From putting on an extra layer – rather than cranking up the heat – to turning off lights and choosing the energy-saving option, Kiwis do want to save on electricity costs in their homes. It’s just most of us are ignoring one of the biggest bill-saving options: changing power companies. It’s a set-and-forget mentality that … Continued
Nothing beats a hot shower in the depths of winter, but the costs can add up fast. Hot water heating makes up approximately 30% of an average household’s energy bill, according to the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority, so it’s key to make an informed decision when choosing a water heating system. If you are … Continued
Whether it’s piped in via a mains supply or delivered in bottles, gas is a popular fuel source in Kiwi homes. In the kitchen, a gas hob allows you to cook food with precision heat, and elsewhere around the home gas is an economical way to heat rooms and water. As gas is an essential … Continued
Kiwis are a nation of drivers: according to the AA, 97% of adult New Zealanders have a driver licence, and we have one of the highest rates of light vehicle ownership in the world. Naturally, we all want filling up at the pump to be the smoothest (and preferably the most affordable) experience possible. Demand … Continued
It’s not uncommon for our energy bills to spike over the winter months. Household costs increase particularly due to our heating use and clothes dryers. Dryers are energy-hungry; an average dryer cycle costs about $1 per load. Heaters add to the power bill, too: a two-bar electric space heater running for five hours in the … Continued
There isn’t much a smartphone can’t do these days. Need a series to watch on your commute home? Download one. Lost in a city? Map your way out. Want high-quality holiday snaps? Use your phone for that, too. Gone are the days when phones were used as simple communication tools for a call or text. … Continued
No-one wants to have cold feet over winter. We want to be toasty in our homes, whether that’s lounging in front of the telly, in bed with a good book or working in the home office. But it’s a real pain when you’ve installed heating and it’s not acting as efficiently as it could. Especially, … Continued
Food, warmth and shelter, for our ancient forebears, they were the essentials of life. For the modern generation, we must add mobile phones to the list. Most of us now rely on our phones not only for communication, but to navigate every aspect of our lives, from banking and entertainment to finding street directions. But … Continued
They are habits to which it’s easy to turn a blind eye, but there’s a reason why you shouldn’t let lint build up in your dryer, or stuff your freezer to capacity and beyond. By treating your appliances badly, you could be shaving years off their useful lives. Canstar breaks down nine ways you could … Continued
If we’ve learned one thing from the global pandemic, weeks of lockdown and heightened economic stress, it’s that we’ve taken supermarkets for granted. Before COVID-19, supermarket shopping was just another unavoidable part of the weekly routine, along with work and household chores. But queuing for basics such as flour has given us plenty of time … Continued