3 minute read
BLOWING HOT AND COLD
from S2022
by nustobaydo
Hot OR NOT
Jo Borrill takes a look at what’s sizzling in cooling trends this summer – and what will be warm and cosy when winter rolls around again
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he world as we know it has changed, and with that comes extended hours of working from home. This means our room temperature has to be just right to provide us with the ultimate comfort in the harsh African climate.
COOL AS A CUCUMBER
The festive season in South Africa is hot, promising lazy drinks by the pool; and when the heat gets too much, the allure of a cool bite to eat indoors. To make this as pleasant as possible, an efficient aircon or fan is vital.
People are looking at these factors when buying a cooling system. “The speed of cooling and heating, energy saving, low noise, temperature control, warranty and maintenance plans and remote temperature control (connected home) are trending,” says Pearl Ndlazi from Samsung.
Advantage Air Advantage Air
Solent
Many consumers may feel that ceiling fans are out of date, but for energy efficiency and a gentle breeze on your skin, they may be a great option. What’s more, ceiling fans don’t have to be an eyesore. They’ve come a long way in design and creativity, blending in seamlessly with the style of the home.
“Long gone are the days of bulky and unattractive ceiling fans. Now you can be lavished with sleek, shapely and super stylish fans that will leave your guests drooling. And ceiling fans are not just a pretty ceiling ornament, they are environmentally friendly too,” says Leona Pillay of Solent. What’s more, “you get to choose the motor, blade, colour, style, size and finish so that you can have a fan that is 100% you,” says Pillay.
For die-hard aircon fans, there are a number of elegant and discreet options this summer. However, as energy efficiency is always a high priority, Crispin Cheadle from Advantage Air shares the latest trends in aircon control: “Adding zone control to a central unit means you can switch off the rooms that aren’t being used, and the unit’s running costs will drop as less energy is required to cool fewer rooms. Motion sensors mean that the aircon won’t supply the rooms that don’t have anyone inside them.”
TOP TREND
There is a continued trend towards bigger capacity units, as clients have learnt how much of their home can be heated economically from one wood stove. Our 14- and 18-KW units are our biggest sellers. – Malcolm Sims, Infiniti Fires FIRE AWAY
In no time at all, we will be switching off the cooling systems and sparking up the fire and gas systems. But what’s best – fire or gas? Malcolm Sims from Infiniti Fires sheds some light on this debate.
“The SA market is split fairly evenly between home owners buying a flueless gas fire and those buying a closed combustion wood stove. Flueless gas fires are easy to light and can heat large areas quite comfortably. However, as the price of gas is about the same as electricity, these fires are more expensive to run than wood stoves.
“Wood stoves require lighting and the occasional cleaning of ash, but provide a brilliant flame effect and huge amounts of heat, and have a low running cost. Typically, if you buy wood in bulk, these fires provide heat at under a quarter of the price of electrical or gas heating.”
Christian Faitsch of Faitsch Products swears by the BRUNNER kit system fireplace. “It can be set up in just a few hours thanks to its precisely formed heat-storing concrete components. This is convenience at its peak, without having to forego individual design possibilities,” Faitsch explains. Q
With thanks to Advantage Air, Faitsch Products, Infiniti Fires, Samsung and Solent
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