A New Zealand Herald Commercial Publication
Thursday, April 16, 2015
warm up for winter
THE COLD WAR Winter prooďŹ ng your home
HEAT SEEKER
Your heating options explained
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WARM UP FOR WINTER
Contents
4
8
THE COLD WAR
INSULATION 101
6
HEAT SEEKERS
9
GOOD VENTILATION
EDITOR: Greg Fleming DESIGNER: Suzanne Denmead ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES: please contact Himanshu Shah on 09 373 6975 / 021 870 372 email himanshu.shah@nzme.co.nz
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WARM UP FOR WINTER
THE COLD WAR Danielle Wright discovers ways to keep the cold outside your home this winter
There’s no need to wish winter a speedy exit. It can be one of the most enjoyable seasons of the year to spend time at home with family. All you need to do is winter proof your home. Richard Gough, GM of Future-Proof Building, says the key to a winter proofed home is to spend time thinking about what impact every decision in your home can have on the energy efficiency and healthiness of your home. “Existing homes in New Zealand have a record of being poorly constructed and designed, so many homeowners are coming off the back fence in terms of having their homes facing the wrong way or not having basic insulation in the walls,” explains Gough. “But, there’s plenty they can still do – big and small, low-cost or pricey – to improve things.” There are simple things, such as clearing leaves out of the gutters after the autumn leaves drop, which helps to potentially reduce dampness in your home, or reducing costs by using LED lightbulbs to help cut down your power bill. Putting in skylights and thinking about using natural light in rooms is another way to help reduce the need for turning the lights on during the darker winter days.
“The biggest bang for your buck is putting insulation in your ceiling, that’s the number one thing that can help winter proof your home,” says Gough. “Heat pumps are also energy efficient, if run properly. Luckily, most houses aren’t that big to heat and there are still government programmes available to help.” New Zealand is blessed with plenty of sunshine in winter so homeowners can utilise solar power, which Gough says can pay for itself in about 8-10 years because installation is now less than a third of what it was in 2008. The models are also more slimline and aesthetically pleasing. Harvesting natural light in areas that don’t have windows is also a possibility by putting solar tubes in hallways and walk-in wardrobes. Passive solar design also includes having exposed concrete flooring as the home heats up during the day and slowly releases the stored heat at night. “People think that if it’s cold, you need the windows shut and the curtains open to let in the light, but that’s not quite right,” says Gough. “Opening the windows in winter, even just for half an hour, is really important if you want to let out some moisture. Closing the
curtains also retains heat in the home (do it at 4pm, not 7pm) and if you have very large bifold doors or windows make sure they’re double glazed.” If you’re building a new home, there are ways to winter proof your home from the start, such as finding out the orientation of the house to the morning sun and using RibRaft concrete slabs with polystyrene as the insulator to stop damp or heat travelling through the home. “Ask the builder lots of questions. If you see they’re using a concrete slab, ask what type. Something like RibRaft will immediately make your home warmer, dryer and more energy efficient,” says Gough. “Double glazing is also important for noise control and keeping the heat in/out. There are different levels so ask if it has things like argon gas or low e glass to increase efficiency.” Gough likens the choices you make in your home to the choices you make when buying a car or other item that takes a bit of thought and money. “You can buy a Holden or you can buy a Maserati,” says Gough. “They both do the same thing, but there are levels of
performance – it’s the same with your home. If you buy well, it will impact how you live in the home.” Gough’s advice is to spend more on the practical rather than aesthetic, for example, spending $500 more on insulation than on a marble benchtop in the kitchen. “Most people want the marble benchtop right away, but if you invest more in the bones
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TIPS ON HOW TO WINTER PROOF YOUR HOME Clear gutters and check the condition of your roof to avoid flooding/leak issues. Insulate your home. Remember you lose heat from the roof (35%), windows (25%), walls (20%), floors (15%) and draughts (5%). Close curtains/blinds mid-afternoon and remember to open windows for at least 30 minutes per day to let air circulate. Get heaters, heat pumps and water heaters serviced. Replace filters and replace batteries in smoke alarms. Install LED lightbulbs to keep your electricity bill as low as possible while there’s less natural light available in the winter months. Invest in a dehumidifier to make air drier. If you have a wood burner, store wood where it can dry before you burn it and have the chimney swept. Adapt your interior soft furnishings to reflect the season and to provide added warmth and texture.
