Dunedin residents can now borrow a set of high-tech gadgets to help tackle problems with cold and dampness in their homes.
The home energy audit toolkit (Heat kit) has been made available in libraries across the city with the gear to ensure people can enjoy a warmer, healthier living space.
Dunedin City Council eco design adviser Lisa Burrough said Dunedin was among the first councils in the country to invest in the kits.
"The toolkits are part of wider efforts to address Dunedin’s problem with old, cold and damp housing, which contributes to higher heating costs and poorer health outcomes," Mrs Burrough said.
Each kit, which cost about $200 to assemble would include tools to measure air temperature and moisture levels, find thermal leaks and poor insulation, check the effectiveness of hot water cylinders, measure shower flow, check the moisture level of firewood, and check the electricity usage of appliances.
Each kit came with an instruction manual for each individual tool, and advice for fixing any issues users might find in their homes.
"Together the tools will help homeowners identify ways to make their homes warmer, drier and healthier, as well as ways to save money on power bills and reduce their carbon footprint," Ms Burrough said.
Library members can borrow one of eight Heat kits from Dunedin City, Mosgiel, Port Chalmers, Blueskin Bay and Waikouaiti Libraries.
Each kit can be borrowed for two weeks at a time, free of charge.
