Self Home Energy Check
- Self home energy check
- Checklist
- Energy use in a typical home
- Heat losses from a home
- Do you still have questions?
»Self home energy check
Here is a do-it-yourself assessment of the energy efficiency of your home.
1. Christchurch households consumes an average of 8,710 kWh of electricity (approximately $ 1,830 per year), or 726 kWh/month ($150 per month) (BRANZ, 2006 "Energy use in New Zealand Households". pp 18).
If your bill is much greater than the average, electricity might be being wasted and there could be energy saving opportunities! Please note that even if you consume less than the average, it is likely that there is still opportunities for cost savings.
2. Check that you are on the most economical electricity plan:
Compare power prices quickly and easily with Consumer PowerSwitch, a consumer online service. The website is: www.powerswitch.org.nz or see the Energy Price Comparison & FAQs section of this website.
3. Use the following checklist to assess your home.
»CHECKLIST
You can download and printout the Home Energy Self Checklist or view the list online below.
Self Home Energy Check (49.66 KB)
*Calculations of energy savings are based on a 90 square meter house, plus prices of insulation products include GST, cost of installation and current price of electricity.
Insulation
There is at least 100mm of insulation in the ceiling.
30-35% of the heat loss from a home is through the ceiling. Insulation will save on your heating bills.
Yearly Savings: ~ $350 (Assuming R3.2 batts are installed)
Payback Period: 4-5 yrs
Action: See Insulation Products. There is underfloor insulation.
Insulation under the floor will decrease dampness and increase warmth and comfort.
Yearly Savings: ~ $70
Payback: 11-12 years (Assuming R2.1 bulk under-floor insulation installed)
Action: See Insulation Products
There is no dampness under the floor
Soils in some parts of Christchurch can be damp and/or mouldy, causing rising dampness into the house which can trigger or aggravate health problems.
Yearly Savings: related mostly to health and comfort. But it is easier and less expensive to heat a dry house.
Action: Install damp-proofing polythene. See Insulation Products
There are lined or thermal-backed fitted curtains in all heated areas of the house that are at least 1.5 times the width of the window and drop at least 10cm below the window sills.
A lot of heat is lost through windows, especially if they are single glazed. Good curtains can help.
Yearly Savings: Up to $90
Payback: 5 years
Action: Make or reline them, buy new, or see the Curtain Bank.
The external doors and windows are not draughty.
Draughts remove heat and create discomfort.
Yearly Savings: $20 per door
Payback: 1-2 yrs
Action: Use D.I.Y. V-seal and weather strips from hardware stores or see our online retail shop.
The fireplace is blocked off when not in use.
Draughts remove heat and create discomfort.
Action: Enquire about Environment Canterbury's Clean Heat Project.
Any extraction fans or vents are closed when not in use.
Draughts remove heat and create discomfort..
Action: If they cannot be closed remove them and open windows and doors for ventilation as needed.
Hot Water
The hot water temperature at the tap is 55°C - 60°C, or the hot water thermostat is adjusted to 60°C.
Water heating is another big energy user. (Up to 40% of your energy bill)
Action: Check thermostat is set correctly and working properly.
The hot water cylinder is insulated, and the first metre of hot water pipe is lagged.
Yearly Savings: $100
Payback: Less than one year.
Action: Check with Community Energy Action about financial assistance. Also see Insulation Products
Hot water taps don't drip.
Action: Sometimes as simple as changing a washer.
The shower is low flow i.e. between 6-9.5 litres per min.
Yearly Savings: $85
Payback: up to 3 years.
Action: If greater than 12 litres per minute, install a low flow shower head or a flow restrictor.
The hot water cylinder's overflow vent (which is located on the roof) is not overflowing or losing water.
Action: If it is overflowing the thermostat may be set too high or faulty. If the cylinder has a Pressure Reducing Valve it may need checking by a registered plumber.
Lighting
Energy efficient light bulbs installed where lights are on for long periods.
Yearly Savings: up to $13
Payback: 1.6 yrs
Action: Purchase from hardware stores or supermarkets.
Refrigeration
The fridge has a temperature of 4°C.
If lettuce freezes in your fridge or ice-cream is rock hard in the freezer your appliance is too cold.
Action: Check settings.
Fridge and freezer are defrosted twice a year.
These appliances operate more efficiently when defrosted regularly.
Action: Defrost.
No excess fridges or freezers.
A little used 300w fridge could cost up to $20/month to run.
Action: Get rid of that unused or little used refrigerator or freezer.
Refrigerator is at least 3cm away from the wall. Allows air to circulate freely around the fridge.
Coils to the rear of the fridge are clean. Allows more efficient heat exchange from the coils to the air.
Fridge is not in a sunny place or next to an oven. The warmth of the sun or an oven means the fridge has to work harder.
Other Large Users
Look for extra items which can use a lot of electricity e.g. swimming pools, spa pools, water feature pumps, fish tanks, respirators. These kind of uses are often neglected, but can amount to a lot of money.
Use these wisely! If they are not needed, turn them off.
»There are lots of things YOU can do for FREE to save energy
Close doors so that only rooms that are in use are heated.
Do not use portable gas heaters as they create dampness and can cause ill health.
Turn off lights when not in use.
When it is only slightly cool, an extra layer is put on rather than turning on the heater.
Turn off heaters when they are not in use.
Take short showers not baths.
Place the plug in the basin when washing or shaving.
Minimize the use of the heated towel rail.
Use the microwave instead of the oven whenever possible. Microwaves use less energy for the same heating.
Keep lids on boiling pots and only boil as long as necessary. This minimises condensation and avoids mould and mildew.
Open windows and close the kitchen door when cooking. Same as above.
If only a small amount of hot water is needed boil the kettle.
Do laundry in cold water.
Dry clothes on the line whenever possible.
Wash only full loads.
Turn appliances off at the wall (not the fridge!), including washing machine, oven, microwave, T.V., video, stereos, when they are not in use. The average house uses about 60 watts every hour if appliances aren't switched off at the wall. Yearly stand-by losses can cost you up to $105 per year.
Use your log burner efficiently.
In general, wood cut to a maximum thickness of 10-15cm should be used-this size provides more surface area for burning, giving greater efficiency. Only burn dry wood. Burning wet wood is inefficient; it reduces heat output and can cause smoke pollution.
To check if wood is dry, strike two pieces together. Dry wood gives a sharp, crack sound, wet wood makes a dull thud. Also, if the ends of a log are cracked, it is likely to be dry.
Never burn rubbish, plastics or chemically treated, driftwood, or laminated and painted wood. Burning such material can release toxic chemicals that are harmful and can corrode your burner.
34% Space heating
29% Hot water 
10% Refrigeration
13% Other appliances
8% Lighting
6% Cooking (1)
30-35% Ceiling
18-25% Walls
21-31% Windows
12-14% Floor
6-9% Draughts (2)
(1) Source: http://www.branz.co.nz/cms_show_download.php?id=97
(2) Source: Department of Building and Housing "Your guide to $marter insulation". pg. 3
Do you still have questions?
The Home Energy Advice Centre provides free, impartial expert advice on home energy issues over the phone. The Home Energy Advice Centre is open Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm. They can be contacted on 0800 388 588.