Sustainability Trust

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Heat pump subsidy now available!

Published 15 May 2020

Get your subsidised heat pump!

As a partner of the Warmer Kiwi Homes programme, we can help you save up to $3,000 on a heat pump.

Indeed, low-income homeowners are now eligible for subsidies covering up to 90% of the cost of a heat pump in the main living space (capped at $3000 including GST). We also offer a 12-month interest-free payment plan option (see below our alternative payment options)

The criteria to be able to access this funding is as follows:

  • The homeowner needs to live in the home.

  • The homeowner needs to have a Community Services Card OR live in a low-income area.

  • The home must have approved ceiling and underfloor insulation - or been assessed by an insulation provider contracted to EECA who can confirm that insulation cannot be installed.

What is a low-income area and where are they?

Deprivation 8, 9 & 10 zones are areas identified by the Government as low-income.

I think I'm eligible! What next?

The next step is to get in touch with our Customer Services team, who can help guide you through the process of confirming your eligibility for the funding. To do this, either fill out the form on this page, email us on subsidies@sustaintrust.org.nz or call us on 0508 78 78 24.

Once this is completed and you have been found to be eligible if you're in the Wellington region one of our home energy experts will need to visit your property and give you a free assessment and quote.

After payment is confirmed, we will then arrange a suitable time for the heat pump. Winter is our busiest time of year (so wait times can be up to 6 weeks) whereas in summer or autumn you could have a heat pump within a few days after payment.

Why a heat pump?

Although wood burners and pellet burners can also be subsided, we will only be installing heat pumps for our customers under this programme. Heat pumps are the most efficient way to heat your home, and are better suited for properties in urban areas.

Our alternative payment options?

We offer a 0% interest payment plan to our customers, with payments spread out over 6 - 12 months. Find out more about our financing options here.  

If you have any questions about the above, please don't hesitate call us on 0508 78 78 24 or email us at   customerservice@sustaintrust.org.nz.

Interested? Fill out this form on this page and we'll come back to you as soon as we can.

What if I have a fireplace?

To be eligible for a heating grant, first, the insulation must be up to standard, and there must not already be a qualifying heater in the main living area.

But there are exemptions:

  • Where a main living area may not be the lounge anymore, i.e. homeowner is sick and confined to their bedroom or spend most of their time in the kitchen/dining and not the lounge.

  • Or if a fireplace is in the lounge yet the homeowner is elderly/ sick and can no longer operate the fireplace due to the physical nature of loading wood then an exemption can be applied for through a pre-approval process to EECA.

You can find all general advice here : Warmer Kiwi Home - FAQ’s - Heater & Insulation grants


Contact us to find out more 0508 78 78 24 option 1