Good for the planet, your tenants, and your pocket.
Making energy-efficient choices to heat your home this winter just got easier with ANZ’s new Good Energy Home Loan top-up.
ANZ is committed to helping you make your property warmer, drier and more energy efficient by offering a top-up of your ANZ home loan at a fixed rate for 3 years, up to $80,000.
For more information, get in touch with the experts at Float Mortgages below.
According to consumer.org, ⅓ of energy supplied to your home throughout winter will be used for space heating.
Under the Healthy Homes Standards, landlords are required to provide one or more fixed heaters that are capable of directly heating the main living room. The heater(s) must be of the acceptable type and meet the minimum heating capacity required for your main living room.
The World Health Organization (WHO) make the recommendation that homes should be heated to a minimum of 18˚c on the coldest day of the year.
For more information on the heating standard, click here.
Warmer, drier homes are better for everyone. Tenants are less likely to suffer health problems caused by cold and dampness and they’re more likely to stay longer in their rental property if it is warm and cheap to heat. A well-insulated home with energy-efficient heating solutions is not only easier to market but can attract a higher rent.
Heating Checklist
- Insulate – keep the heat where you need it.
- Choose a heater that uses renewable energy.
- Choose the most efficient and suitable model for your home- Calculate your heating capacity here.
- Retain heat – shut your doors and curtains and block any drafts.
- Carry out regular maintenance on your heater to ensure it is working as efficiently as possible.
Looking to upgrade your heater? Here are our top picks for energy-efficient ways to heat your home this winter.
Insulation
Make sure your insulation is up to scratch and meets the requirements set out in the Healthy Homes Standards. Adequate insulation ensures heat can’t escape through any gaps or holes in your roof, walls or floor.
Read more about insulation and the healthy homes standards here.
Heat Pumps
Installing a heat pump in your home is an extremely cost-effective and energy-efficient heating option.
Heat pumps are one of the most cost-effective way to heat your home but surprisingly, many rental properties don’t have them. They can be installed in the main living room, or you can invest in a ducted system to disperse heat throughout the entire home.
Heat pumps are a great option because they provide instant heat to the home and have thermostats and timer functions.
Top Tip: Look out for the energy rating label when selecting your heat pump. According to Genless, a heat pump with a 4-star rating generates 55% fewer emissions than a similar heat pump with only 1 star.
Get the most out of your heat pump by running it efficiently.
Use the timer functions to warm the room before your get home and turn it off when you don’t need it. We also recommend that you set your thermostat between 18˚C to 21˚C. This keeps the home warm and dry without adding to your power bill.
To increase efficiency, use the ‘heating’ setting rather than ‘auto’. Automatic may seem simple but it will frequently switch between hot and cold – increasing your energy consumption.
Maintenance is key. Make sure the heat pump is being maintained properly – a quick clean with the vacuum or warm water every few weeks will make a world of difference.
Electric Heaters
Electric heaters are great for warming up smaller rooms that you don’t use as often. But keep an eye on the running costs.
Limited selection is not an option when it comes to purchasing an electric heater. There’s a huge range of types and technologies to choose from.
While electric heaters may seem like a budget-friendly option at first, they are less powerful than other alternatives and are more expensive to run. Below is a rundown of the costs associated with running an electric heater for 4 hours per day (using a standard price of 25 cents/kWh).
| Heater Wattage | Cost/hour | Cost/day | Total Cost in Winter |
| 250W | 6 cents/hour | $0.24 | $22.56 |
| 100W | 25 cents/hour | $1.00 | $94.00 |
| 2400W | 60 cents/hour | $2.40 | $225.60 |
Look for a heater with a higher wattage and a built-in thermostat. This way you’ll be able to reach a comfortable temperature in the home more efficiently.
Place the heater in the coldest section of the room or near a window – this will help to distribute the heat evenly throughout the space. Be careful to keep the heater away from any curtains or other fire hazards.
Wood Burners
Wood burners use renewable wood energy to heat your home. They’re relatively cheap to run and are great at heating large spaces. The downside: they don’t run on a timer and will take longer to get going.
If considering a wood burner, look for the most efficient model for your home and make sure you only burn dry, unpainted and untreated wood.
Wood Pellet Burner
A more convenient option than a wood burner, this heating solution is a good option for heating large spaces with the added bonus of one-touch lighting, making it easy to heat the space only when you need it.
These heaters use 100% waste wood (shavings and sawdust) and have built-in thermostats and timers. Wood pellet burners can heat multiple rooms with a heat transfer kit or central heating system.
Flued Gas Heaters
Flued gas heaters are a more favourable option than unflued gas heaters as they redirect any toxic fumes or moisture back outside. However, they are contributors to greenhouse gas emissions.
Do you need advice on how to heat your rental property efficiently and meet the requirements of the Healthy Homes standards? Give us a call today to discuss your options.