Above: Winter-proofing increases the energy efficiency and the livability of your home. of the home at the beginning it will save lots of money over time and you’ll enjoy the house more,” says Gough. “It’s a lot harder to put in insulation down the track, but you can put a benchtop in later on.” Health considerations also play a part in preparing your home for winter when illnesses are more prevalent and Kiwi homes can have issues with damp. The average New Zealand
home produces around 8-litres of moisture a day through cooking, cleaning, showering, etc. This can lead to condensation, mould and health problems, as well as structural issues such as peeling paint, damage to furniture and mould. “One of the classic things we all do is put our washing inside to dry. That’s 6-8 litres of water evaporating into the room,” says
Gough. “Put the washing up in the laundry or garage to dry out of the rain, instead.” As well as the practical considerations, winter can be welcomed into your home through simple interior design changes – such as changing the cushions and soft furnishings to have deeper winter colour palates and using textures such as wool and felt rather than light cottons.
Preparing for the winter months is sometimes overlooked in the modern world, but it will ensure it’s a season to savour not rush thro ugh. As author Edith Sitwell said of winter, “It’s the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it’s the time for home.”
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WARM UP FOR WINTER
HEAT SEEKER Raewyn Court looks at the options on offer so you’re prepared when the cold hits
As soon as we turn the clocks back it feels like winter is on the way, and our thoughts naturally turn to how we’re going to stay warm this winter. While students in Dunedin may have to rely on long johns, beanies and multiple layers of blankets and duvets, most of us will prefer a less bulky way to stay comfortable in our homes once the cold weather hits. For those building or renovating, it becomes particularly important to make the right decision on a heating system which will not only provide the look and feel we want, but be cost-efficient and kind to the environment. Factors to consider are room size and how we’ll be using the rooms we want to heat. For rooms that are used regularly,
fixed heaters are a good idea because they provide cheap and effective heating. These include modern wood and wood-pellet burners, ENERGY STAR qualified heat pumps and high star-rated, flued gas heaters. In rooms that are used only occasionally or for short periods of time, electric heaters – which are cheap to buy but slightly more expensive to run – can often be sufficient. With the exception of heat pumps, all electric heaters are equally efficient – so don’t believe claims that one type is more efficient than the other! However, choosing the right type of heat is key to getting the full benefit of the heat you’re paying for. Radiant, fan, convection and night store heaters all distribute heat differently. Radiant panel heaters which attach to the
wall are suitable for bedrooms and study areas as they don’t take up much space, can be thermostatically controlled, and are silent. Fan heaters are good for heating a small space for a short period of time. They’re noisy, but great for flicking on to get dressed in the morning as they give an instant blast of heat. Oil filled heaters are a popular example of convection heaters, where a heating element at the base of the heater heats up the oil which then flows around the cavities, or fins, of the heater by convection. They’re good for smaller spaces like bedrooms as they’re thermostatically controlled and are silent apart from a slight clicking noise as they heat up and cool down.
Night store heaters can take advantage of lower electricity prices (where this applies) at night, storing the heat in a ‘bank’ of clay or ceramic bricks and releasing it during the day. Heat pumps are increasing in popularity over more traditional forms of heating, due to their low running costs and ability to produce instant heat. However, they must be sized correctly for the space and climate to work well. Those living in colder areas should ask their supplier to size the heat pump based on its “H2” performance, a ranking introduced by EECA which rates heat pump outputs at 2°C outdoor ambient condition. Not all heat pumps are created equally – look for the ENERGY STAR mark to find the most efficient model. Heat pumps
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WARM UP FOR WINTER
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Woodburners produce very little pollution and have the advantage of being able to heat a large space.
