the requirements for building houses. The member for St Albans (Mr R. P. B. Drayton), who asked the question, mentioned the Waimairi County Council’s proposed by-law to ensure reasonable standards of thermal insulation in new houses. Mr Rae said he would not recommend any increase in loans to meet requirements “that “might be desirable, but are not essential to the “ construction of a soundly-built and sanitary house The corporation might well find some difficulty in satisfying the needs of borrowers who have to meet varying standards set by local authorities. But while this is a serviceable enough reason for the corporation’s not making special variations in loan limits, it is most disappointing to find Mr Rae dismissing insulation as no more than a “ desirable ” building practice. Insulation has been too long neglected in this country; and toe growing awareness of its importance in planning and building a sound and efficient house is to be welcomed. Hie Government has long resisted the idea of properly insulating State houses. If it persists in this policy while other builders do better, State housing will simply be regarded as substandard. In many parts of toe country the saving in fuel for heating is substantial when a building is properly constructed to reduce toe loss of heat This husbanding of resources—and particularly of electric power—should be enough to commend proper house insulation to toe State. If Mr Rae has correctly defined toe Government’s views on toe place of insulation in the country’s building practices it is high time those views were revised.