Heating and cooling

Home heating undoubtedly offers the greatest potential for energy saving in the home. The way most of us use electricity to heat our homes is wasteful. Moreover home heating causes the highest peaks in electricity demand. It is these winter night peaks, rather than total energy consumption, that drive the construction of new dams and power stations...

Designing for the sun is the most cost-effective and environmentally friendly way to heat New Zealand houses. "Passive solar design" refers to the use of the suns energy directly for the heating and cooling of living spaces.

Water heating accounts for about 30-35% of a home’s energy consumption (electricity and gas). Large reductions in hot water energy use are feasible by improving the thermal performance of the hot water system.

Solar hot water describes heated water achieved through the usage of solar energy. Solar heating systems are generally composed of solar thermal collectors, a fluid system to move the heat from the collector to its point of usage, and a reservoir to stock the heat for subsequent use. The systems may be used to heat domestic hot water or a swimmi...

This is a sample video clip from http://www.buildinggreentv.com explaining why radiant floor heating is eco friendly.

Passive solar building design involves the modeling, selection and use of appropriate passive solar technologies to maintain the building environment at a comfortable temperature through the sun's daily and annual cycles. As a result it also minimises the use of active solar, renewable energy and especially fossil fuel technologies. Passive sola...

Passive solar construction is a very attractive design philosophy as not only does it save energy, but it also reduces dampness and condensation, improves sound insulation, increases the durability of building materials and makes the home healthier. Passive solar construction uses the sun to warm the house. Heat is absorbed into the buildin...

Solar water heating is generally more economically viable the more people in the household and the more hot water used. This means the more hot water you use, the better your savings will be.

In New Zealand, solar radiation is an abundant energy source. Many homes are exposed annually to 20 - 30 times more energy from the sun than they use in electricity or gas.

According to the BRANZ HEEP report, water heating accounts for 29% of energy use in an average New Zealand house. Average water use is in the order of 40-60 litres per person per day. Any reduction in energy used to heat water, or the amount of hot water used, can have a significant impact in terms of both national sustainability and cost to the us...

Approximately 95% of New Zealand homes have their hot water stored in cylinders heated using electricity or gas. The remainder have a continuous flow system predominantly using gas. However, these are less energy efficient and sustainable than solar, heat pump or recovered heat sources. In determining the appropriate heating source and system type,...

Some of our energy-saving suggestions can cost little or nothing, and will save you plenty. Other suggestions involve an up-front cost that will pay for itself over the life of your home. As well as reducing energy consumption, many of our suggestions will make your home drier, healthier, and more comfortable.

By combining good design with effective insulation, you can collect and store the sun’s energy to provide warmth day and night, throughout the year. Passive heating can slash your heating costs, reduce condensation and dampness, and make your home healthier and more comfortable. Passive heating can be incorporated into new homes, renovations or...

This is the sort of energy-conserving future Martin and Liz Irvine have planned for their family when they build their holiday home at Tupare on the shores of the Kaipara Harbour – and by next summer it should be a reality. The Auckland business couple wanted an out-of-Auckland getaway that was energy neutral – or better – for themselves and the...