allow convenient temperature control with thermostat and timer, but they won’t work during a power cut. Modern woodburners, on the other hand, do provide heat, and a certain amount of light, during power cuts. Many can even be used to cook on, and to heat water through a wetback system, both of which are welcome features during a power cut. Running costs are relatively low, especially if you have access to free or cheap firewood – preferably renewable – but wood must be dry to burn efficiently and this can require planning ahead. Wood should be stored undercover, to ‘season’, for at least a year before burning. Woodburners produce very little pollution and have the advantage of being able to heat a large space, but building consent is required for installation and, unless your property is larger than two hectares, you need to use a woodburner that is on the Ministry for the Environment’s approved list. Wood pellet burners are a more efficient version of the woodburner, but they have the disadvantage of not working during a power cut as they use a small amount of electricity. They’re good for the environment because the pellets are made from waste products and burn very cleanly. However, in areas with air quality issues, only authorised burners can be installed (see the Ministry for Environment’s list of approved wood pellet burners) and again, building consent is needed for installation. Wood pellet burners can heat large spaces, have better heat control than a woodburner, and
can heat water through a wetback system. Unflued gas (natural or LPG) heaters are another option for heating during power cuts, if you normally rely on electricity for heating. However, apart from some open fires, they’re the most expensive form of heating and they carry health risks. Unflued gas heaters pollute the air with toxic gases and large amounts of water vapour, so they must be used with at least one window open, and never in bedrooms. They can make your home damp, and are a fire risk as anything too close can catch fire quickly. Flued gas (natural or LPG) heaters or fireplaces must be installed by a registered gas fitter and you may have to pay a fixed charge for reticulated gas supply, but they offer great convenience as temperature and timing are easily controlled. They’re good for heating large areas for long periods, but EECA recommends choosing an ENERGY STAR qualified model for best efficiency. Central heating is a good option for whole-of-house heating, but can be expensive to run if your house isn’t well insulated or is draughty. It’s easy to control temperature and timing with central heating, and many are zone-controlled so you can control the temperature in different parts of the house. With so many efficient and affordable heating options available, there will be no need to worry about the cold this winter. However, with wild winter storms on the way, heating systems that provide heat during power cuts may have a slight advantage over those that don’t!
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WARM UP FOR WINTER
A well-insulated house is the first step to a healthy home.
Biscuits, blankets, Uffi, R values – installing insulation in your home isn’t rocket science, but you might have to learn a whole new language. By Leigh Bramwell Gone are the days when the ubiquitous pink batt was the only choice on the market and the only place you put it was in the ceiling. In 2015 there are many insulation products and experts recommend that the ceiling, floor, walls and windows (in that order) all be insulated to keep your home warm and healthy. The two main types of insulation recommended by EECA (Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority) in New Zealand are bulk insulation and Uffi. Bulk insulation products are frequently recommended for ceilings, walls and floors. They come as segments (also called biscuits, just to confuse us) and blankets. Segments are pre-cut to small standard pieces; blanket products come in rolls. Bulk insulation is generally made from wool, polyester, glass, or polystyrene. If this is your option, choose the highest R-value possible for the thickness of your walls, and the correct width for your stud spacings. The product must be compliant with the Standard AS/NZS 4859.1. If it is, it should say so on the packaging. Uffi insulation, which sounds warm and fuzzy, is the commonly used injected wall insulation in New Zealand. Uffi stands for urea formaldehyde foam insulation, which is injected into the walls through small holes in the cladding or lining. Be aware, though, that the product shrinks as it dries and it isn’t possible to see if it has completely filled the wall cavity. For this reason it has a lower R rating.
You can download a list of specific insulation products accepted for use under the Warm Up New Zealand: Heat Smart programme. Some areas and some products lend themselves to DIY installation, so for those who plan the DIY approach, all the necessary information is in the New Zealand Standard NZS 4246:2006 Installing insulation in residential buildings. You can download it free. While you’re at it, read and follow the Health and Safety advice in Appendix B of New Zealand Standard NZS 4246:2006. However, the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) recommends using a qualified installer and the Insulation Association of New Zealand has Bottom of Form a list of installers it has trained. Ironically, once you’ve completed insulating your house, you need to work out how to keep it ventilated. When many New Zealanders lived in largely uninsulated, draughty homes this wasn’t an issue, but it is now. While well-heated, insulated, draught-free houses are warm and healthy, a completely airtight house is not. You need ventilation for air quality, to reduce condensation and to keep the moisture in the air down. If you house smells stale and damp, you need to make sure you are opening doors and windows regularly to let the fresh air in. That’s easy enough in summer, but you need to do it in winter as well. Air your house
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for a few minutes every day by opening doors and windows on opposite sides of the house and creating a cross draught. At night, ventilate your bedrooms by leaving a window slightly ajar on a catch. To avoid condensation problems, ventilate the house before you leave in the morning and just before you go to bed at night. There is funding available to help people who qualify to insulate their homes. Warm Up New Zealand: Healthy Homes offers free ceiling and underfloor insulation for lowincome households in many parts of the country. To find out if you qualify, contact an insulation service provider in your area. Some local councils and banks have payment options available to help with the cost of installing insulation and heating. Before you make any decisions on where, how and with what to insulate your home, do your research. There are several websites where you can source unbiased information. Before you buy your insulation, either from a supplier or through an installer, ask them for as much information on their product as possible. Find out how long the product will last and what guarantees are in place. Various safety questions have been raised over time about some products and you should find out if these have been resolved or if new information has come to hand. You need to be confident and comfortable that whatever you have chosen is the right choice for your family.
