Over time, we adapt our homes around our changing lives and needs. As our homes evolve, there are plenty of innovative ways we can switch on more energy efficiency.

A switch worth looking into

3:30 minutes

Choosing efficient appliances is one of the easiest ways to keep your home energy costs down. Many New Zealand households could save over $1,000 a year by switching out key household appliances for more efficient options.  

The 5 things that have the biggest impact on your home energy bills are your heating, hot water, cooktop, vehicles and rooftop solar. 

Even if you’re not planning on upgrades any time soon, it can be helpful to think ahead and have an energy plan for your home. 

Discover what you could save

In the next year, 20% of Kiwi homeowners will be in the market for a new cooktop, new car, new way to heat our water — or to heat our homes. Researching the right kinds of purchases could save us money in the long-run.

Tom Webster, architect and presenter of Grand Designs NZ

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How we use energy in our homes

In New Zealand we use electricity, gas, petrol and diesel to power our homes and vehicles. Whatever fuels you’re using, it’s likely that most of your energy use is for cars, heating and hot water.

If you want to cut down your energy costs long term, it makes sense to focus on these energy uses, and plan ahead to choose energy-efficient replacements for when your current systems reach the end of their life.

We recommend also considering your cooktop as part of your home energy plan. While your cooktop uses relatively little energy, it’s important to consider what kind of energy you’re using for cooking. If all of the other appliances in your house are powered by electricity, you could save a lot of money by using electricity for your cooktop, too. This is because you won’t have to pay daily connection charges for 2 types of energy.

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The impact of efficient appliances

Compared to a typical New Zealand household, a home that has the most efficient appliance options uses less than half the amount of energy overall.

Every home is different and will have different needs — the scenario in the graphs below represents a household with 3 people and two cars. The most efficient home has a heat pump, a hot water heat pump, an induction cooktop, electric vehicles and solar panels.

The efficient home is also better for the environment, producing 85% less greenhouse gas emissions. This is because there's no direct use of fossil fuels like petrol, diesel or gas. Around 80-85% of New Zealand’s electricity is supplied by clean energy sources like hydro and wind. Home-generated electricity from rooftop solar is 100% renewable, producing zero emissions.

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