Smarter Homes

A smart home is exactly that: a home that is built and run in a smart way.

A smart home is:

• warm, dry, comfortable with natural light
• safer
• efficient
• healthier for you and your family
• great to live in
• gentle on the environment.

Smart homes are for all New Zealanders. Whether you’re building, you’ve already got a home, or you’re renting, you can have a smart home. Being smart doesn’t have to cost you more, and can save you a great deal.

Renovations.co.nz looks at the big picture when creating comfortable healthy and energy-efficiency homes. If building a new home or making your current home more energy-efficient and comfortable, we can help you with expert advice, products and systems specification and installation.

Smarter homes basics:

Efficient Heating:

Heating consumes 35% of the energy used in the average kiwi household.  This can be improved depending on the correct use of insulation, double glazing and climate.  Some of the ways to reduce energy costs include installation of underfloor heating, heatpumps, radiators and wood burners.  We will take the time to discuss which options suit your home best.

Insulation:

Insulation is a major aspect of good energy design.  The NZ building code requires only minimum insulation levels.  The solution goes further than the average levels and can drastically reduce your energy costs.  Insulation keeps the heat in during winter and the cool in during summer, it’s a smart and easy solution to your energy saving plan.

Hot water heating:

Solar water heating, hot water pumps and gas systems are a range of environmentally friendly ways to heat the water in your home. Renovations.co.nz can advise you on which system best suits your home.  Doing this correctly can save you up to two thirds of your hot water heating costs.

Solar water heating:

Depending on where you live, a flat panel or evacuated tube solar system can supply up to 50-75% of your hot water requirements. You will usually see greater energy savings in summer than in winter, because that’s when the most sun is available.

Hot water heat pumps:

Hot water heat pumps work like a refrigerator in reverse, drawing warmth from the air or ground to heat your water. They are efficient even in low sunlight areas, so you can achieve moderate energy savings year-round.

Instant gas water heater: If solar or hot water heat pump systems are not practical for you, Renovations.co.nz can recommend an energy-efficient gas water heating system.

Home lighting:

Lighting consumes on average almost 10% of the energy used in New Zealand homes. Energy efficient compact fluorescent lights consume only 20% of the energy which a normal incandescent light uses.

To discuss these matters further do not hesitate to call Renovations.co.nz on 0508 2 renovate or leave an online request.