Selwyn Times: April 24, 2019

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[Edition datE]
Home heating –
electricity, gas or wood?
How you heat your home depends on a
number of factors. Figuring out the best
way to heat your home continues to be a
matter for debate.
Several things are undisputed. A
warm, dry home is essential for
comfort and good health, good
insulation dramatically increases
the efficiency of any heating
system and ventilation is an
important consideration.
Most homes are
heated by electricity,
gas, or wood. In
New Zealand,
heating accounts
for approximately
30 percent of a
home’s annual energy
consumption. There are many
things you can do to reduce
consumption and cost.
The World Health Organisation
recommends a temperature of 18 deg C
for indoor living areas, and slightly less for
bedrooms. It recommends slightly higher
temperatures for vulnerable people – the
elderly and small children. Studies have
shown that indoor temperatures below 12
degrees can disrupt sleep.
Among all these considerations, how
you heat your home is a matter of personal
choice, with many options available.
Heat pumps are generally the most
common and cost-effective form of home
heating in New Zealand. Used properly,
they heat quickly and are convenient.
However, you need to have the right sized
unit for the area and they don’t work when
electricity is not available. They tend to be
room-specific but ducted heat pumps are
becoming more popular and are costeffective,
especially in new builds, but can
also be installed into established homes.
Modern wood burners may be the
closest you can get to an open-fire feel, but
are much more efficient. Wood is generally
a renewable fuel, and if you have a cheap
or free supply, a wood burner may be
the least expensive heating option. They
heat large areas and are not dependent
on electricity but there is the chopping
and stacking to be done, flues need to be
cleaned regularly and older models can
contribute to air pollution and may violate
strict air quality regulations – www.mfe.
govt.nz has detailed information regarding
this.
Pellet fires are typically more efficient
than wood burners but can have a smaller
output. They require electricity but
some have a battery backup and they are
thermostatically controlled with timers.
These must comply with regulations which
are also detailed on the Ministry for the
Environment website.
Gas heating is common and convenient.
Central heating systems can be zone
controlled and provide warm air
circulation. Flued gas heaters are best, as
unflued and portable gas heaters produce
lots of moisture and emit pollutants that
can be unsafe. Flued gas heating systems
can be installed in most homes. They are
fast heating and are relatively inexpensive
to run. However gas is not a renewable
resource and prices can vary widely.
The greatest source of energy is actually
free. Harnessing the sun can dramatically
reduce heating costs and is the most
environmentally friendly way to heat your
home. Passive heating combines insulation
with good design, accomplished more
effectively in new builds but also able to be
incorporated into existing homes.
Getting the sun’s warmth into your
home is a function of the design; keeping
it in is a function of the insulation. There
is a wealth of information online as passive
heating becomes normative in the design
and building industry.
Websites such as energywise.govt.
nz and smarterhomes.org.nz have
comprehensive information on and tips
for, heating your home in the colder
months.
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