Defence of by-law on home insulation

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32660, 16 July 1971, Page 10

Defence of by-law on home insulation

A claim by the Master Builders’ Federation that the Waimairi County Council’s new by-law on the insulation of houses would add at least $220 to the cost of the average home was denied by the County Engineer (Mr A. J. W. Lamb) at a meeting of the council last evening.

"This is a stop-gap by-law that does not impose very hard standards,” he said. “Its standards are less than those in Britain. If a builder just meets the bare requirements of the by-law, the cost of insulation would be no more than $l5O. “Builders could exceed the minimum requirements and spend more money, but the more money, the better the insulation.” Referring to a request from the Standards Association for consultations before the bylaw was applied, Mr Lamb said the council’s proposals were the first considerable variation from the standard building by-law. It was a question for the council to determine urgency. It would be two or three years before the association produced a standard by-law, but the council felt the need to do something about clean air, especially in view of the pending development to the north and east of the county. While he felt there should

be consultation with the association, it was a question of time and if the council wanted action now, the bylaw was the answer. Building could start at Inwoods Road about the end of the year. Consultations with the association was the way if there was no hurry.

‘This is a glorious opportunity to reduce air pollution and we must start with new homes,” said Cr A. A. Adcock. The chairman (Mr D. B. Rich) said the association was well aware of the problem and he wondered at the effect of pressure on the association. It would not be the first time the council had pioneered something.

Mr Rich said that the Minister of Housing (Mr Rae) had said in the House of Representatives that the Government had no intention of making an allowance in State Advances loans for insulation costs.

“If the Minister is saying that costs will be minimal, he is agreeing with us but if he is saying he has no intention of helping insulation to reduce air pollution that is another matter,” said Mr Rich. “We should be unanimous in our determination to put this by-law through. Any extra costs will very rapidly be absorbed on savings in heating costs." The council agreed to operate the by-law, as proposed, from November 1, and on the motion of Cr I. Calvert, it was agreed to ask the Minister to ensure that extra loan money was made available where compliance with the by-law is required.