CEILINGS Blanket or biscuit (segment) insulation is recommended for ceilings. Check the prices with two or three suppliers for the type you think will best suit your requirements. FLOORS The same products used in ceilings are suitable for floors and EECA recommends using bulk (biscuit or blanket) insulation. There are various foil insulations available also but EECA does not recommend them. WALLS Segments or blankets are suitable for walls but do require removing either the cladding or the interior lining to install. To save the hassle of doing this you could use Uffi (injected insulation) which can be pumped in through small holes in the cladding or lining. For this to be successful you need to be sure the cladding is weathertight. WINDOWS Double glazing is often specified for new homes because it is the best way of insulating windows, but there are other methods and products which may better suit your budget.
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Good ventilation Your home is a mini-ecosystem with its own peculiarities and mix of climatic conditions and ventilation is the key to keeping it healthy. By Helen Frances
If you are living in a 1940s bungalow part of its character might include draughts (uncontrolled ventilation), no insulation, and windows that are too large on the sunless south-facing side. The house can be hard to heat and black patches may appear on curtains, wallpaper and clothes. Mould loves cold and damp and can cause allergies. If your home was built within the last two decades you are likely to have no draughts and the temperature will be more comfortable – insulation and double-glazing see to that, and it is easier to heat – but moisture from human breath, boiling pots, clothes drying inside and bathroom steam (to name a few) will have no means of escape unless you ventilate regularly. Come winter when the temperature drops outside the windows in older homes weep with condensation. You wrap up, turn on the heater (caution, un-flued gas heaters produce moisture) and keep the windows and doors tightly shut. In the modern house you may not realise that airflow is still necessary even though you feel pretty snug compared with friends who are shivering in their older family home. As houses get more airtight, they become easier to heat. However this improved airtightness means it’s even more important to make sure you have good ventilation to stop the air in your home getting stale
and damp. Good ventilation is essential to maintain air quality and remove excess moisture from your home. Having a draughty house is not the same as good ventilation.” Poor ventilation results in damp, mould (45 per cent of houses have it in New Zealand), possibly asthma (one in four of our children get it), and more colds and flu.
venting moisture outside, and install a large, energy efficient heating system in the main living area. “Most houses will need supplementary heating and ventilation but how much depends largely on the age and type of house. The older it is, the less airtight it is and the more ventilation you get passively
As houses get more airtight, they become easier to heat. However this improved airtightness means it’s even more important to make sure you have good ventilation Cold damp houses pose serious health risks especially for children, elderly and infirm people who spend more time at home. In winter, inadequate (or too much) ventilation is responsible for at least half of the problems Auckland Council’s Eco design advisor Eion Scott sees in homes. “Ventilation is one of the most important things to consider after insulation if it’s a damp or cold house. Once the house is well insulated there is still often the issue of what is creating dampness in the house. So eliminate moisture sources like rising damp (by installing a polythene sheet on the ground under a piled house), make sure bathrooms and kitchens have extractor fans
through gaps and cracks in the building envelope, and therefore the greater the heating requirement.” On the other hand, ventilation needs to be planned for in modern, airtight houses. Options for passive ventilation include: trickle vents in window frames; security stays that allow windows to be safely left open when the house is unoccupied; tiltand-turn windows, much used in Europe, that can be left open in a secure ventilation position (top tilted inwards) or fully opened like a casement window; planning for each room to have openable windows in more than one wall so that summer breezes can provide free cross-ventilation;
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and fly screens where flies are a problem. If you have tried all other options and still have condensation or mould issues, then a mechanical ventilation system may be for you. There are two main types – positive pressure or forced air ventilation systems and balanced pressure / heat exchanger ventilation systems (see consumer.org.nz for an overview). Positive pressure systems use roof air to ventilate the inside of the home. They dilute and circulate air, helping to wipe moisture off cold surfaces such as windows. The industry contends that pressurisation forces moisture out through the building fabric, but this doesn’t work in airtight houses where there are not enough gaps and cracks for the moisture to be released outside, Scott says. Balanced pressure/heat exchanger ventilation systems are designed for such houses. They extract warm, damp air from living spaces and pass it through a heat-exchanger to heat up dry air which the system brings in from outside. Because of its relatively benign winters, Auckland may not be the ideal place for them, Scott says, but they may be very beneficial in the Central North Island or South Island where there are high heating needs in winter and you want the house to be as energy efficient as possible.
