Residents of coastal Otago towns and Dunedin may get the opportunity to apply for a 60% subsidy to install a clean heat appliance to replace their "dirty" one.
Otago Regional councillors last week gave staff approval to tender for additional funding the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (ECCA) had available.
Chief executive Graeme Martin said at an environmental science committee, the additional funding was to put clean heat appliances in airshed two homes which in Otago included Dunedin, Oamaru, Mosgiel and Balclutha.
"We're very keen to make a bid. It's an opportunity too good to miss."
The 60% subsidy could be used to target homes with the "dirtiest" appliances such as coal burners.
The regional council in partnership with local authorities and ECCA already offered subsidies for clean heat appliances and insulation in airshed one towns in Otago including Milton, Alexandra and Arrowtown.
Chairman Stephen Cairns said:"grab it and run".
A summary of air quality monitoring during the winter was presented to the meeting.
Environmental information and science director John Threlfall said it was the first year Lawrence, which was in airshed three, had been monitored, although only every three days.
The town on six occasions exceeded the national standard of 50 micrograms per cubic metre of air over a 24-hour period.
As a result, it was planned to monitor the small town continuously.
For the rest of Otago, the NES was exceeded fewer times at all continuously monitored sites than last year, the summary said.
Many of the centres exceeded the NES requirement of a steady reduction over time in air pollution levels.
Mr Threlfall said there was no key magic answer to the problem.
