Warmer Kiwi Homes with Gree
29 July 2024
The Warmer Kiwi Homes program is a New Zealand government initiative designed to provide eligible homeowners with financial assistance to retrofit their homes with insulation and heating, making them warmer, healthier, and more energy-efficient. The program aims to improve the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders by reducing the number of cold, damp, and unhealthy homes.
To be eligible for the Warmer Kiwi Homes program, homeowners must meet certain criteria, including owning a home built before 2008, living in the home as their primary residence, and having a community services card or a high health needs card. The program covers up to 80% of the cost of ceiling and underfloor insulation, as well as a range of heating options such as heat pumps, wood burners, and pellet burners for the main living area (capped at $3,000 including GST).
The Warmer Kiwi Homes program is part of the New Zealand government's wider effort to address climate change, reduce energy consumption, and improve the health and wellbeing of its citizens. Since its launch in 2018, the program has helped thousands of New Zealanders improve the energy efficiency of their homes and reduce their carbon footprint.
The 10 Key Findings from the research undertaken by Motu about the Warmer Kiwi Homes (WKH) programme.
1. Increased Warmth and Comfort:
- 77% of households reported an increase in warmth in the living area during the first winter after installation.
- 87% reported an improvement in overall comfort.
2. Reduction in Condensation and Dampness:
- 89% of households noticed a reduction in condensation on living room windows.
- 47% reported a reduction in dampness in the living area.
3. Enhanced Satisfaction with Home:
- 81% of households felt more satisfied with their home after installing a heat pump.
4. Improved Heating Behaviour:
- 65%-71% of households reported a reduction in having to restrict their heating due to cost.
- Net 15% improvement in overall satisfaction with life, despite other factors like lockdowns.
5. Sustained Warmth:
- 77% of heat pump recipients reported a warmer house in both the first and second winters.
6. Indoor Environmental Quality:
- Average living area temperature increased by 1.1°C during the first winter compared to homes without heat pumps.
- Indoor temperature gains peaked at 1.9°C when outdoor temperatures were at 0°C.
- Greatest temperature gains were observed at breakfast time (1.6°C) and dinner/evening time (1.2°C).
7. Humidity and Air Quality:
- Heat pumps significantly reduced indoor relative humidity and CO2 levels.
8. Summer Cooling:
- Homes using heat pumps as air conditioners during summer recorded lower indoor temperatures, especially between 6-7pm.
9. Electricity Use:
- Winter electricity use dropped by an estimated 16% in homes with heat pumps.
- Electricity savings peaked during the day, particularly between 5-9pm, without significant increases in summer consumption.
10. Programme Satisfaction:
- 86% of households were very happy or happy with the WKH subsidy program.
- 85% reported that the heat pump met or exceeded their expectations.
- 93% felt that the heat pump was the right choice for their home.
Are you eligible? Visit Warmer Kiwi Homes Programme Website
Approved Gree Heat Pumps:
| Cooling - Heating Capacity | Series | Retail Model No. |
| 3.5-4.0 | Gree Weka WiFi Hiwall | GWH12AGCXD-K6DNA1A |
| 5.0-5.6 | Gree Weka WiFi Hiwall | GWH18AGDXE-K6DNA1A |
| 6.0-7.4 | Gree Weka WiFi Hiwall | GWH21AGEXF-K6DNA1A |
| 7.0-8.0 | Gree Weka WiFi Hiwall | GWH24AGEXF-K6DNA1A |
| 8.0-9.0 | Gree Weka WiFi Hiwall | GWH28AGEXH-K6DNA1A |
