THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE

HOME ENTERTAINMENT

HOUSE EXTERIOR

IN THE OFFICE

IN THE BATHROOM

IN THE WASH ROOM

ON THE ROAD

IN THE KITCHEN

HOT WATER CYLINDER

HOME HEATING

RECYCLING

POWER COMPANY's

CONDENSATION

THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE

1. Turn lights off when you leave a room.
2. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs with the Energy Rating label
3. Install Solar Water Heating to augment your hot water cylinder
4. If you're designing a new home put the washroom in a warmer area of the house (north side). Clothes will dry quicker in a clothes drier (if you wish to use one) if the input air is warmer.
5. If you're designing a new home put the room that you have your refridgerator and freezer in the coldest side of the house. Freezers and refridgerators use ambient room temperature to "heat exchange", With ambient room temperature colder then the systems will not have to work as hard to drop the interior temperature.
6. Reduce air conditioning costs by using ceiling fans, keeping windows and doors shut and closing shades during the day. Most ceiling fans use less energy than a light bulb, much less than a heat pump or airconditioning.
7. Insulate, Insulate, Insulate. Determine the current level of insulation. In the attic, measure the depth of existing insulation using a ruler. If there is less than R-1.9 which is 100mm of Fibreglass Batts, wool blanket or polyester blends you coul add more. Insulfluff (mascerated paper) needs to the between 120mm and 150mm to achieve R1.9, add a layer of 100mm of Fibreglas batts or simialr. Insulation is rated by "R" factor. R1.9 is code compliant but the more the better.  See the BRANZ recommendations.
8. Remove dust from lighting fittings to maintain illumination.
9. When you're phone is plugged in but fully charged, you're drawing 2.24 W (and when the charger alone is stuck in the wall you're down to 0.14 W). This uses about 2kW of energy a year PER CHARGER (most of us have multiple chargers, phones, Ipods, headphones, toothbrush chargers etc), simply by disconnecting the power you can save up to 10Kw per household.

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HOME ENTERTAINMENT

1. Turn off the Quick Start option. Some HDTVs and some other AV gear have an option called Quick Start or something similar, which allows them to turn on more quickly when you press the power button. The flipside of this mode is that when engaged, it typically consumes more power (sometimes up to 50 times as much) during standby.
2. Turn down the LCD's backlight. Many LCDs give you the ability to control the intensity of the backlight in the TV. By turning down the backlight, you'll lower power consumption, but also make the TV less bright. While retail stores love to turn the backlights up all the way for their displays, we find that we get the best image quality when we turn down the backlight significantly.
3. Turn on the power saver mode. Many TVs come with a power saver mode that's designed to cut down the power consumption. Performance of this mode varies from model to model, with the effect sometimes being drastic and other times providing only a slight savings. The only downside is that the power saver mode usually makes the TV less bright, but we've found that sometimes this has a beneficial effect on the image quality, especially with the room lights turned off, in which case it's a win-win situation.
4. Reduce light output with other settings. Many people buy a TV, turn it on, and never think to change the picture settings. Not only is that bad for the picture quality, it's bad for power consumption. Most TVs are very bright by default, and that leads to using more juice.
5. If you have a CRT television or computer monitor, consider upgrading to an LCD. An LCD uses about 1/3 of the power (and causes less eyestrain to boot).

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HOUSE EXTERIOR

1. Fit motion sensor security lights or timers to the outside of the house instead of leaving outside lights on at all times.
2. Change any exterior lights to CFL (Compact Fluorescent lamp). If they are left on for any length of time they'll save 80% of the costs.

