Power company captures e[?] caped heat on video

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 587, 23 May 1995, Page 6

Power company captures e[?]

caped heat on video

Instant heat hard to beat

The instant heat of LPG is hard to beat and there are now models available that have thermostatic control so you don't have to jump up and down to tum the heater up and down. They automatically switch between high and low settings to suit your comfort level. Also available are heaters with combined gas/electric heat so you can get the instant heat from the gas plus the advantages of electric heat.

measures temperatures from -30°C to +800°C. It can be used inside and out and can be used to detect heat problems in commercial situations such as overheating machinery. The power company has been congratulated for its energy efficiency programme, by the Minister of Energy, John Luxton, and the Maruia Society, who say New Zealanders are among the most inefficient users of energy in the western world. "Wasteful use of energy brings forward the prospect of taking actions we would prefer to avoid (such as damming rivers)," said Maruia Society president Richard Thompson. "Actions which we may indeed be able to avoid by reducing out wastage and buying the time to develop new technologies." Energy efficiency Domestic power consumption accounts for 37 per cent of the nation' s draw, so household efficiency is worth the effort. Before 1977 houses were built with little or no insulation, so by 1992 about 300,000 New Zealand homes had absolutely no insulation. Fitting ceiling insulation is often a cost efficient method of reducing the energy bill as well as making it more comfortable. In one KCE infra-red house survey where there was no ceiling insulation it was found that the roof space was a lot warmer that the rooms underneath it — indicating huge waste as well as discomfort. There are a number of insulation products available, each with their own advantages. There is rock wool, fibreglass, polystyrene, macerated paper and now, wool. The choice for an existing house may be dictated by the space restrictions in the roof space, so 'blowable' material

is easy to use to get into awkward spaces. All insulation should be non-corrosive, fire safe and vermin proof. Insulation for the hot water cylinder is a must as is lagging for the pipes. Also, wrapping the cold water pipes will stop them freezing in severe frosts — not a saving in energy, except your own in dealing with the aftermath of burst pipes. Using systems that draw cheaper off-peak electricity, such as night storage heaters and night rate water heating are efficient use of the nation' s electricity as well as saving money.