Double-lined full length curtains are an extremely effective way to retain heat in homes. That’s because windows are usually the thinnest part of a building, hence heat escapes easily here. Even in insulated, double-glazed homes, windows are responsible for significant heat loss.

Though the Residential Tenancies (Healthy Homes) Act stipulates basic insulation and ventilation requirements, it doesn’t address windows. Given this is where a significant amount of heat is lost, it’s a significant shortcoming.

And it has a real human and economic cost.

During winter, tenants often run heaters for long periods to ensure a house stays warm. Not only does this enlarge our carbon footprint and put pressure on the power grid, it places our most vulnerable Kiwis under significant financial strain.

That’s because the cost of adequately heating a home falls on the tenant. For demographic reasons, this disproportionately affects children, the elderly, and Māori and Pacific families.

Best-practice curtains reduce cost pressures on these groups. Not only that, good curtains ensure warmer homes, and significantly reduce preventable hospital admissions.

That translates to healthier children, families, and communities.

A warm winter for Melissa and her whānau

Melissa lives in Manurewa, Auckland, with her children. Before her rental received new curtains, her family faced a significant burden from winter illness.

“My daughters and I get asthma. In the winter it gets worse. It is an old house, so a lot of things need doing,” she says.

Melissa would love to own her own house one day. But in the meantime, she’s thankful her house has double-lined, full length curtains, installed by Habitat for Humanity.

“The curtains will help our home be warmer and cosier. Now when we put the heater on, the heat will no longer escape,” she says.

Melissa is one of the lucky ones.

While the house she rents now has curtains installed, many renters aren’t so fortunate. During winter, many renters face a constant battle to keep their house warm and dry.

They’re left with a suite of poor options. They can purchase curtains themselves – a significant (and unfair) investment in someone else’s asset.

They can use large amounts of electricity to keep the house warm – a significant cost burden.

Or they can rug up as best they can. In this scenario, they and their children often pay a health and wellbeing cost, rather than a financial one.

Best-practice curtains dramatically reduce the financial and health burden on families and individuals. A fact not lost on Melissa.

“We’re very thankful. Especially with a baby on the way, it will help keep my room warm as well as our house.”