Money is required to make more homes in the Waitaki district healthier and the Waitaki District Council has been asked to put $10,000 towards that.
The Healthy Homes project, facilitated by EnergySmart Ltd as part of the Otago Regional Council's "clean heat, clean air programme", wants the Waitaki council to include the money in its 2008-09 budget.
This year, five homes have benefited from the programme with $10,000 in funding from the Otago District Health Board.
Next year, the aim is to retrofit 12 homes, if the council helps.
The council has asked for a report on the request and funding for its meeting on June 10, when it will make final decisions on the 2008-09 budget and rates.
EnergySmart South Island project manager Kerry Shannon said the Healthy Homes scheme made homes warmer, healthier and better for the environment, assisting people who were unable to make improvements themselves.
Each home undergoes an energy audit which identifies areas which can be improved. Energy and health data is collected.
Improvements include insulating homes, more efficient appliances and educating owners on the efficient use of energy or where energy use can be reduced.
Homeowners would contribute $500 towards the project and retrofitting insulation to 12 homes in the Waitaki district would cost about $41,000.
Ms Shannon said the programme had been a success in other areas, including Dunedin, Clutha and Central Otago.
Obtaining funding for the Waitaki district had "proved very difficult" and only five homes were involved in the project this year.
A contribution from the council would cement its commitment to the project's aim of warmer, drier and healthier homes in the district, she said.
