Household energy savings

Insulation

Many New Zealand homes are cold and damp. These homes aren’t just uncomfortable to live in, they’re also bad for you. Research has found that installing insulation will lead to health benefits such as reduced incidence of asthma.

Insulation should be installed in areas that separate heated spaces from unheated spaces. That includes all exterior walls, attics, floors over unheated areas, heated basement walls and overhangs.

Where should you insulate? (more...) 

Materials: There are many insulation materials available, including wool, polystyrene, glass wool and mineral wool, paper-based insulation and polyester. See insulation materialsfor a more detailed explanation of your options.

Walls, floor, ceiling

No costs/ low costs options

• Caulk and weather-strip doors and windows that leak air. Caulk and seal air leaks where plumbing, ducting, or electrical wiring penetrates through exterior walls, floors, ceilings, and soffits over cabinets.
• Install rubber gaskets behind outlet and switch plates on exterior walls.
• Look for dirty spots in your insulation, which often indicate holes where air leaks into and out of your house. You can seal the holes by stapling sheets of plastic over the holes and caulking the edges of the plastic.

Some investment

• Use higher density insulation, such as rigid foam boards, in cathedral ceilings and on exterior walls.

• One of the most cost-effective ways to make your home more comfortable is to add insulation to your attic.

Draughts (more...)

No cost/ low costs options

• Stop draughts under doors by either buying draught excluders from your local hardware store or by making some of your own (rugby sock and stuffed with scrap material).
• When the fireplace is not in use, keep the flue damper tightly closed. A chimney is designed specifically for smoke to escape, so until you close it, warm air escapes—24 hours a day!
• Fill or block any gaps around pipes and cables that go through an exterior wall or wherever you can feel a draught.
• Caulk and seal air leaks where plumbing, ducting, or electrical wiring penetrates through exterior walls, floors, ceilings, and soffits over cabinets.
• Plug unused fireplaces by stuffing plastic bags filled with newspaper up the chimney. Remember to leave a note on the fireplace as a reminder.

Some investment

• Install storm windows over single-pane windows or replace them with double pane windows. See Windowsfor more information.
• Curtains should be bigger than the window frame and close fitting with no gaps for warm air to escape. Use thermal or close-woven materials and linings. You can make your own or check your Yellow Pages under ‘Curtains’.
• Fill gaps in ceiling insulation

Duct system

No costs/ low costs options

• Check your ducts for air leaks. First, look for sections that should be joined but have separated and then look for obvious holes.
• When doing ductwork, be sure to get professional help.
• For new construction, consider placing ducts in conditioned space—space that is heated and cooled—instead of running ducts through unconditioned areas like the crawlspace or attic, which is less efficient.
• If your basement has been converted to a living area, hire a professional to install both supply and return registers in the basement rooms.
• Be sure a well-sealed vapor barrier exists on the outside of the insulation on cooling ducts to prevent moisture buildup.
• If you use tape to seal your ducts, avoid cloth-backed, rubber adhesive duct tape, which tends to fail quickly. Researchers recommend other products to seal ducts: mastic, butyl tape, foil tape, or other heat approved tapes.
• Remember that insulating ducts in the basement will make the basement colder. If both the ducts and the basement walls are uninsulated, consider insulating both.

Some investment

• You can lose up to 60% of your heated air before it reaches the register if your ducts aren't insulated and they travel through unheated spaces such as the attic or crawlspace.

Sources:

www1.eere.energy.gov
www.energywise.org.nz
www.smarterhomes.org.nz