* . *
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
Friday, October 3, 2025
Earth-News
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    Toni Braxton Is Turning Her Biggest Hits Into Lifetime Movies – Yahoo

    Toni Braxton Is Turning Her Biggest Hits Into Lifetime Movies – Yahoo

    Major airline to offer new in-flight entertainment options for passengers – PennLive.com

    Major airline to offer new in-flight entertainment options for passengers – PennLive.com

    Penn State-Themed Restaurant and Entertainment Spot Happy Valley Live Set to Open in State College – StateCollege.com

    Penn State-Themed Restaurant and Entertainment Spot Happy Valley Live Set to Open in State College – StateCollege.com

    The Police Made Chart History With This 1979 Hit Nearly 50 Years Ago – Yahoo

    How The Police Changed Music Forever with Their Iconic 1979 Hit Nearly 50 Years Ago

    Good Deed Entertainment Acquires Worldwide Rights To Liza Mandelup’s Documentary ‘Caterpillar’ – Deadline

    Good Deed Entertainment Lands Global Rights to Liza Mandelup’s Captivating Documentary ‘Caterpillar

    Danielle Fishel Explains Why Being on “DWTS” Makes Her Feel ‘Like It’s 1994 Again’ Filming “Boy Meets World” (Exclusive) – Yahoo

    Danielle Fishel Explains Why Being on “DWTS” Makes Her Feel ‘Like It’s 1994 Again’ Filming “Boy Meets World” (Exclusive) – Yahoo

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    Technology Is Becoming More Important Than Humans In CX – No Jitter

    Technology Is Becoming More Important Than Humans In CX – No Jitter

    A Tech Expo Shows What China Can Make, but Not Who’ll Buy It All – The New York Times

    Inside China’s Tech Expo: Cutting-Edge Innovations Face Uncertain Demand

    Steampunk Metal Oval Technology Sense Sunglasses Personality Handmade Chain Multicolor Sunglasses UV400 – The San Joaquin Valley Sun

    Steampunk Metal Oval Sunglasses with Handmade Multicolor Chain – Bold UV400 Protection and Unique Style

    STELLA Automotive AI Appoints Fred Seidelman as Chief Technology Officer – Yahoo Finance

    STELLA Automotive AI Appoints Fred Seidelman as New Chief Technology Officer

    Saving Energy and Money with Smart Technology – Terms of Service with Clare Duffy – Podcast on CNN Podcasts – CNN

    Saving Energy and Money with Smart Technology – Terms of Service with Clare Duffy – Podcast on CNN Podcasts – CNN

    Four Strategic Signals Technology Leaders Are Tuning In To – SPONSOR CONTENT FROM ARM – Harvard Business Review

    Four Essential Strategic Signals Every Technology Leader Should Watch

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    Toni Braxton Is Turning Her Biggest Hits Into Lifetime Movies – Yahoo

    Toni Braxton Is Turning Her Biggest Hits Into Lifetime Movies – Yahoo

    Major airline to offer new in-flight entertainment options for passengers – PennLive.com

    Major airline to offer new in-flight entertainment options for passengers – PennLive.com

    Penn State-Themed Restaurant and Entertainment Spot Happy Valley Live Set to Open in State College – StateCollege.com

    Penn State-Themed Restaurant and Entertainment Spot Happy Valley Live Set to Open in State College – StateCollege.com

    The Police Made Chart History With This 1979 Hit Nearly 50 Years Ago – Yahoo

    How The Police Changed Music Forever with Their Iconic 1979 Hit Nearly 50 Years Ago

    Good Deed Entertainment Acquires Worldwide Rights To Liza Mandelup’s Documentary ‘Caterpillar’ – Deadline

    Good Deed Entertainment Lands Global Rights to Liza Mandelup’s Captivating Documentary ‘Caterpillar

    Danielle Fishel Explains Why Being on “DWTS” Makes Her Feel ‘Like It’s 1994 Again’ Filming “Boy Meets World” (Exclusive) – Yahoo

    Danielle Fishel Explains Why Being on “DWTS” Makes Her Feel ‘Like It’s 1994 Again’ Filming “Boy Meets World” (Exclusive) – Yahoo

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    Technology Is Becoming More Important Than Humans In CX – No Jitter

    Technology Is Becoming More Important Than Humans In CX – No Jitter

    A Tech Expo Shows What China Can Make, but Not Who’ll Buy It All – The New York Times

