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Make your home more energy efficient

Making your home more healthy and energy efficient could be better for you, better for your wallet and better for the planet.

How to make energy efficient investments to your home

Energy efficient homes are usually warmer and dryer so they’re more comfortable to live in, and healthier for you and your family.

By making your home more energy efficient, your use of water and energy could become more efficient. That could help you save power and money, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and reduce negative impact on the environment. 

But where do you start, and what are the options?   

Explore an average New Zealand home for an overview of some of the ways you could make your home more energy efficient – from simple, low or no cost things you can do right now to longer-term investments. And if you want to explore further, check out the articles below.

Living room

Easy actions

Covering your windows with lined and well-fitting curtains or blinds will help stop heat escaping. Close them before it gets dark to help retain daytime heat. 

Longer-term investments

Heat pumps are an efficient way to heat your home – which could keep you warmer and save on energy costs.

Kitchen

Easy actions

Excess moisture in your home makes it damp as well as harder and more expensive to heat. Reduce moisture by keeping lids on pots and turning on your rangehood/extractor fan when you cook. 

Longer-term investments

Need a new kitchen appliance? Compare Energy Rating Labels before you buy. Choosing energy efficient appliances could help lower your monthly energy bills.

Bedroom

Easy actions

Inadequate ventilation can encourage mould in walls and ceilings – and in your clothes. Opening bedroom windows for a while every day, and not keeping wardrobe doors fully closed, could help reduce the risk of dampness and mould. 

Longer-term investments

Bedrooms that are too cold can cause respiratory diseases and other health problems. Good quality and close fitting curtains or blinds, or better still, doubling glazing, can help ensure that once bedrooms are warm, they stay warm.

Bathroom

Easy actions

Heating water accounts for around 30% of most kiwis’ energy bills – so taking shorter showers will save on energy, water, and money. Fix dripping hot taps – that’s money going down the drain as well as hot water. Turning on the extractor fan when you shower and double checking they’re vented externally will reduce moisture and mould in your bathroom.

Longer-term investments 

Wrapping your water heating cylinder with a cylinder wrap, and your hot water pipes with lagging (both available from hardware stores), will help keep water warmer for longer and use less energy. Installing water saving shower heads and low-flow hot water taps could also save on energy, water and money.

Walls, ceilings and floors

Easy actions

Choosing energy efficient lighting could save you money as it’s cheaper to run and lasts longer. 

Longer-term investments

Check that you have enough insulation in your ceiling, walls and under the floor to stop precious heat escaping – you’ll make your home warmer and more comfortable, and could save on monthly heating bills.

Windows and doors

Easy actions

Save money on heating by making sure your windows and doors don't have gaps and cracks that let the warm air out. 

Longer-term investments 

Consider double-glazed windows for even better insulation and to avoid condensation and ‘weeping windows’. A balanced heat recovery ventilation system is another option to keep your home dry and avoid condensation.

Laundry

Easy actions

As water heating is a major contributor to your energy costs, aim to wash in cold water where possible. Drying clothes outside on a covered outdoor clothesline, using a vented dryer or condenser dryer can reduce moisture in your home. 

Longer-term investments

Before you buy a new washer or dryer, compare Energy Rating Labels to ensure its energy and water efficient. 

Garage

Easy actions

Changing how we get around can have a big impact on lowering emissions. For shorter trips, consider walking or cycling - better for you and the environment. 

Longer-term investments

If you take longer trips, an e-bike might be right for you. If you're thinking of getting a hybrid vehicle (HV) or an electric vehicle (EV), consider where and when you will charge it - charging off-peak, or from solar, might save you money.

Roof

Easy actions

Keeping spouting and guttering clean and free of debris will help ensure water flows away from your house, rather than into it. 

Longer-term investments

Solar power systems are becoming increasingly popular – and increasingly affordable. Depending on how much power you use and when, they can usually help you save on monthly power bills and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by taking advantage of free, renewable energy from the sun.

How to get started with our good energy upgrade guides

HomeFit

HomeFit self-assessment is a straightforward way to check if a home is warm, dry, efficient and safe. You can use it to check a home you’re looking to buy or rent, or if you want to know how you can improve your current home. It starts with a simple online check.

If you would prefer to speak to someone you can contact an independent HomeFit assessor who can visit your home to provide a detailed assessment and list of priorities. 

HomeFit was developed by the New Zealand Green Building Council and is proudly supported by ANZ.

Check a property with HomeFit self-assessment

Important information

The material is information only and you should seek professional advice about your circumstances. While we’ve taken care to ensure the information is reliable, we don’t warrant its accuracy, completeness, or suitability for your intended use. To the extent the law allows, we don’t accept any responsibility or liability arising from your use or reliance on this information.