Published 14 April 2016

Staying warm on a budget

Did you see our Home Energy Assessor, Jonny Parker, on Campbell Live? Jonny had 2 minutes to talk about some pretty important things, so here's a bit more on free and cheap things to make your home warmer and drier.

Windows:

• Insulate your windows with a window insulation kit

• Line your curtains, or find your local curtain bank

• If you don't have a pelmet, use towels on top of curtain rails to stop draughts circulating behind the curtain

• If your curtains don't touch the floor, tuck the bottoms onto the window-sill to stop draughts

Heat pumps

• Clean the filters on your heat pump

• Cut back greenery from around the external unit. The heat pump needs free-flowing air to work well

Doors

• Use towels or door snakes to stop draughts around doors

Ventilation

• Dry air is easier to heat. Reduce moisture by airing your home every day

• Create a cross draught by opening windows on opposite sides of the house

• Use extractor fans, and put lids on pots when cooking

Insulation

• Do a ‘hand-span’ test. Insulation should be thicker than a hand-span to work properly.

• Check if you are eligible for subsidised insulation (tenants/landlords, and homeowners)

Other free services

• If you live in Wellington or Upper Hutt, you can get a free 2 hour home energy assessment

• Drop into our EcoCentre and showroom to get face to face advice, and check out different products

• Have your insulation assessed. Subsidies up to 80% are available at the moment

And a few other things...

• Don’t use unflued gas heaters - they emit high levels of moisture, and carbon monoxide - a poison

• Only heat the room you’re in

• Block an unused fireplace with scrunched-up newspapers