Building and renovating
The perfect time to make your home energy efficient is when you are building or renovating. There are always steps you can take every day to make the most of your energy use, but building and renovating allows you to go back to the drawing board and really think about how you can incorporate energy efficiency into your design.
What's the problem with New Zealand homes?
Compared with houses in other countries with similar climates, New Zealand houses are cold, damp and unhealthy. Most of our houses are draughty, badly ventilated and under-insulated. This makes them difficult and expensive to heat.
The World Health Organisation has reported that indoor temperatures should ideally be between 18 and 24°C all year round. There can be serious health implications at temperatures below 12°C. In many houses in New Zealand the bedrooms get below 14°C at night during winter.
What can be done to fix our homes?
Everyone would like to live in a house that is warm, comfortable and healthy - and doesn't cost too much to run. The easiest way to achieve this is by designing a new home with the right materials, features and technologies. If you are renovating an existing house there are some limits, but most houses can still be significantly improved.
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