    Inside China’s Tech Expo: Cutting-Edge Innovations Face Uncertain Demand

    Steampunk Metal Oval Technology Sense Sunglasses Personality Handmade Chain Multicolor Sunglasses UV400 – The San Joaquin Valley Sun

    Steampunk Metal Oval Sunglasses with Handmade Multicolor Chain – Bold UV400 Protection and Unique Style

    STELLA Automotive AI Appoints Fred Seidelman as Chief Technology Officer – Yahoo Finance

    STELLA Automotive AI Appoints Fred Seidelman as New Chief Technology Officer

    Saving Energy and Money with Smart Technology – Terms of Service with Clare Duffy – Podcast on CNN Podcasts – CNN

    Saving Energy and Money with Smart Technology – Terms of Service with Clare Duffy – Podcast on CNN Podcasts – CNN

    Four Strategic Signals Technology Leaders Are Tuning In To – SPONSOR CONTENT FROM ARM – Harvard Business Review

    Four Essential Strategic Signals Every Technology Leader Should Watch

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
Earth-News
No Result
View All Result
Home Business

Government considers rolling back insulation standards

July 16, 2024
in Business
Government considers rolling back insulation standards
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Man installing thermal roof insulation layer using mineral wool panels.

Photo: 123rf

Building and construction minister Chris Penk wants to roll back insulation standards that save a new home an estimated 40 percent on heating.

Upgrades to insulation and glazing requirements in May 2023 were the first significant improvements to insulation standards in New Zealand in more than a decade.

According to correspondence released to RNZ under the Official Information Act, government experts told Penk the old standards were “significantly lower” than other countries with similar climates, including relevant parts of Australia, the UK, Ireland, and the US.

They told him upgrades had overwhelming support from the public and the building sector when they were brought in – and they reduced heating requirements in a new, four-bedroom home by up to 40 percent, at an estimated upfront cost increase of up to 2.8 percent.

This did not persuade Penk, who told officials he had heard from builders and developers in Tauranga and the rest of Bay of Plenty that the standard, known as H1, added $40,000- 50,000 cost to a new home and created overheating issues.

Chris Penk

Chris Penk is not convinced by upgrades to the insulation standards rolled out last year.
Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Urgent investigation called for

Asked about wanting to roll back H1, Penk sent a statement to RNZ saying he had asked MBIE to “urgently investigate” the cost of the changes.

“Builders frequently raise concerns with me over the new requirements within clause H1 of the Building Code that they say are adding tens of thousands of dollars onto the cost of a home. There are also frequent reports of moisture and overheating issues that are leading to increased energy usage making the requirements counter-productive,” he said.

“In the middle of a housing crisis, while Kiwis are still living in cars and emergency accommodation such as motels, it is critical that we don’t create artificial barriers through well intended but badly implemented policies.”

RNZ understands there were discussions with the industry about less drastic changes that might have addressed some of the issues builders were raising. It’s not clear from the emails how these were resolved.

But in an email to Penk on 24 May officials at the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) said they would begin work to undo changes to the H1 part of the Building Code.

Penk had told them by email that while he agreed with concerns that changing the system too much would lead to uncertainty for the building sector, he had decided returning the Building Code to a “known prior state is the lightest possible touch in terms of making change….I am keen to move forward in any case”.

Industry views

Before the change was introduced, 99 percent of public submissions during consultation supported raising insulation standards.

When the changes were brought in, H1 had endorsement from the Master and Certified Builders Associations, the Insulation Association, the Institute of Architects, the Wood Processing and Manufacturers’ Association, the National Association of Steel-framed Housing, Concrete New Zealand, the Window and Glass Association, BRANZ, the Green Building Council, and the Building Advisory Panel, MBIE told the minister.

Consultants at BRANZ and Beca had calculated the heating and cooling benefits of the changes.

As well as reducing heating requirements in new homes by 40 percent, the department estimated the H1 changes reduced the energy needed to heat and cool larger commercial buildings by 23 percent on average.

However, once the changes were implemented, MBIE received a large number of unprompted complaints in a building sector survey asking how MBIE could support the sector.

Complaints included that homes were now too warm and owners were having to run air conditioning in winter, that the upgrades had added $35,000 cost to a four-bedroom home, that the changes were adding 6-7 percent to building costs, that many architects or designers did not understand them properly, and that the H1 changes were “excessive” or, according to one respondent, “based on fanciful ideas of environmentalist and greedy suppliers”.

