We hit our stride the following year when the government started funding insulation to create healthier, more energy efficient homes for low-income families. We successfully applied to become a partner, ordered our first container of insulation, and warmed up 68 homes that year. Now we insulate an average of 900 homes a year.
Our steady growth since 2004 has allowed us to refit a central Wellington space to create a warm and busy EcoCentre, which now houses 25 staff and dozens of volunteers all focused on supporting people to reduce their impact on the environment.
The Forresters Lane space is fitted with 80 per cent recycled and repurposed materials, has a solar panel array with supplies us with about 20 per cent of our energy each year, and also has an electric vehicle charger free for the community to use.
You an read more about the transformation of our EcoCentre in 2012 on Stuff.co.nz.
We’re still the keen environmentalists providing workshops and advice on living and working sustainability, but we now fund this work and our other award-winning community programmes with profits from the sale and installation and energy efficient heating, lighting, ventilation and insulation.
You can read more about social enterprise and how we're funded here.
We have an EcoShop, online and in-store at the EcoCentre, which allows people to buy the products and tools they need to live sustainably.
We offer an inner-city drop off point for e-waste, and in partnership with community organisations who repurpose them, take bicycles and car seats.
We know sustainability is an investment, so we work to make sure that everyone has access to our services no matter what their income.
At the heart of our operations are Wellington Curtain Bank and Warm Fuzzies – services for families on low-incomes who need a hand warming up their homes, not just for environment, but for their health.
If you'd like to know more or would like to work together, please contact us.
