Keeping your home warm

Keeping your home warm this winter ByRuby Harfield

ABOVE: Warm dry homes are notjust more comfortable, they’realso healthier. INSET: EECA Senior AdvisorEvidence, Insights and Innovation, Dr Gareth Gretton. Photos/Supplied

Winter is nearly here and Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority’s (EECA) Senior Advisor Evidence, Insights and Innovation Dr Gareth Gretton spoke to ourwriter Ruby Harfield about howtostaycosy.

EECA isresponsiblefor promoting energy efficiency andconservation. What aresomewaystokeepyour homewarm this winter? Minimise heating bills by insulating, draughtproofing and choosing an efficient heater.Then optimise your heating habitstokeep bills low while keeping yourhomewarm and healthy.

We have plenty of advice at www.genless. govt.nz.

Insulation is the first place to start. Grants may be available throughWarmer Kiwi Homes.

Draught-proofingcan make a big difference. Check your doors and windowsfor draughts ona cold and windyday,and then visit your hardware storeto get the right productstoseal thegaps.

When the timec your heater, consid heatpump if you ha alreadygot one. Th a greatchoice for large er rooms, while electricresistance heatersare good for smallerrooms.

Only heatthe rooms you needto Leaving your heat pump running 24/7 will use more energ than only heatingw you needto.

If you’re workin home, usea smalle your home office ifp

For a healthy living environment, setyour heater thermostat for between 18to20˚C. If you haveolder peopleathome, it mightneed to bea little higher. to getcooler in the ose your doors and curtains across. ryhome iseasier eat, too, so ensure uventilatewell even in winter, pening the windowsfor a short imeeach day will help, especially in amper areas like e kitchen and throom. How canyou do this cost-effectively and efficiently? number of different tokeep your home more snug, that range from no-costto a much bigger investment in the quality of your home. Ultimately, having good insulation,good ventilation andan efficient heater,like a heat pump, will be the most efficientway to keep your homewarm and dry. What support is availablefor older people who cannot heat their home? EECA runs theWarmer Kiwi Homes (WKH) programme, which provides 80 percent of thecostofceiling and floor insulation, and 80 percentofthecostofanapprovedheater,to those eligible.

There area number ofcommunity organisations around NewZealand that partner with WKHtoprovide further grant funding, meaning that thecosttothe homeownercould be lower,or even free.Peoplecan check the details and their eligibility on theWarmer Kiwi Homes section of EECA’swebsite. Why is it importanttohave a warm home? Warm dry homes are notjust more comfortable, they’realso healthier, andresult infewer sick days offschooland work, andfewer hospitalisationsfor respiratoryillnesses.

comestoreplace der fitting a aven’t hey’re . 7 gy when g from er room as possible.

When itstartst evenings, clo pullyour A d to he you –e o w t h d th bat How cost-eff efficiently There are an thingsyou can do