New Zealand Energy Minister Pete Hodgson signalled on 5 September 2004 that double glazing of windows in new homes could become compulsory in southern parts of New Zealand within the next three years….
New Zealand Energy Minister Pete Hodgson signalled on 5 September 2004 that double glazing of windows in new homes could become compulsory in southern parts of New Zealand within the next three years. The change is likely to be considered during a review of building codes which is under way. A report in 2003 found that New Zealand had some of the worst housing in the OECD. Housing in the country was generally colder and damper than allowed overseas. Double glazing adds about 25-30% to the cost of windows for a new home. “Basically what we have to do is regulate so that people will get their money back over the life of the house fairly reliably. You wouldn“t go for triple glazing in Auckland today because it“s not going to be cost-effective.” Mr. Hodgson said. “But, generally speaking, NZ building standards have erred in the other direction, where we“ve said `build what you like“. We“ve got an awful lot of cold buildings.”