b'hard truthwarming upWeve finally ditched our harden up and put on an extra jumper attitude to heating and insulation. W hen householders in Scandinavian countriesIt may be worth considering a ventilation system arrive home during dark, icy winter months,where warm air from the roof cavity is pumped into they typically leave their warm boots, coats,thehouse.Thesearegenerallymosteffectiveonly hats and scarves in porches or mud rooms, steppingwhen all other moisture issues have been addressed so into dry, bright, warm interiors where light clothing isthey may not be a quick fix in existing homes. They can thenorm,all-year-round,thankstoGovernmentbe a very good idea if youre building from scratch. insistencethateverydwellingmusthaveadequateVentilation systems are not heating systems. insulation and double glazing. Next, check your insulation. Good insulation serves Its taken a long time for us to ditch our harden upmanypurposes,includinghelpingpreventmoisture and put on an extra jumper approach here but theresbuild-up. With the vast majority (between 30-40%) of beenaverytangiblechangeinattitudesamongheat energy lost through the ceiling, good roof-space householders during the past few years as we becomeinsulation is essential and should be sitting at a level better acquainted with the concepts of insulation, heatjust above the rafters for a decent chance of achieving maximisation and retention.and maintaining a healthy home. Recent results from the annual Homestar/realestate. If you can install insulation underfloor and in walls, co.nz survey of 1000 homeowners nationally proveyou certainly wont regret the effort or outlay. It can be this point, with nine out of 10 respondents rating suntricky to retrofit into walls and youll need consent orientation and insulation as important priorities atfrom your local council if youre a renovator.91%and90%respectively.ThatsastunningleapCheck old windows for gaps and draughts, then from the 2012 survey when those figures were justuse thermal lined drapes which go to, and even slightly 43% and 51%. beyond, floor length. The best drapes have a separate This dawning is due in no small part to the tirelessthermalliningasitsthetwopiecesoffabricthat workofEECA(EnergyEfficiencyandConservationprovide the best insulation effect. Dont be tempted by Authority) and a succession of Government initiativescurtains that have thermal treatment applied straight and subsidies developed around the premise that aonto the fabricthey wont work as well. Pull them warmhomeisahealthyoneandthatsignificanttight as soon as dusk arrives to ensure that heat doesnt improvements can easily be made, saving money andescape unnecessarily.energy while enhancing conditions for inhabitants and adding to potential resale value. HeatingWith winter practically upon us the first thing toIts well-known now that un-flued gas heaters are a consider is whether your house is as dry as it canhome-heating menace because they generate damp possiblybe.Afewdaysofwide-openedwindowsair. Its best to leave these off your list of potential heat might be sufficient to set the scene for future warmth.sourcesandswitchtoafluedgasfire,amodern ECCAisafanofthissimplemethodbuttheenergy-efficientwoodburner(alwaysusingdry Resene authority also points out that moisture can come fromfirewood) or a heat pump. Wild Thing insidioussourcessoifyouthinktheremaybeaFlued gas fires: Flued gas fires can look as good problem, nows the time to check under the floorboards or even betterthan the real thing, without the and in walls, the roof cladding and flashings. If you doneed for cleaning chimneys, buying coal and putting find a leak, get it fixed quickly. out hot ashes. Old-fashioned fireplaces heat a very limited area and are therefore hopelessly inefficient. They are also outlawed now in many towns because top tip Resene of the pollution risk.BlazeModern gas fires dont come particularly cheap but Deal to any mould or mildew now using preparations canworkouttobeeconomicalinthelongterm, such as Resene Moss & Mould Killer. If you are paintingespecially if you have access to mains gas.walls or ceilings before winter, ask staff at your local Resene ColorShop about MoulDefender to inhibit mould, and the Resene Kitchen & Bathroom range.2454'