The case for policy changes in New Zealand housing standards due to cooling and climate change

ABSTRACT Research concerned with energy and housing in NZ has been focusing on the cost-effectiveness of maintaining warmth. Studies have concentrated on heat loss from houses and the efficiency of heating systems. One of the consequences of this has been Government subsidies for insulation and heat pump installations to reduce energy consumption in winter months. This has led to a significant growth in the heat pump market. Research indicates that these devices are not significantly decreasing the demand for electricity in winter. Of greater concern is that there is an increase in demand for electricity for cooling purposes which introduces a new and significant electrical load in the summer. This paper will analyse the research currently being undertaken on the long-term impact of both climate change and energy depletion and the consequences for Building Code standards and ‘sustainability’ rating tools for housing. The paper concludes that policy should be directed at long-lasting improvements to the fabric of houses rather than subsidizing short-lived equipment that not only increases electricity consumption, but also does not allow the human body the ability to adapt over time to the predicted increased average temperatures in New Zealand