Stay warm and reduce winter energy use

Winter is when many homes across New Zealand naturally use more energy. With shorter days and cooler temperatures, we spend more time indoors, using heating, lighting and hot water to stay comfortable.

The good news is that staying warm doesn’t mean you have to change everything. It’s about using energy where it matters most and making the warmth you create go further.

Here are some simple, practical ways to keep your home cosy while using energy efficiently this winter.

Keep your home warm and dry

A warm home is important, but keeping it dry is just as essential during winter. Damp air can make your home feel colder and harder to heat, meaning your heater has to work harder to keep you comfortable.

• Ventilate your home daily: Opening windows for a short time each day helps remove moisture and improve air circulation, even in colder weather.
• Use extractor fans when cooking or showering: These areas create the most moisture, so using fans helps prevent damp air from spreading through your home.
• Wipe down condensation: Moisture on windows can build up quickly in winter. Removing it helps reduce dampness and mould.
• Avoid drying clothes in poorly ventilated spaces: This can add extra moisture to the air, making your home feel colder and harder to heat.

Heat your home efficiently

Heating is one of the biggest contributors to winter power bills, so using it wisely can go a long way. A few small adjustments can help you stay comfortable without overusing energy:

• Set your heat pump (heater) between 18–21°C: According to EECA, this range is usually warm enough for comfort. Turning the temperature up higher can quickly increase energy use without much added benefit.
• Heat the rooms you’re using most: Focus on living areas rather than trying to warm the whole house all at once.
• Keep doors closed where possible: This helps trap heat in the spaces you’re using and reduces the load on your heater.

Keep the warmth in

Keeping the heat inside your home is just as important as generating it. Simple habits can make your home feel warmer without extra power use:

• Close curtains at dusk: Thick curtains act as insulation, helping to keep the warmth inside once the sun goes down.
• Seal gaps and draughts: Blocking gaps around doors and windows stops cold air from entering and warm air from escaping.
• Let sunlight in during the day: Open curtains to take advantage of natural heat, then close them in the evening to lock it in.

Be mindful of hot water use

Hot water consumption increases noticeably during winter. EECA research indicates that water heating makes up roughly 30% of household energy use, particularly in homes with multiple occupants. Small adjustments can help reduce unnecessary energy use:

• Shorter showers: Shortening shower times reduces hot water demand directly.
• Avoid using warm water for washing clothes: Washing clothes in cold water, where possible, uses significantly less energy.
• Fix all taps before winter kicks in: Fixing dripping hot taps prevents constant heat loss from water cylinders.

Use everyday appliances more efficiently

Everyday appliances can quietly add to your winter energy use, especially as we spend more time indoors. Being a little more mindful about how and when you use them can help keep your energy use under control:

• Turn appliances off at the wall: Many devices continue to draw power even when not in use. Switching them off completely helps avoid unnecessary standby energy use.
• Use your dryer efficiently: Dryers use a lot of energy, so try to use them efficiently. Keeping the lint filter clean helps them run better and use less power.
• Run full loads where you can: Whether it’s the dishwasher or washing machine, running full loads makes better use of the energy each cycle uses.
• Choose energy-saving settings: Many appliances have eco or energy-saving modes that use less power while still getting the job done effectively.

Small changes in how and when you use energy can make a noticeable difference over winter. Using appliances during off‑peak times (if your plan allows), switching off unused lights or heaters, and keeping an eye on your energy usage can all help reduce costs over time.