Rating impact reduced as Clean Heat Project in Christchurch ends

After eight successful years and significant improvements in winter air quality in Christchurch, Environment Canterbury’s trailblazing Clean Heat Project will cease to operate in Christchurch from July 1, 2011.

Close to 19,000 Christchurch homeowners have worked with Environment Canterbury over these years and the improvements in air quality are clear to see and enjoy. Since Clean Heat began, the number of high pollution nights in a typical winter is a third of what it once was.

Commissioner David Bedford said that the proposal to wrap up the Clean Heat Project in Christchurch was clearly signalled some months ago.

“The Clean Heat Project delivered considerable improvements in the health of Christchurch people,” he said.

“However, it was an expensive programme and a review of its future effectiveness told us that it is no longer the most cost effective way of improving air quality in Christchurch, especially at a time when there are many competing financial demands on ratepayers.”

Commissioner Bedford said that Environment Canterbury will continue to promote ways of improving air quality so that Christchurch meets the National Standards for air quality. The Standards require that the number of high pollution nights in the city must fall to three by 2016 and to just one by 2020.

“Our focus will be on providing information to the public on how to use heating appliances in a way that minimises pollution, identifying new technologies that will help achieve air quality objectives and working with agencies that still provide financial incentives for cleaner heating.

“The funding available through Fletcher EQR’s Winter Heating Programme gives insured people with significantly damaged chimneys the option of installing cleaner heating and weatherproofing their roof instead of restoring their chimney. Environment Canterbury will continue to provide ongoing support to the recovery agencies in Christchurch and surrounds, especially where air quality is involved,” he said.

“We made the pragmatic decision in March not to take action where people have to use old heating to keep warm this winter because of the earthquakes, but our focus looking beyond this winter will be on education and enforcement of the rules. Incentives will still be widely and readily available through other channels to ensure the overall approach is a balanced one.”