Penk’s email said builders and developers had complained to him when he visited them in Tauranga and Bay of Plenty.

He also cited an unnamed “gentleman who does building inspection work on contract… [who] says that he can quantify the additional energy needing to be expended to cool homes that are too warm (as compared with and weighed against the warming of homes that are too cool, of course)”.

A spokesperson for the minister said there had been discussions with the person about getting these figures, but MBIE also needed to “do a proper formal look into how H1 is working in the real world which is what the minister has asked for”.

One of the other complainants Penk cited in his email to officials was from a representative of Fletcher Building, who had raised issues about ventilation.

Earlier this year, Fletcher Residential and Development chief executive Steve Evens told RNZ overheating could be a an issue in new homes, if homes weren’t designed properly.

He also said the new insulation standards were going well, and the added wall insulation and other improvements required were providing “significant” benefits to people by keeping out cold and damp.

RNZ has approached the company for comment.

>>> Read full article>>>
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : RNZ – https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/522288/government-considers-rolling-back-insulation-standards

Tags: businessConsidersgovernment
Previous Post

Coal boss says demand from steel sector will continue through to 2050

Next Post

Retailers see impact of more officers on patrol in Auckland CBD

HIV pioneer Dr. William Valenti retires, leaving lasting impact on health community – 13wham.com

HIV Pioneer Dr. William Valenti Retires, Leaving a Lasting Legacy in the Health Community

October 3, 2025
As the shutdown drags on, the threat of permanent cuts is mired in politics – NPR

As the Shutdown Continues, the Risk of Lasting Cuts Grows Amid Political Stalemate

October 3, 2025
West Seattle Ecology Fair 2025, report #2: Heat waves aren’t just a source of discomfort – West Seattle Blog…

West Seattle Ecology Fair 2025: Uncovering the Hidden Impacts of Heat Waves Beyond Our Comfort

October 3, 2025
Roam The Huntington after dark at an atmospheric ‘Strange Science’ night – NBC Los Angeles

Uncover the Secrets of The Huntington After Dark at the Enchanting ‘Strange Science’ Night

October 3, 2025
Viral apple cider vinegar weight loss study retracted for flawed science – ScienceDaily

Viral apple cider vinegar weight loss study retracted for flawed science – ScienceDaily

October 3, 2025
A love letter to the garden – The Inquirer and Mirror

A Heartfelt Ode to the Garden: Celebrating Nature’s Timeless Beauty

October 3, 2025
Technology Is Becoming More Important Than Humans In CX – No Jitter

Technology Is Becoming More Important Than Humans In CX – No Jitter

October 3, 2025
NFL Power Rankings, Week 5: Rodgers, Steelers surge into top 10; Ravens in free fall – CBS Sports

NFL Power Rankings, Week 5: Rodgers, Steelers surge into top 10; Ravens in free fall – CBS Sports

October 2, 2025
Alabama man earns world record for 3-foot, 6-inch beard locks – upi.com

Alabama man earns world record for 3-foot, 6-inch beard locks – upi.com

October 2, 2025
How Trump could use a government shutdown to turbocharge his economic agenda – Yahoo Finance

How Trump could use a government shutdown to turbocharge his economic agenda – Yahoo Finance

October 2, 2025

Categories

Archives

October 2025
M T W T F S S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  
« Sep    
Earth-News.info

The Earth News is an independent English-language daily published Website from all around the World News

Browse by Category

  • Business (20,132)
  • Ecology (848)
  • Economy (868)
  • Entertainment (21,742)
  • General (17,377)
  • Health (9,912)
  • Lifestyle (881)
  • News (22,149)
  • People (870)
  • Politics (880)
  • Science (16,079)
  • Sports (21,369)
  • Technology (15,852)
  • World (851)

Recent News

HIV pioneer Dr. William Valenti retires, leaving lasting impact on health community – 13wham.com

HIV Pioneer Dr. William Valenti Retires, Leaving a Lasting Legacy in the Health Community

October 3, 2025
As the shutdown drags on, the threat of permanent cuts is mired in politics – NPR

As the Shutdown Continues, the Risk of Lasting Cuts Grows Amid Political Stalemate

October 3, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

Go to mobile version