[Oregonkiwi]

An article comparing the different types and costs of home heating:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10429381

[veronica]

I find that article quite puzzling that they will compare full house central heating as expensive (approx 10K to install) and list heatpumps which heat one room (maybe 2 if ducting is used) as being the second most viable heating (price range 4K to 15K) maybe they mean cheaper to run. but surely thats negated by the fact you end up putting oil radiators in the bedrooms and some heating in the bathroom. strange logic.

[Angelonthemove]

We had heat pump, as you call them here, in Cyprus and it worked out cheaper than gas central heating (no gas supply so large tanks delivered) and oiled filled portable rads in each room. We had heat pumps in every room and bought larger ones than you needed so they were more efficient. We kept them on low all the time in each room we were using, worked from home. All night in the bedrooms.

Depends on the cost of elec v gas in a country though. Elec was quite expensive in Cyprus but gas deliveries were really high. month bill peek of winter of $600 which is the same here for our hot air central heating cost for us.

We had 3 of those gas heater with pipes going to the wall in our previous Welly house and it was $600 ish for one month too. The house was still freezing.

[willowshouse]

The house i'm considering buying has got a system called Temperzone fitted (the concealed ducted unit one) - has anyone come across it before? They have a website - http://www.temperzone.co.nz/ - but I really wanted a first-hand opinion and an idea of costs for running it.

Cheers.

[Timbo]

An interesting article, but yet again, no mention of good old Double glazing.

[katandbob]

An interesting article, but yet again, no mention of good old Double glazing.

With Double glazing being so expensive, we were going to take a leaf out of Robs dads book and put a bead of wood on the inside and then attach plastic and heat shrink it over, to create our own double glazing.....ooh its just like being 14 again:( ....Ha ha, now I must get to bed!

checked out my electric blankets today too, think they will be back in use soon, as I hate a cold bed:laugh

Kat

[Super_BQ]

The article didn't mention concrete underground floor heating? (or is that classified with central heating?). I would of never though the wood pellet burners as the winner. BTW, I see a lot of these pellet burners units are imported from Canada but in Canada, they're rarely used in homes at all? :confused:

It's difficult and costly to retrofit an old house just to make it more warm during the winter months. The problem is as fast as you try to heat the house, this same heat is being transferred outside.

Perhaps better windows and doors would be more of a savings than a new heating system? Relining the interior walls with high R value insulation is a major upgrade.

If I had it my way to build a new home in NZ, i'd look at building it based on Canada's R-2000 compliancy.

http://r2000.chba.ca/

Problem is finding skilled tradesmen that are familiar with this design in NZ.

[Rizak]

Hmmm. New hobby: creating energy efficient doors. I'm on it!

[Nathan]

Here's a link to some advise on saving energy from experts and they give some comparisons of different heating systems.
Keep in mind that it's an energy producer who is giving the info.
http://www.meridianenergy.co.nz/yourhome/energy+and+cost+savings/at+home/default.htm
I can't find my bookmark for a more comprehensive comparison of heating systems at the moment. It might be on the ChCh heating that was posted on the insulation subsidy thread.

[sarahw]

Thanks for posting the article - I see that our way of heating our main living area isn't mentioned as very efficient but I think its quite a good way - its a flued gas heater running off gas bottles & very comfortably heats our lounge, dining, kitchen & family room as well as the mezzanine above the lounge for about $100-$200 a month in the depths of winter (its also kiddie safe - cool to the touch but blows out hot air at the base). We do have to use 2 oil filled rads (one in each bedroom that we use) last thing at night & first thing in the morning too but since they're under a different roof space & our house is like 2 separate houses joined at one corner that's hardly surprising.

And yes... I have regularly seen my own breath in the mornings indoors! And I have stood around the electric hob on the oven to warm my hands some mornings after cooking my porridge!!! and worn thermal trousers under my jeans & 3-4 layers on top indoors just to keep warm on the worst days of winter (but then I used to work in an office which was unheated & over 100 years old - coats, scarves, gloves & Uggs were compulsory!!).

[K&CS]

Sarah, we have the same method of heating in our house. We haven't been through the winter yet, but it was mid winter when we looked round the house (and a freezing day) and the house was toastie! I'm looking forward to testing it out this winter.

Kate x

[Rizak]

I'm wondering ... can these gas heaters be hooked up to a programmable thermostat? That would be ideal.

[sarahw]

They have a built in thermostat & timer - they are used in commercial applications as well as for home heating (i.e. schools) so are pretty good & are pretty good on energy - have a look at the Rinnai website:

http://www.rinnai.co.nz/energy_savers/energy_savers_default.aspx

We have the 557FTR - it even comes with a remote control!