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IN THE OFFICE

1. Turn off your computer and monitor when not in use.
2. Turn off Printers, in standby mode they still use power.
3. Plug home electronics, such as TVs and DVD players, into power strips; turn the power strips off when the equipment is not in use (TVs and DVDs in standby mode still use several watts of power).
4. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs with the Energy Rating label.
5. Check with your Electrician if your fluorescent fittings use electronic control ballasts instead of the old copper and stell cored ballast.
6. Keep the fluorescent fittings diffuser clean, this will maintain light ouput.
7. Don't place computers, monitors and printers near your air-conditioning thermostat or directly underneath you indoor unit. The thermostat senses heat from these appliances, which can cause the air conditioner to run longer than necessary.
8. If there is a garden around your exterior heat pump units plant trees or shrubs to shade the unit but not to block the airflow. A unit operating in the shade uses as much as 10% less electricity than the same one operating in the sun.
9. If you have a CRT or computer monitor, consider upgrading to an LCD. An LCD uses about 1/3 of the power (and causes less eyestrain to boot).

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IN THE BATHROOM

1. Take short showers instead of baths.
2. Lower the thermostat on your hot water heater to 55°C.
3. Install Solar Water Heating to augment your hot water cylinder.
4. Fit an economical showerhead – this could save you litres of water for every minute you’re in the shower. A good shower should take a minute or longer to fill a ten litre bucket.
5. Repair leaky taps.
6. If you use heated towel rails, install a heated towel rail timer to turn them off at night.

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IN THE WASH ROOM/HOUSE

1. Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes.
2. Wash loads on a cold cycle only, this will save a massive 90% in running costs.
3. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs with the Energy Rating label.
4. Install Solar Water Heating to augment your hot water cylinder
5. Only put a wash through when you have a full load.
6. Hang clothes to dry rather than using a drier - in the warmer months, an outside clothes line is a great Idea, and in colder months, a clothes horse in a well-ventilated part of the house will do the trick.
7. Clean your clothes drier's outside vent is clear and clean the lint filter after every load. When shopping for a new drier look for one with a moisture sensor that automatically shuts off when clothes are dry.
8. If your washing machine has the functionality, change the water level to suit the size of the load you are washing. It will have to pump for less time to drain the water.

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ON THE ROAD

1. Drive sensibly. Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes petrol.
2. Carpool, join a car pool service, see NZ Search's Carpooling Site for your local carpool registrys.
3. Drive smoothly, avoid heavy braking and acceleration.
4. Change to a higher gear as early as possible as you accelerate.
5. Keep you engine well tuned, check your oil and renew as it's due (oil has a definite life).
6. Keep your boot and back seat clear of unneccessary that just add weight.
7. If you're not using your roof rack or roof box then remove it, it just adds weight and wind resistance.
8. Keep your windows closed especially if driving at high speeds.
9. Always use the recommended grade of oil in your engine.
10. Use cruise control on major roads and in free flowing traffic.
11. Turn your engine off in traffic jams to avoid excessive idling.
12. Keep your Tires out of Landfiills . There are two main ways you can help keep used tires out of the landfills: delay your need to replace your tires, and make sure your old tires are recycled properly when you do buy new ones. Many "recyclers" just chop the tire up into four sections and truck them to the landfill.
13. How to Delay Tire Replacement

Keep your tires properly inflated. Check the air pressure in all tires (including your spare) when the tires are cold; do this once a month and before any long trip. The correct air pressure should be on the sticker attached to the car door, door post, fuel door, or glove box. You can also check your owner's manual, the tire manufacturer, or a local tire dealer.
At least once a month, inspect all your tires for signs of uneven wear, which can be an indication of improper tire inflation, improper balance, poor suspension, or misalignment.
When checking for tire wear, also look for any glass, stones, or metal objects that may have become stuck in your tires. Deeply embedded items can cause loss of air pressure.
Rotate your tires approximately every 10,000 kms (or sooner if there are signs of uneven wear) or as specified by the tire manufacturer.
Drive responsibly: avoid potholes, don't hit curbs, avoid fast starts, turns, and stops

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IN THE KITCHEN

A huge area of power consumption in the home, power saving here will directly impact your power bill.