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WARM UP FOR WINTER
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Auckland made Masport wood fires have many models that meet both current and proposed Auckland council standards.
FRIENDLY FIRE There has been recent confusion about whether Aucklanders can install or keep their wood fires or open fireplaces. The good news is that you can still install a Masport wood fire in your Auckland home
Auckland made Masport wood fires have nearly thirty clean air models that meet both current and proposed Auckland council standards. But even without council standards changing, there are many great reasons to upgrade your pre2005 wood fire. Today’s Masport wood fires are environmentally friendlier, cheaper to run and easier to clean. Combustion technologically has come a long way in 10 years. The Masport Wood Fire Research and Development Center have designed air management systems that can give your fire a cleaner and more efficient burn. Pre-2005 wood fires and open fires have efficiency levels that range between 30-50%, unlike modern Masport wood fires which are up to 77% efficient. The result is more energy out of your fuel, lower heating costs and no more smoky chimneys!
There are many other reasons to install a Masport wood fire. · Fire wood is cost effective, making it the cheapest form of heating. There are numerous fire wood outlets in Auckland and most will deliver wood to your door. · As wood is a renewable energy source, it is a sound environmental choice. Modern wood fires create no air-polluting smoke. · Wood fires are designed to heat your whole home. Even the smallest Masport wood fire, which can put out 14 kilowatts, will heat a 140 square meter house when equipped with a heat transfer system. · The ambience from a wood fire is unmatchable. The perfect warmth to bring the family together. · Masport wood fires have a range of easy clean models. Ash can be collected in a removable ash pan at the base of the wood fire.
· A Masport wood fire has multiple functions. Apart from warming your home, they can be used for water heating and cooking, making it a smart solution if the power goes out. · Masport wood fires are made in Auckland. This means operational spare parts are available for purchase up to 15 years from the last date of manufacture. · Masport offer a 10 year full warranty on our fire boxes so you know they have been designed to stand the test of time. A Masport wood fire will ensure you have the most cost effective heating solution that also meets proposed council air quality standards. Support your local business and the team at the Masport wood fire factory in Auckland and install a Masport Wood fire today!
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SUPPLIED EDITORIAL
WARM UP FOR WINTER
Cosy up
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We’ve had a long, hot summer – but daylight savings has come to an end, there is a chill in the air, particularly at night. Winter is approaching and it’s time to consider how we will keep warm, dry and well during the cold months. If you found that your heating last year was especially costly or ineffective you need to look into installing a Masport wood fire. If you are looking for the highest service at the lowest price then make contact with North City Heating in Mairangi Bay or Lawn Heat & Leisure in Pakuranga. Being family businesses and having over 20 years’ experience North City Heating and Lawn Heat & Leisure will ensure that your wood fire needs are met with the greatest of ease. Their fully trained staff are capable of offering that same personal service and knowledge that has been the hallmark of a specialist wood fire dealer. They provide an inhome advisory service before you buy and offer a full installation service by a highly skilled team of professional installers and craftsmen making sure the job is done right the first time.
