Small fixes such as having the right curtains not only help retain heat and lower household power bills, they can also improve people’s health and make for happier lifestyles.
One Consumer report found up to 45% of heat escapes through windows, often due to poorly fitted or thin curtains. With that in mind, Genesis has launched its Warmer Homes campaign in support of three community organisations across New Zealand, providing curtains to homes and families in need.
These organisations also offer energy efficiency advice and other essential services for their communities to live in warmer, healthier homes.
From April 28 to June 27, Genesis is asking people to support the Sustainability Trust in Wellington, Community Energy Action in Christchurch, and Habitat for Humanity Northern Region – and has pledged to match donations made up to the total value of $100,000.
Genesis Chief Retail Officer Stephen England-Hall says the reality is keeping homes warm and healthy is a problem for many people.
“As an energy company we’re really keen to make sure New Zealanders live in warm, healthy homes, and a big component of that is knowing how to support communities – our own customers and also people who aren’t,” he says. “These community organisations have been partners with Genesis for a number of years to help support families in need.
“There’s a recognition that better social outcomes and better life outcomes come from being able to live in healthier and warmer homes,” he says. “As a company we’ve thought about what we can do to support that, so our work with curtain banks in particular has been a key enabler to help achieve that vision.”
Genesis has supported Sustainability Trust (ST) since 2010. Those funds allow the Wellington Curtain Bank, which is part of ST, to purchase sewing supplies to repair and make high-performing curtains and deliver them across the region.
WCB Manager Julie Gunn says her team of two fulltime staff and 24 volunteers are committed to supporting families, especially those in rental properties, who lack quality curtains in their home and cannot afford to replace them.
“At the Wellington Curtain Bank, we take donations of curtain tracks and good quality used curtains,” she says. “We upcycle them into fully lined, made-to-measure curtains for people and families in need.”
Gunn explains that having fully lined curtains, that extend to the floor, are the best quality option for keeping heat trapped inside the home.
“What this is doing is stopping that coldness coming in from your window, and also stopping all that heat being lost,” she says. “People are spending good money to heat their homes, but if their curtains aren’t lined and well-fitted, then a lot of that heat is just going to escape.”
With heat retained in houses, residents health outcomes improve, with preventable diseases reduced, she says.
Small donations to create a world of difference
With temperatures now falling across the country, Genesis and its three charity partners are asking anyone who can help to make a donation.
England-Hall also encourages people to “ironically” work with their energy companies to find ways to reduce their energy consumption.
“We’re committed to empowering our customers to be part of the transition to a sustainable energy future,” he says. “That doesn’t just require advanced technical solutions, but also helping customers who are vulnerable and need support.”
Gunn says while donations of curtains and curtain tracks are always welcome, cash donations are much needed to help the WCB continue the important work they do.
“[ST] is a social enterprise and we support people to live in warm and healthy homes, we help them to reduce their impact on the environment and give back to the community through sustainable living,” she says.
“Genesis very generously gives us funding each year that helps us to run the curtain bank, and we can’t do what we do without that funding from them.”
Genesis is supporting warm healthy homes for Kiwis, and you can too. Simply donate to the community groups that Genesis supports, and you’ll be helping Kiwis in need keep warm this winter. To donate visit genesisenergy.co.nz or the Genesis Facebook page
This content was sponsored by Genesis.