Tips to create a healthy, energy-efficient home

​Top tips to make your house warmer, drier and more energy-efficient

Outside

• Trim trees or plants that are blocking any windows, and make sure your curtains are open all day to take advantage of the sun in winter.

Insulation

• Check your ceiling and underfloor insulation – if you can see the ceiling joists inside the roof cavity, or any gaps in the insulation, it needs to be topped up - see GenLess website for assessing ceiling and underfloor insulation.

• Stop draughts – make sure your doors and windows fit their frames properly, block up old fireplaces, and use draught-stopping tape or seal and draught excluders. Watch the video on reducing home heat loss.

• Install lined curtains that reach to the floor, and are covered by a pelmet or face-fitting tracks at the top. This can be as effective as double glazing - see ecoadvisor.org.nz for more information.

Heating

• Set your heating system to 18 degrees in the bedroom, and 21 degrees in the living room. Invest in a plug-in thermostat for heating appliances to keep you warm and healthy without wasting energy.
• Make sure your heating system is clean and efficient – clean your heat pump's filter regularly, and have your chimney or flue swept once a year.
• Replace your inefficient and costly unflued gas heater. Choose your new heating method after comparing the different options.

Managing moisture

• Watch video on fixing home dampness.
• Get externally ducted extractor fans for your bathroom and kitchen.
• Dry clothes outside, or use a drier for a short amount of time (this is more efficient than using a dehumidifier).
• Put down a groundsheet under the floor to help with rising damp - guidelines for this project are available online.
• Wipe condensation off your windows in the morning.
• Open your windows for at least 20 minutes a day.

Hot water

• Check your shower's flow rate – if it fills a 10L bucket in less than a minute, it's wasting water.
• Consider a water-efficient shower head or a flow control disc to keep the flow rate to 9L/minute.
• Consider installing a flow restrictor or low-flow showerhead.
• Insulate your hot water cylinder and pipes, either with a cylinder wrap or some old blankets.

Lighting and appliances

• Wash clothes in cold water.
• When replacing an appliance, choose the model with most energy efficiency stars.
• Hang washing outside instead of using the dryer.
• Turn appliances off at the wall when not in use.
• Choose energy efficient lightbulbs.