Domestic
Electricity Prices
Are you receiving the best electricity price? This website will work out which power company and pricing plan is best for you and your family. All you need is a current power bill and just follow the steps on this website:
http://www.powerswitch.org.nz
Electricity Usage Meter
Do you want to know the cost to run an appliance? Or the cost to run the whole house? This meter will indicate to you instantly your home’s power cost, and see the cost reduce as you turn lights or appliances off. Check out this website for more information, or to order your Centameter:
www.centameter.co.nz
Picture of Centameter:
You’ve got the Power
EECA has produced a great series of action sheets called “You’ve got the power to choose”.
A PDF copy of each action sheet can be found below:
Actionsheet 1 Power to choose 
Actionsheet 2 Insulate
Actionsheet 3 Home appliances
Actionsheet 4 Hot water
Actionsheet 5 Warmer home
Actionsheet 6 Efficient travel
Actionsheet 7 Funding
Actionsheet 9 Heat pumps
Actionsheet 10 Energy use
Actionsheet 11 Efficent home
More information is available on the energywise website: www.energywise.govt.nz
Energy Efficient Appliances – Energy Rating Labels
Energy Rating Labels are designed to help you make an energy-wise choice when buying new appliances. Labels help you to work out how much energy an appliance will consume in a year of normal service, and make it easy to compare the energy efficiency of different models. The more stars, the more efficient the appliance. Each extra star means an extra 10% saving in running costs. More information about energy stars:
http://www.eeca.govt.nz/labelling-and-standards/energy-rating-labels.html
Picture of energy star:
Electricity Use Calculator
Use this calculator to work out where you are using electricity. By including all your appliances and their use, this calculator will work out your monthly power account. Compare this with the account from your power company and adjust your appliance usage to make savings:
http://www.energywise.org.nz/calculator/
Energy consumption
Carbon footprint
http://www.carbonzero.co.nz/EmissionsCalc/EditDataSheet.aspx
Energy savings calculator
http://www.meridianenergy.co.nz/Energysavingscalculator/
Appliance running costs
http://www.trustpower.co.nz/Content/PowerSavings.aspx#ApplianceRunningCosts
Typical household energy use
How is the energy used in your home? A typical home uses energy as shown in this chart:
What fuel do we use? Percentage of fuel consumption is shown here:
Source: http://www.branz.co.nz/main.php?page=HEEP and http://www.branz.co.nz/branzltd/pdfs/SR155(2006)_HEEP_Yr10_ExecSum.pdf
Reducing Condensation – Ventilation systems
Condensation and dampness in homes is becoming more of a problem with new homes being more draught proof and existing homes being insulated or being made draught proof.
Non flued gas heaters (portable LPG heaters and small natural gas heaters) are also adding to the problem releasing 1 litre of water for every 1 kg of gas burned
One solution is a ventilation system that takes dry air from the ceiling space and pushes that into the house. A low-energy fan creates an air movement that carries the damp air outside. Some systems include temperature control allowing only warm air to flow into your house when the sun is up in winter or cold air at night in summer.
A variety of models are available, from 1 vent to many vents, options includes temperature controls, electric heating or external air supply. All systems use an air filter to ensure only clean filtered air enters your home. DIY systems are available from all major hardware stores, or have a system installed by a professional:
http://www.smartvent.co.nz
http://www.solatube.co.nz
http://www.hrv.co.nz
http://www.dvs.co.nz
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