1. When purchasing new appliances look for the Energy Label on home appliances and products.
2. Air dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher's drying cycle.
3. Lower the thermostat on your hot water heater to 55°C.
4. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs with the Energy Rating label.
5. Install Solar Water Heating to augment your hot water cylinder
6. Buy an energy efficient refrigerator – a modern model will use 25% less than an older model. See the Energy Rating label.
7. Ensure your fridge and freezer doors are well sealed - the fridge should run at regular intervals, not continuously.
8. When heating a pot on your stove-top, use a lid which fits the pot. The water will boil quicker.
9. Use a microwave where possible, as this uses half the electricity as a conventional stove.
10. Don't use a dishwasher, but if you need to, run it only when you have a full load and choose an energy efficient model. See Energy Rating label.
11. Do not open your refrigerator frequently.
12. Don't keep your refrigerator or freezer too cold, set your refrigerator thermostat in medium cooling position.
13. Keep your refrigerator away from the wall with a reasonable gap around, it if built in, so that air can easily circulate around the refrigerator.
14. Do not overload the refrigerator, airflow around the food is important.
15. Defrost your refrigerator regularly ice between the food and freezer coils acts as an insulator.
16. Regularly defrost manual-defrost refrigerators and freezers; frost buildup increases the amount of energy needed to keep the motor running.
17. Leave enough space between your refrigerator and the walls so that air can easily circulate around the refrigerator.
18. Make sure your refrigerator door seals are airtight.
19. Cover liquids and wrap foods stored in the refrigerator. Uncovered foods release moisture and make the compressor work harder.
20. Don't leave the fridge door open for longer than necessary, as cold air will escape.
21. Avoid putting hot or warm food straight into the fridge.
22. You can turn off electric stoves several minutes before the specified cooking time. Residual heat will carry on cooking the food.
23. Use flat-bottomed pans that make full contact with the cooking element.
24. If you are washing a small number of dishes, use hot water from the kettle. If you use hot water out of the tap you'll introduce cold water into your hot water cylinder which will drop the temperature of the entire tank.
25. Use the element on the stove that matches the size of the pot you are cooking in.
26. When using the oven, only open the door when absolutely necessary.  Each time you open the door, the temperature drops about 25 degrees celcius.
27. Use your oven to cook more than one dish at a time.
28. Fill your kettle with only the amount of water needed.
29. It is more economical to boil water in the kettle rather than on the hob (boil water for vegetables in the kettle before cooking).
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HOT WATER CYLINDER

1. "Wrap" your cylinder. Heat loss from an older hot water cylinder is a common problem in New Zealand homes. Check the label – anything less than an 'A' grade cylinder needs insulation. If the outside feels warm to the touch, you need to fit a wrap. Don't worry your clothes and towels will still be warm.
2. Insulate the first two metres of pipe from the hot water cylinder.
3. Check the thermostat – your water doesn't need to be any hotter than 60 degrees Celsius.
4. Check the overflow pipe (often located on the roof) regularly to ensure no dripping water. If the overflow pipe is dripping and/or steaming, this means hot water is being dumped - a plumber or Electrician can fix this for you. If cold water is being dumped, the plumber will it but will not impact seriously on your power bill but may affect your water bill if you're being charged.
5. Connect your dish washer to the cold water tap, it is more economical if it heats it's own water than transferring hot water from the cylinder through cold pipes.

