How to heat and beat big energy bills
About a third of your household energy bill goes on heating.There are lots of heating options available and some are more cost effective than others.
Heat pumps are an energy-efficient form of heating. The cost of installing a heat pump will be made up over time due to lower energy bills for achieving a good level of warmth in your home. As a guide, for every unit of heat produced by a heat pump you will pay about 6.5 cents.*
Gas heating, if flued to maintain indoor air quality, also offers good value. The cost of installing a flued system will be made up over time due to lower energy bills for achieving a good level of warmth in your home. As a guide, for every unit of heat produced by gas heating you will pay about 13.5 cents.*
Electric heaters can also supply effective heating in your home. The cost of electric heaters may be lower than other systems, but you will spend more to achieve a good level of warmth in your home. As a guide, for every unit of heat produced by an electric heater you will pay about 21 cents.*
Woodburners or pellet burners are the lowest cost way of heating your home if you have a good supply of dry, untreated wood or pellets. Open fires are the least efficient way of heating a room and create the most pollution.
Heat transfer systems take excess heat created from a woodburner and use a fan to blow it into colder rooms, drying out moisture and reducing the need for heaters. Fantastic if you're tired of a tropical living room and a sub-Antarctic bedroom.
Thermostats and time switches
Ensure that any heater or heating system you purchase has thermostats and time switches. They are useful in helping you maintain a comfortable, healthy temperature and can save you money.
* Units of heat are kilowatts (kWh) and heating costs reflect energy price data from the Ministry of Economic Development that may change. The efficiency you achieve for the types of heating vary depending on product, climate and operation.
