Top priorities for a warm home

It can be hard to prioritise what to spend your money on, or which actions to take that will be most effective at making your home warmer, healthier, and affordable to run.

The actions listed below will provide most benefit and have the biggest impact. Several are easy, cheap, and sometimes free. Sometimes what you do at no or low cost can make almost as much difference as spending a lot of money on heating and insulation. Homeowners achieve the best outcomes when they try both approaches.

Implementing all of these actions can be a long term project - years sometimes! It is important to keep in mind that some of these changes may not necessarily always result in lower energy bills. Instead you will notice a significant increase in warmth and comfort, or an improvement in the energy services in your home (e.g. a supply of hot water more suited to your needs).

And don't forget that it's usually cheaper to spend a little more to stay warm and healthy than pay for repeat visits to the doctor or hospital, or taking time off work and school if you become unwell as a consequence of living in a cold, damp home.

Action	Benefit	Cost	More information
Insulation
Install ceiling and under floor insulation. Find out about the subsidies.	Reduce heat loss, heating costs and dampness.	$$$$	Insulation
Heating
Install an energy star rated heating system in the main living area. Find out about the subsidies.	Improved heating efficiency, warmth, comfort & health. Reduce heating costs, dampness & condensation	$$$$	Types of heating
Draught proofing
Install self adhesive draught proof strips to window and exterior door frames as needed. You can buy them from our (online) shop.	Reduce draughts, heat loss and heating costs.	$	Draught proofing
Lighting
Replace all incandescent light bulbs with energy saving Compact Fluorescent (CFL) bulbs (warm white)	Improve lighting efficiency, reduce electricity use and electricity bills	$	http://www.rightlight.govt.nz/
Windows
Install heavy lined curtains with enclosed curtains rails or pelmets on all uncurtained windows. Contact our Curtain Bank if you can't afford curtains. Install DIY window insulation if you have suitable frames. DIY window insulation is available from our (online) shop.	Improve warmth, comfort and health. Reduce heat loss and heating bills	$ - $$$	What can I do if I can't afford double glazing
Electricity
Check you are buying electricity from the cheapest electricity retailer Check you are on the right energy plan. Sign up for ‘smooth pay' or ‘ level pay' if you are struggling to pay your winter bills.	Reduce electricity bills Winter heating bills are easier to manage	Free-$	The Energy Advice Service can help you. Contact them now.
Ventilation
Install an extractor fan in the bathroom to exhaust damp air out of the house. Install a range hood in the kitchen as well if you can afford it. Ventilate your house regularly during winter by opening windows for a few minutes	Improve ventilation, indoor air quality, warmth, comfort and health. Reduce dampness, condensation, building decay and heating costs	Free - $$$	Ventilation
Hot Water
Check flow rate of shower and install a flow restrictor or low flow shower head if higher than 8 litres per minute Check temperature of hot water. Adjust if it is not 60 degrees Celsius at the thermostat, or 55 degrees Celsius at the tap. Wrap the cylinder. DIY hot water cylinder wraps are available from our (online) shop. Take shorter showers.	Reduce electricity use	Free - $$	The Energy Advice Service can give you more advice or come out (a fee applies) for a Hot Water Check. Contact the Energy Advice Service now.
Refrigeration Review the number of refrigerators and/or freezers you have. Turn them off if you don't use them.	Reduce electricity use	FREE

Top priorities for a warm home

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