Keeping your home warm this winter
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By Ruby Harfield
ABOVE: Warm dry homes are not just more comfortable, they’re also healthier. INSET: EECA Senior Advisor Evidence, Insights and Innovation, Dr Gareth Gretton. Photos/Supplied
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inter is nearly here and Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority’s (EECA) Senior Advisor Evidence, Insights and Innovation Dr Gareth Gretton spoke to our writer Ruby Harfield about how to stay cosy. EECA is responsible for promoting energy efficiency and conservation.
What are some ways to keep your home warm this winter? Minimise heating bills by insulating, draughtproofing and choosing an efficient heater. Then optimise your heating habits to keep bills low while keeping your home warm and healthy. We have plenty of advice at www.genless. govt.nz. Insulation is the first place to start. Grants may be available through Warmer Kiwi Homes. Draught-proofing can make a big difference. Check your doors and windows for draughts on a cold and windy day, and then visit your hardware store to get the right products to seal the gaps.
When the time comes c to replace your heater, consid der fitting a heat pump if you haaven’t hey’re already got one. Th a great choice for larger rooms, whilee electric resistance heaters are good for smaller rooms. Only heat the rooms you need to. Leaving your heat pump running 24/77 will use more energgy than only heating w when you need to. If you’re working from home, use a smalleer room as your home office if possible. p For a healthy living environment, set your heater thermostat for between 18 to 20˚C. If you have older people at home, it might need to be a little higher.
When it starts tto get cooler in the ose your doors and evenings, clo pull your curtains across. A dry home is easier to heeat, too, so ensure u ventilate well you – eeven in winter, opening the windows for a short w time each day will help, especially in h damper areas like the kitchen and batthroom. How can you do this cost-effectively and cost-eff efficiently? efficiently of different There are a number n things you can do to keep your home more snug, that range from no-cost to a much bigger investment in the quality of your home. Ultimately, having good insulation, good
ventilation and an efficient heater, like a heat pump, will be the most efficient way to keep your home warm and dry. What support is available for older people who cannot heat their home? EECA runs the Warmer Kiwi Homes (WKH) programme, which provides 80 percent of the cost of ceiling and floor insulation, and 80 percent of the cost of an approved heater, to those eligible. There are a number of community organisations around New Zealand that partner with WKH to provide further grant funding, meaning that the cost to the homeowner could be lower, or even free. People can check the details and their eligibility on the Warmer Kiwi Homes section of EECA’s website. Why is it important to have a warm home? Warm dry homes are not just more comfortable, they’re also healthier, and result in fewer sick days off school and work, and fewer hospitalisations for respiratory illnesses.