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SUPPLIED EDITORIAL
WARM UP FOR WINTER
THE BENEFITS OF DOUBLE GLAZING
TO DOUBLE GLAZING
Retrofit your home and keep the warmth in and the noise out WHAT IS RETROFIT DOUBLE GLAZING? Retrofit double-glazing is the process of replacing your existing single glazing with double glazed units. The process is quick and unobtrusive. The only difference you will notice is a more comfortable temperature all year round. This is not a low quality, clip-on solution. Our double-glazing solutions are purpose built for each home, and meet the highest construction standards. All materials can be colour matched to suit your existing window frames. WHY RETROFIT DOUBLE GLAZE YOUR HOME? Now you can enjoy the comfort and lower heating bills that come with doubleglazing. RetroFit double glazed windows are individually crafted to fit your existing joinery, so you will keep the look of your home but upgrade its comfort. You will save money on
CONVERT SINGLE GLAZING
heating, reduce condensation and cut down external noise. By choosing the Retrofit service, you gain the confidence of dealing with New Zealand’s largest glass and glazing company Metro Performance Glass. At RetroFit, we use the latest Low E glass technology in our double glazed window units. Low E stands for ‘low emissivity’, which means the glass reflects more heat and solar rays than plain glass does. Therefore, when you are heating your home during winter, less of the warmth will be lost through the glass. Conversely, when the sun is beating down in summer, less heat and solar radiation will enter the building. THE SIX MAJOR BENEFITS OF RETROFIT DOUBLE GLAZING A warmer house in winter comes from using Low E Double Glazing, keeping the heat in
and the cold out. And because there is less need for heating systems, you’ll be reducing energy consumption, which saves on your power bills and helps the environment. A cooler house in summer reduces solar heat gain that can overheat your house, while also insulating your house from temperature outside. Reduced condensation. Condensation is that “crying look” that single glazed windows get. This is a serious problem, it causes mould and mildew, and in some cases, it will also rot timber window frames and damage your family’s health. Reduced noise for a calmer, quieter home. High performance double-glazing can reduce
THE WARMEST HOUSE ON THE STREET COULD BE THE ONE YOU ALREADY LIVE IN Warm on the inside: Cold on the outside. Retro-fitting double glazing in all or just some of your existing Retro-fitting windows will make your home warmer, whilst at the same time:
REDUCE CONDENSATION
REDUCE COLD
REDUCE HEATING COSTS
REDUCE NOISE
RBMPG00049
For a free measure and quote call: Or visit www.retrodg.co.nz RetroFit is a division of Metro Performance Glass
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outside noise, making it a great investment if you live by a busy road or beneath a flight path. Ask us about our sound solutions. A safer and more secure home, as it is more difficult for intruders to break in through double glazed windows, particularly if you include laminated or toughened glass. The use of safety glass will also upgrade your existing single glazed windows to current Human impact building code requirements. Better resale value of your home. Now an older home can be just as desirable to the purchaser who wants to ensure that the house they buy is efficiently insulated. With retrofit double-glazing, any home can get these benefits!
ASK US ABOUT OUR FINANCE OPTIONS OR you could talk to your bank about a loan for home improvements
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SUPPLIED EDITORIAL
WARM UP FOR WINTER
KEEPING THE GLOW
THE ENERGY SMART HOME How renovating with solar can save you money
Escea’s gas fireplace keeps the comfort and glow of a real fire The day has come where those beautifully grand brick chimney fireplaces are steadily becoming redundant, and are now even recognised as harmful to our health. However, it’s hard to let go of the charming glow and comfort a fireplace has to offer – although, not so much the dirt, dust and mess. With Escea’s new AF700 gas fireplace, it is easier than ever to replace your old open fronted wood fireplace or radiant space heater. The AF700 is the perfect replacement fireplace as its dimensions are more suited to typically tight-spaced masonry and brick cavities. For this installation, Escea uses a simple flue solution which runs down the brick or masonry chimney. The Direct Vent flue, in combination with the glass front, offers a completely sealed system bringing fresh outside air inside the firebox for combustion
and carries exhaust air away. This makes the AF700 a more efficient, healthier and ultimately warmer heating solution. The Escea designers have kept in mind that these chimney cavities will most likely be surrounded by a mantel, tiles or have a hearth in front. This ignited the idea that homeowners mainly want flame, so the AF700 was created with the largest viewable glass area and a minimal fascia. This fireplace will adapt to its surroundings with ease. Finally, it’s replacing an old soot-filled wood fireplace with a fireplace that you can control with a smartphone app – where can I get one? You can even win one of your very own to transform your living space this winter. Find out more competition details at Escea.com. Above: The Escea fireplace will adapt to its surroundings with ease.
