Note: This information is intended as general advice only and may not account for your unique circumstances such as usage habits, home and power provider. Please talk to your lines company for specific information.
Heating our homes is where NZ’s biggest power bills typically come from. Depending on where you live and the type of home you live in, keeping warm in winter can be a real challenge.
In this Heating resource, you'll learn things like:
- How room moisture plays a big part in heating
- Clothing staples for getting through a Kiwi winter
- Cost-efficient ways to heat the home
Being prepared for the cold months
Sure, we love plenty of things to love about New Zealand in the winter. But the middle of the year also means we’re going to deal with worse weather, colder temperatures and yes - bigger power bills.
We’re not going to say that paying more in Winter is avoidable - in most cases it isn’t. But the spike can be reduced significantly with some conscious power management and saving tactics. Check out the below guides for more:
Why is heating such a challenge in New Zealand
New Zealand actually has an incredibly diverse range of temperatures and humidities across the country, throughout the year. Some areas experience dry, hot summers, and cold, frosty winters. Coastal regions generallyhave a more mild temperature range to deal with, while the far south can experience sub-zero temperatures regularly.
Heating in New Zealand needs to contend with poor housing quality in many of these damp, cold parts of the country. While the government has made steps towards improving the quality of housing through building code changes around insulation and more recently the healthy homes standards for tenancies, there’s still plenty of areas where cold and dampness is a real challenge for households to combat.
How does New Zealand generate its heating?
We’re happy to report that New Zealand’s power comes from at least 80% renewable sources. There’s still work to do to achieve the 100% renewable goal, but for now you can rest assured most power comes from the likes of hydroelectric, wind and geothermal sources.
In winter, generation comes under a much greater demand due to falling temperatures and household’s heating needs. As more homes move across to heat pumps and away from fireplaces and log burners due to emissions and convenience, the demand on the grid increases.
Air quality and heating
It’s common for households to miss an important factor in heating during winter - the quality of the air. A home that’s dusty, damp and mouldy creates a moist environment. A home that’s dusty, damp and mouldy is harder to heat and keep dry. The harder your home works to maintain a comfortable temperature, the bigger that power bill is going to become.
Read our Heater Showdown
Powershop have put together an epic rundown of common heater options that Kiwis use to heat their homes. In this article you’ll learn all about the pros and cons of each, so you can make a more informed choice.