Kiwis are being urged to swap their gas heaters for electric ones for free in a new campaign launched by The Warehouse.
On Monday The Warehouse launched its Healthy Heater Swap campaign which allows Kiwis with portable indoor LPG gas heaters to swap them for an electric option for free.
The campaign is running from June 13 to July 3 in 30 stores across the motu.
The project was launched after a new report commissioned by The Warehouse found 61 percent of Kiwis are living with poor heating and insulation, mould and damp in their homes, and young people and renters are disproportionately affected.
The report also found 42 percent live with someone who has a respiratory illness, cardiovascular disease, skin infection or asthma.
"By encouraging Kiwis to remove unflued gas heaters from their homes and offering a free swap for a more energy-efficient and healthier alternative, we're helping families ensure they have warm and healthier homes this winter," The Warehouse Group's sustainability lead David Benattar said.
"Indoor LPG gas heaters emit significant amounts of carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide, pollutants that can trigger asthma and other respiratory conditions. The heaters also release moisture and can be expensive to run, making them unhealthy for Kiwis and the environment, and is the reason why experts are calling for the switch to electric heating. "
The move is being supported by Associate Health Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall who said many people are unaware of the dangers of gas heaters.
"The dangers of indoor LPG gas heaters are relatively unknown to many people, especially the deferential effect they can have on indoor air quality," Dr Verrall said.
"It's great to see The Warehouse taking the proactive steps to do something about this issue. Especially in not just helping educate people around the potential harms that indoor gas heaters can cause, but also offering an exchange for a new, safer electric alternative.
"This is a great initiative that offers a tangible solution which will help ensure Kiwis keep warm, dry and more importantly healthy in their own homes this winter."
Associate professor Nevil Pierse from Otago University agreed, saying the project will help keep families safer.
"We know there are about 96,570 unflued gas heaters being used in homes across Aotearoa. These heaters have proven health impacts, including on children, who present with a range of respiratory conditions as a result of being exposed to the nitrogen dioxide and toxic gases emitted by the heaters," professor Pierse said.
"Replacing unflued gas heaters with healthier electric heaters will significantly improve the health of these Kiwi kids and their whanau."
The Healthy Heater Swap will see 1800 11-fin electric heaters being made available for swapping. The Warehouse is also donating an additional 2000 heaters to The Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity and Healthy Homes providers to support Kiwis who are most in need.
All indoor LPG gas heaters will be accepted as part of the Swap no matter where they have been purchased. LPG bottles need to be removed. The returned heaters will be recycled through social enterprise All Heart NZ.
Kiwis wanting to swap their heater will need to book a time slot via The Warehouse's Warmhouse platform. There will be allocated time slots to head in-store over the three-week period, with 20 swaps available per week, per store.
