Household Energy Savings

Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC)

Heating is expensive (it typically accounts for about 30% of a household’s annual energy consumption), and as energy prices rise it’s likely to cost even more.
A warm home is vital for your comfort and health. Yet many New Zealand homes aren’t warm enough -- many fall below the World Health Organisation’s recommended minimum indoor temperature of 16°C.

Heating

Heating options (more...)

No costs/ low costs options

• Put on warmer clothes before you turn on a heater.
• Damp homes use more energy to heat. Reduce condensation by leaving curtains, windows and doors open when you're home during the day. Dry air is easier to heat and better for your health.
• Block off your fireplace when you're not using it.
• Set your thermostat as low as is comfortable in the winter and as high as is comfortable in the summer.
• Capture as much sunlight as possible, for example keep windows clean and free of overhanging trees.
• Close the doors of rooms you're heating.
• Close the curtains just before dark to keep the heat in.
• Place convection heaters under windows; they're more effective there as they counter cold draughts from the window. Remember to keep radiant heaters away from curtains and furnishings though to reduce fire risk.
• Only heat the room you're in.
• Seal gaps in windows and doorframes and save up to $75 per year
• Use a door 'snake' to keep draughts out of rooms you're heating.

Some investment

• Replace broken heating thermostats.
• Fit curtains made of heavy fabric, which are lined or thermal, backed. They should generously cover windows. Avoid gaps between the curtains and the walls as these allow cold draughts. Pelmets help reduce these draughts.
• Double glaze windows in the rooms you use the most.
• Insulate the ceiling; this can stop 34% of your heat escaping and save up to $400 per year.
• Insulate walls; this can stop up to 25% of your heat escaping.
• Insulate floors; this can stop up to 13% of your heat escaping.
• If you use electricity to heat your home, consider installing an energy-efficient heat pump system. Heat pumps are the most efficient form of electric heating in moderate climates, providing up to three times more heating than the equivalent amount of electrical energy it consumes. A heat pump cools your home by collecting the heat inside your house and effectively pumping it outside. A heat pump can trim the amount of electricity you use for heating as much as 30 to 40%.

Ventilation (more...)

Some investment

• A ceiling fan may help you to distribute heat from the ceiling down into the room in winter and may also help cool your room in summer.

• Ventilation plays a large role in providing moisture control and reducing summer cooling bills. Attic vents can be installed along the entire ceiling cavity to help ensure proper airflow from the soffit to the attic to make a home more comfortable and energy efficient.

Air conditioning

No costs/low costs options

• Keep in mind that insulation and sealing air leaks will help your energy performance in the summertime by keeping the cool air inside.
• Remove and clean room air conditioner filters monthly. Dirty filters reduce the efficiency of the air conditioner.
• Plant trees or shrubs to shade air conditioning units but not to block the airflow. Place your room air conditioner on the north side of the house. A unit operating in the shade uses as much as 10% less electricity than the same one operating in the sun.
• Don't place lamps or TV sets near your air-conditioning thermostat. The thermostat senses heat from these appliances, which can cause the air conditioner to run longer than necessary.
• Don't set your thermostat at a colder setting than normal when you turn on your air conditioner. It will not cool your home any faster and could result in excessive cooling and, therefore, unnecessary expense.
• Set your thermostat as high as comfortably possible in the summer. The less difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower your overall cooling bill will be.
• Consider using an interior fan in conjunction with your window air conditioner to spread the cooled air more effectively through your home without greatly increasing your power use.
• Whole-house fans help cool your home by pulling cool air through the house and exhausting warm air through the attic. They are effective when operated at night and when the outside air is cooler than the inside.

Some investment

• If your air conditioner is old, consider purchasing a new, energy-efficient model. You could save up to 50% on your utility bill for cooling. Look for the ENERGY STARand EnergyGuide labels.
• Consider installing a whole-house evaporative cooler if you live in a dry climate. An evaporative cooler uses as much as 75% less electricity as an air conditioner, saving approximately $150 a year.

Sources:

www.meridianenergy.co.nz
www.energywise.org.nz
www.mercury.co.nz
www1.eere.energy.gov