If you think it's been colder than usual this winter, you're right.
Niwa temperature figures for June show the whole country has been feeling the freeze.
It seems we're all powering through the firewood, running up big electricity bills or wearing three jerseys and a polar fleece to bed, and Dunedin's older, uninsulated homes are among the most fridge-like in the land.
Heating an uninsulated home in the depths of an Otago winter is a huge waste of energy and money.
The graphic below shows where your lovely warm air ends up.
And that's where the Energywise scheme administered by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) comes in.
Homeowners and landlords of homes built before 2000 can now get a grant of up to 33% of the cost of insulating their properties, or $1300 - even more if a tenant or homeowner has a Community Services card.
The grant is not means-tested.
An inspector will visit the house to check existing insulation and heating. This check is free.
Based on the findings, recommendations will be made for work to bring the house up to modern standards.
This can include ceiling and underfloor insulation, a hot water cylinder wrap, pipe lagging, draught-stopping on external doors, and a ground-moisture barrier Once the insulation is adequate, a grant of $500 towards a clean, efficient heating device is also available.
So what might need to be done?
This should be top priority. In an uninsulated house, more heat is lost through the ceiling and roof than any other part of the house.
Even if you have ceiling insulation, if it was installed in the '70s and '80s it is likely to be inadequate by today's standards.
Ceiling insulation should be at least 120mm thick, with no visible gaps between the insulation and the ceiling joists or at joins.
Older insulation is usually only 70mm thick, and may need to be topped up.
2 Underfloor insulation
Ten percent of your home's heat can be lost through the floor, as heated air rises and colder air is drawn upwards through gaps in the flooring.
This can be a particular problem with T&G floors, as they shrink and expand with variations in temperature.
Underfloor bulk or polystyrene insulation should be at least 50mm thick, with no visible gaps.
3 Efficient heating
The types of heating that can be part-funded include approved wood burners and pellet fires, four-star AGA-rated flued gas heaters, and Energy Star heat pumps.
If you have an older hot-water cylinder that is warm to the touch, a cylinder wrap will save power, as will lagging on hot-water pipes.
Draught-stops may be fitted to exterior doors. This work can also be subsidised.
Mike Lea, of Salmac Insulation, in Dunedin, says EECA providers in the region have been busy since the scheme began on July 1, assessing requirements and planning and carrying out subsequent work.
There is already a waiting list of several weeks, but one thing is for sure. For those who take advantage of the offer, next winter in the South will be warmer than this one. And that's pretty cool.
What is it?
> The Government's Energywise funding programme is aimed at improving the energy efficiency of New Zealand homes. It provides funding to help homeowners and landlords upgrade the insulation in homes built before 2000 so people living there enjoy a healthier environment. The country is also expected to benefit from associated energy and health savings.
> The programme offers homeowners and landlords a one-off grant of off the costs of retro-fitting ceiling and underfloor insulation, up to a maximum of $1300 (incl GST). Funding can be used to install:
- Ceiling and underfloor insulation, up to a required standard (both ceiling and underfloor need to be done, if possible, to qualify for funding).
- A clean, efficient heating device in the primary living space, if the present one does not meet current standards. (Your insulation must first meet standards).
- A hot-water cylinder wrap, pipe lagging, draught-stopping, and a ground-moisture barrier. Other Energywise funding is available to install solar water heating or heat pump water heating. See www.energywise.govt.nz/funding-available
How to get it
Contact a provider, who will assess your home and produce a report on your needs. This step is free.
For a list of providers in your area, visit the energywise website: www.energywise.govt.nz/funding-available/insulation-and-clean-heating/st...
Providers in Dunedin include major hardware stores, Salmac Insulation, Davies Heat'n'Cool, Craig Scoullar Electrical, Otago Pellet Fires.
