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Reducing energy costs is not just about installing solar panels or buying more efficient appliances. Some of the simplest building technologies use sunlight, wind and natural airflow to do jobs that would otherwise require electricity.
One example is tubular daylighting, which brings natural light from the roof into darker parts of a home through a highly reflective tube.
Certified Auckland Solatube licensee Simon Ellender, who installs the systems across the North Shore, Rodney and West Auckland, says the technology is a simple, well-tested concept that has been used for more than 30 years.
It is particularly suited to spaces such as bathrooms, hallways and kitchens where lights may otherwise be switched on throughout the day.
Ellender says one concern homeowners sometimes have is cutting a hole through an existing roof so Solatube systems come with a 10-year product and roof-leak warranty and must be fitted by a licensed installer.
Solatube is not alone. The same principle – using naturally available energy rather than plugging something in – can be applied elsewhere in a house.
Wind-driven roof ventilators, for example, use air movement to extract heat and moisture from roof spaces without an electric fan. Bradford’s WindMaster is one product available in New Zealand that operates entirely from wind, with no electricity or ongoing running cost.
Some of the most effective passive features are even simpler.
Eaves, exterior louvres and awnings can prevent summer sun from heating rooms in the first place, reducing the need for powered cooling. Exterior shading is more effective than internal blinds because it stops heat before it enters through the glass.
For people building or renovating, before paying for electricity to light, cool or ventilate a home, consider whether the building itself can be designed to do some of the work for free.