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HOME HEATING

1. Block all draughts – 15% to 25% of heat escapes through gaps or poorly sealed areas. You can do this by blocking off unused fireplaces, fitting draught-excluders on doors and sealing doors and windows with weather stripping.
2. Choose a heater that suits the space you are trying to heat. For instance, a fan heater will not be the most efficient way to heat a large room. Your options include oil column heaters, fan heaters and radiant heaters.
3. Avoid gas heaters – they are costly to run and give off moisture making the home unhealthy and feeling cold.
4. Make sure your home is well-heated, especially during winter, to avoid dampness, mould and mildew.
5. Consider a heat pump to heat your home, but make sure you have a model which has a good efficiency rating.
6. During autumn and winter, close your windows and curtains as soon as the sun goes down, to keep the heat inside.
7. Install a Roof recycling system to keep your home warm and or cold as you requi
8. If you are using a heat pump ensure that the fins on the inertior and exteriod of the unit are kept clean or get your Heat Pump Technician to do a periodic maintenance (maybe once every year).
9. Don't place lamps or TV sets near your air-conditioning thermostat or directly underneath you indoor unit (heat rises). The thermostat senses heat from these appliances, which can cause the air conditioner to run longer than necessary.
10. Plant trees or shrubs to shade air-conditioning units but not to block the airflow. A unit operating in the shade uses as much as 10% less electricity than the same one operating in the sun.
11. Burning bottled LPG gas in an unflued gas heater is more expensive (approximately 28 cents per KWh) than running a standard plug-in electric heater (approximately 21 cents per KwH).

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RECYCLE

1. List your stuff thats too good to throw away with us, some one will see your ad and want it.
2. Recycle Plastic, Glass and Metals

What can be recycled? NB: Check your local council website for which items are recyclable in your area
Plastics with the numbers 1 and 2 go into your recycling bin. The recycling symbols are usually located underneath the item.

Check the lids too. If there is no symbol or the number is 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 then the plastic can’t be recycled in the Wellington region.
Plastic bags can also be recycled by certain contractors. Check with your contractor to check if they can take plastic bags.
Glass Coloured and clear glass can be recycled. All colours can go into your bin. However, mirror glass, window glass,pyrex and arcoroc glasses are not recyclable.
Aluminium, tin and steel cans including steel spray cans, and tins made of these metals can be recycled.

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POWER COMPANY's

1. Most power companies offer a prompt payment discount of up to 12% of the total bill.
2. Shift consumption away from the 7am - 8pm peak times and go on the power company's after hours off-peak cheaper power. By simply using some of our common electrical appliances before and after this time band. Washing machines, storage hot water cylinders, clothes irons – all can be shifted without too much inconvenience.

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CONDENSATION

If you have excessive condensation in your house, the first thing you need to do is find out the source of the problem:

1. Are rooms kept well ventilated? Good ventilation this allows air to circulate and any excess moisture to escape
2. What is the indoor temperature? Very warm and very cold temperatures both lead to increases in condensation
3. Do you have an unflued gas heater? These release about one litre of moisture into the air every hour they are used.
4. Is your bathroom and kitchen fitted with an extractor fan vented to the outside? This will remove condensation created when showering and cooking etc.
5. Where do you dry your clothes? Drying clothes indoors will increase condensation and dampness. Using a clothes dryer which is not vented to the outside will also make your home very damp.
6. How many pot plants do you have? They will produce as much moisture as they take in when watered. Fish tanks can increase the humidity in your house as well!
7. Is the ground underneath your house damp? Moisture can rise up through the floorboards.
8. Are north facing windows shaded? Increased shade reduces natural heat absorption from the sun.
9. You could then consider the following to reduce the problem:
10. On dry days open windows to allow air to circulate. Keep windows closed on wet days as damp air will increase indoor humidity.
11. On cold days keep indoor temperatures at least 7°c higher than outdoor temperatures. Use thermal or lined curtains, keeping them open in the day and closed after dusk. This will maximise the capture and maintenance of natural warmth and will reduce the number of cold surfaces on which moisture condenses.
12. Don't use unflued portable gas heaters. If you must use a portable gas heater ensure the room is well ventilated.
13. Dry clothes outside or in a well ventilated room, with doors closed to the rest of the house. Ensure the clothes dryer is vented.
14. Fit extractor fans in the bathroom and over the stove top in the kitchen.
15. Limit the number of pot plants in the house
16. Install polythene to the ground underneath the house. This will help to prevent damp air rising up into the house. CEA can provide this service.
17. Cut back vegetation shading north facing windows.
18. Dehumidifiers and ventilation systems can help reduce air moisture, however they do not solve the underlying problem. They are also expensive to run.

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