52 | Awarua Synergy CONTRACTING At McCulloch + Partners we are a local business run by local people. We pride ourselves on being friendly, accessible and experienced accounting specialists no matter the industry you’re in. Proudly supporting Awarua Synergy p: 03 218 6179 e: Mark.Jordan@mcp.co.nz w: www.mcp.co.nz Mark Jordan Partner SOUTHLAND 03 215 9068 1 Kinloch Street, Invercargill sam@nulooksouthland.co.nz www.nulook.co.nz Talk to us about the windows and doors that are right for your home. Practical ways to cut energy costs Established in Bluff more than 20 years ago, Awarua Synergy has helped insulate more than 5000 homes and provides heating, ventilation, LED lighting, and hot water solutions across homes, farms, businesses, and public buildings. T T Kelly Deeks Kiwis looking to electrify their homes and businesses could be missing the most cost-effective energy saving measure of all: using less power. Awarua Synergy general manager and owner, Sumaria Beaton, says the push towards solar, batteries, electric vehicles, and other technologies needs to be matched by a renewed focus on energy efficiency. “The cheapest electricity is the electricity you don’t use,” Sumaria says. She says that starts with the thermal envelope of a building, with insulation, curtains, and properly utilised heating pairing with ventilation and moisture management to reduce the energy needed to maintain a comfortable temperature. Sumaria, who has more than 20 years’ experience in the energy-efficiency industry, says Kiwis have opportunities to improve their older housing stock. Many older homes have great bones, she says, making retrofit practical as construction and material costs rise. Building Code changes have increased awareness of insulation and energy efficiency, although she believes New Zealand still has room to lift its standards. “It is really important that we get the basics right before we go and invest in a whole lot of solar or batteries,” she says. Awarua Synergy, established in Bluff more than 20 years ago, has helped insulate more than 5000 homes, and provides heating, ventilation, LED lighting, and hot water solutions across homes, farms, businesses, and public buildings. The company also delivers free Healthy Homes workshops, sharing practical advice about energy use. Heat pumps are one example. Rather than leaving a heat pump running while a house is empty, Sumaria recommends switching it off when leaving the house, then returning it to a setting of 21 degrees and using the highest fan speed to distribute warmth efficiently. She says while the fan costs nothing to turn up, each degree above 21 degrees can add 10% to the running cost, making a 26 degree setting 50% more expensive than 21 degrees. Moisture is another overlooked issue. Sumaria recommends underfloor moisture barriers, extractor fans ducted outside, and opening windows on opposite sides of the house for about 20 minutes each day to create a flow of fresh air. Using a dryer can also make sense. Sumaria says a typical load costs about $1 to run, while drying clothes indoors adds moisture that makes a home harder and more costly to heat. Simple checks can identify other opportunities. A tissue held against an extractor fan should be pulled towards it, while curtains should prevent light showing through at night. Shower heads can also be tested by running the shower into a 10-litre bucket for one minute. If it overflows, the shower head is using more water than it should, with Sumaria recommending a water-efficient model for as little as $40. “That small investment will pay you back in no time, and keep on saving you money for many years to come.” Even bubble wrap on windows can create an insulating air pocket and double-glazed effect. The goal is not to suggest every household needs a passive home, solar array, or battery system, but to make those investments work harder when they are installed. “If we can reduce our power needs at home, we can reduce the investment that needs to be made into solar and batteries as well,” Sumaria says. “Everybody can do a lot of these things to improve their thermal envelope and reduce how much it costs them to heat their homes.”
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