Instead of wrapping prehistoric electrical cylinders to save some energy, the whole of NZ should be looking at instantaneous gas heaters for hot water. More than 75% of NZ buildings use electricity for hot water, space heating and cooking… which is very inefficient and makes many households vulnerable because energy prices have risen more than […]
This is a very good website. http://www.energywise.govt.nz/ Has lots of content about: – Home heating – Solar energy – Appliances – Vehicle running costs – Hybrid vehicles – Insulation
Get a ceiling fan installed in the room where the fire is. This will increase the comfort level of the room. Most of the heat gets trapped up on the ceiling and the fan will circulate it and increase the room temperature at foot level quite considerably.
I roll up small blanket put bottom of door to stop drafts coming through or lose heat. Only heat the room you are in not the whole house.
I made some draught excluders out of an old feather pillow. It was messy to make, but it did a much better job of keeping out the draughts than using other types of fillers.
My thermal drapes are past their best and no longer keep the warmth from escaping through the windows in winter. Before winter started this year I purchased enough shower curtains of a similar colour to the backing on the thermal drapes. They have no pattern on them and are the size used for a shower […]
Free recycled curtains for bedrooms and living areas are available to people on low incomes through the Community Energy Action’s Curtain Bank. Call 0800 GET WARM for a measurement form.
The disadvantage with sealing a window with bubble wrap is that you won’t be able to open the window. I had three windows I wanted to insulate but also open. They are aluminium windows, so at first I thought I’d just stick my plastic (not bubble wrap, but I’ll get to that later) to the […]
We have a clothes rack on a pulley above the wood stove so we are heating our house, drying clothes, cooking food and heating hot water all at once. We grow our own firewood also so the only cost here is the petrol for the chain saw, since there’s not enough hours in the day […]
Add layers if you live in a cold climate. It you’re a gal, wear a petticoat and long-johns underneath. Fetching I know, but sexier than frostbite and large heating bills. Wear a number of layers of cotton, then a woolen layer over the top.