Heating & energy

Home energy advice

Updated: 03 Jul 2008

Introduction

Where do you go to get good advice on making your home more energy efficient?

Knowing your house is too cold is one thing. Fixing it is another. Where to start? Who to believe? Which product is best for you? Relax. Good impartial advice is available. We point you in the right direction.

Where to get information

Too many houses in New Zealand are cold and damp - as research has shown. But the answer is not to go blasting more heat in. That's too costly, both financially and environmentally. The answer is to reduce dampness, then insulate and draught proof as much as possible ... so that moderate heating will keep the house cosy and warm.

Information on achieving this is available from independent organisations, government agencies, and commercial operators. All have their part to play.

Independent organisations

Consumer and BRANZ

Consumer is funded independently - we don't have commercial or political ties. So the advice you get isn't "loaded". But that means we have to charge for providing information. We have to survive financially.

BRANZ receives a levy on building consents, which it uses to promote, fund and report on building-related science and research.

Consumer's information is aimed at householders. BRANZ publications, which are oriented to the building industry, are more technical - but they can be a good source of specific information on topics such as insulation or windows.

Energy Efficiency Community Network (EECN)

The EECN consists of independent non-profit energy trusts and is establishing a national network of energy advice centres.

The first EECN energy-advice centres are underway in Wellington, Auckland and Canterbury, with more planned. Their emphasis is on improving the energy performance of existing homes. Advice is free. The advice centres are funded by grants from central and local government, and other sources. The advice centres can be reached on 0800 388 588.

Eco Design Advisors (EDA)

EDA services are another initiative made possible by central (through the Ministry for the Environment and EECA) as well as local government funding. These have been set up in eight local-authority areas (Waitakere, Auckland, North Shore, Hamilton, Tauranga/Western Bay of Plenty, Kapiti Coast, Wellington, and Queenstown) and are supported by BRANZ.

The Eco Design Advisors take a broader approach than EECN: they cover the design of new houses as well as planned alterations or renovations. They also look at water use, material selection and recovery and at transport planning. Their advice is free.

These networks of advisors are expanding. We hope they will cover the whole country. There's a lot of work to be done. If you're in an area that's not yet covered by one of them, contact EECN's project office (0800 EECN88). They may be able to help with contacts in your area.

What's good about these programmes is they offer a free, independent personalised service that can cut though time-consuming searching - and the resulting information-overload.

Central government organisations

These are free of commercial pressures although they're not politically independent - they promote government policy. But because they've got the resources to commission and present a lot of research information, they're good sources of background information.

Central government also gives grants to various organisations for specific tasks. For example, the Ministry for the Environment's Sustainable Management Fund part-funds projects that will bring long-term environmental benefits.

Useful websites include:

Commercial websites

These have lots of useful information - including detailed product information. But remember they are trying to sell you something.

Some useful commercial websites include:

Case study: Getting advice

Consumer staffer Maggie lives with her partner Vince and two teenage sons in a 1920s bungalow in south Wellington.

The weatherboard and corrugated-steel-roof house has had some ceiling insulation installed. It's heated with a woodburner in the lounge and dining area, and a couple of electric heaters in the bedrooms.

Kapiti District Eco Design Advisor Richard Morrison offered to take a look at Maggie and Vince's house. The consultation took about an hour and a half.

Looking for energy improvements

Richard started by walking through the house with Maggie and Vince. During the walk-through Richard pointed out areas where energy improvements could be made.

After the walk-through, Richard, Maggie and Vince discussed options to improve the house's performance.

Some of Richard recommendations - such as draught-proofing, wraps for the hot-water cylinders, and getting a couple of power timers - could be implemented quickly and would cost a hundred dollars or so, in total. Other recommendations such as improving the insulation would cost maybe a few thousand but could be done on a DIY basis.

Replacing the two existing hot-water cylinders with one would probably have to wait until major remodelling was done. It could cost over $4000.

Richard gave Maggie and Vince an information pack containing a large selection of booklets and pamphlets on home energy.

The verdict

Maggie and Vince found the consultation very helpful. They were aware of some of the issues raised, but not all of them. They'll do the low-cost more simple fixes immediately; the more complex and more expensive changes will be part of renovations planned for a couple of years away.

An eco-designer's recommendations

Kapiti District Eco Design Advisor Richard Morrison took a look at our case study house. The energy-saving points he noted included:

Insulation/draughts:

A gap above the front door let in cold air. This needed fixing and some of the timber windows required draught proofing.
Adding pelmets over the windows would improve the effectiveness of the existing full-length curtains. Heavier, full-length thermal curtains would be even better.
Adding to the existing ceiling insulation - creating a double layer - would reduce heat loss.
Under-floor insulation would also reduce heat loss.

Appliances:

Replacing the 15-year-old fridge-freezer would pay for itself in about nine years through lower running costs.
The top-loader washing machine uses more water than front loaders or newer water-efficient top loaders.
The clothes dryer needs to vent outside.

Water:

The two hot-water cylinders need cylinder-insulation wraps and their hot supply pipes need to be lagged. When it's time to upgrade the hot-water system, replacing the two cylinders with a larger single one will be less expensive and more efficient. At this stage they could also consider solar water heating.
A low-flow shower head would reduce hot water use.
A dripping tap needs fixing.

Heating:

A timer for the electric heaters would reduce unnecessary use.
The woodburner is a low-cost heating option - but burning only dry wood improves the burner's effectiveness and reduces pollution.

Lighting:

Compact fluorescent bulbs have been fitted to the most commonly used lights in the house.

Ventilation:

An extractor fan in the bathroom would reduce moisture build-up.
A kitchen extractor vented to the exterior would reduce moisture in the kitchen

Safety:

Three smoke alarms are already fitted. Replacing these with photoelectric alarms will improve smoke detection from smouldering fires.

Our advice

Improving the energy efficiency of your home will make it more comfortable - and a healthier place to live in.
Use energy advisers where possible, to get useful suggestions about how to improve your home.
Remember the right sequence is: reduce damp, insulate and draught-proof, then heat.
Subsidies are available for home-energy efficiency improvements. See the Energywise website for eligibility criteria.

More information

Independent websites:

Central government and regional/local authority websites:

Commercial websites:

Report by Bill Whitley