More Flame, Less Frame. Discover the new AF700 gas fireplace that redefines its category. www.escea.com
As property prices continue to increase, more homeowners are choosing to renovate and experts say if they include solar in their plans, they should be able to save thousands. With the introduction of solarZero, a first-of-its kind $0-down solar power plan, the ability to go solar and save money on power is now firmly within reach of all Kiwi homeowners. Launched by New Zealand’s leading solar power company, solarcity, home builders and renovators can now have solar panels installed on their roof without having to pay for the panels or installation. Solarcity will maintain and monitor your solar panels and all the solar power generated can be used directly in your home to support your daytime energy needs. “Through solarZero customers can buy power produced from the panels at
a lower rate than they can buy it from traditional power companies. Furthermore, that rate is locked down for 20 years, a huge benefit when you consider that the price of power has gone up by 55% in the past ten years,” says Andrew Booth, founder and chief executive of solarcity. Solar power is a cleaner and cheaper form of energy and this is the first time in New Zealand that there has been a simple way to go solar with no upfront costs. “solarZero ticks a lot of boxes for homebuilders and renovators, you can achieve a higher HomeStar rating, reduce your household spend and contribute to a sustainable future for the next generation,” says Booth. To find out how you can go solar with solarZero call 0800 11 66 55 or visit solarcity.co.nz
Builders and renovators can now have solar panels installed on their roof without having to pay for the panels or installation.
SOLAR POWER.
WITH NO UPFRONT
COSTS. ZERO DOWN. ZERO IMPACT.
This is your chance to protect yourself against the rising costs of electricity. In the last 10 years electricity prices have risen by a staggering 55%. At this rate, a household currently paying $250 per month could be hit with a power bill close to $400 per month, by 2025. Switch to solar power for your daytime energy needs, and lock in a low solar power rate, guaranteed never to rise. And you pay nothing upfront for panels. No cost of installation. Guaranteed for 20 years.
It’s the clean, clever choice for the future. solarcity.co.nz
ISO 14064-1 • certified organisation
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0800 11 66 55
SUPPLIED EDITORIAL
WARM UP FOR WINTER
CLEAN, CLASSIC
HEATING Designed by NZ scientists and built by NZ craftsman in Hawke’s Bay, the Pyroclassic IV wood fire is the cleanest, greenest and most efficient wood heater available All Pyroclassic Fires have been manufactured here in NZ for more than 30 years, and were originally developed by scientists at the DSIR who were given the task of creating the ultimate solution for heating a home in the most environmentallyconscious way. The Pyroclassic IV wood fire is quite simply the best way of heating your home and domestic hot water that money can buy, it is available in over 100 different colours which can be swapped out and interchanged at any time for total versatility. magazines have Consumer consistently rated the Pyroclassic IV as their number 1 top performing wood fire. It will give you up to 15kW of space heating through its
“The Pyroclassic IV is the cleanest burning unit available on the market”
massive cylindrical ceramic fire chamber – more than enough to heat a large home – and can provide up to 3.7kW of water heating via its high output wetback option. It even gives you the option of cooking on the 10mm-thick steel top plate, or use its optional oven hood and all whilst using the minimum amount of fuel and giving such a good burn that there’s hardly any ash or emissions. The Pyroclassic IV is the cleanest burning unit available on the market, capable of a genuine 10+ overnight burn with or without a wetback while still complying with the Ministry of Environments clean air emission standards, it achieves these things by converting virtually all the wood you
burn into practical and useable heat for your home. Trees are a carbon-neutral energy source, as they absorb as much CO2 when growing as they release when burning or rotting on the forest floor. So as councils all over the country begin enforcing strict national airpollutionstandards,usingwoodfuelin a Pyroclassic IV is surely the most environmentally-conscious and costeffective way of heating your home. Pyroclassic Fires are available from a growing number of distributors throughout New Zealand. To find a full list of your local suppliers – or to check out some of the 100+ different colours and various accessories that come with NZ’s best wood fire. On the web pyroclassic.co.nz
Consumer magazines have consistently rated the Pyroclassic IV as their number one top performing wood fire.
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UP TO 9 YEARS TO PAY ...on insulation & heat pumps
Insulation & Heating
Ventilation
LED Lighting
Smart Energy Solutions is your one-stop-shop for home warmth and energy efficiency We offer free home assessments for insulation, heat pumps, home ventilation systems, LED downlights and more. We are an approved Auckland Council RetroFit Your Home provider. This programme allows homeowners to pay off insulation, heat pumps and more on their rates – some terms, conditions and interest apply.
Book your FREE Home Assessment today!
For regions outside of Auckland we can help with a f range off finance options that may help you insulate in time for winter. We provide free home assessments and no-obligation quotes on all products so contact us TODAY!
0800 888 766
Phone: or visit www.smartenergysolutions.co.nz