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    • 10 Easy & Energy-Efficient Ways to Keep Your Home Cool This Summer
      • When Welly summer cranks up the heat, it’s tempting to blast the airconditioning. But what if you could keep your home cool without that shocking power bill? Ensuring you’re an environmental warrior AND have the coolest home (both metaphorically and literally) in town can be done, which is why we’ve come up with 10 easy ways to stay chill this summer without breaking the bank. 1. Install a Heat Pump – The Coolest Upgrade! Think of a heat pump as your home’s year-round temperature wizard. It keeps you cool in summer and cozy in winter, all while using much less energy than a standard air conditioning unit. It’s a common misconception that heat pumps aren’t energy efficient. But modern heat pumps deliver approximately 300-400% efficiency. This means for every 1kW of power your heat pump uses, it can deliver between 3-4kW in heating or cooling. The more efficient an appliance is, the cheaper it is to run! Ensuring your heat pump is regularly serviced, that its filters are kept clean, using a built-in timer to switch your heat pump on and off, and that the space that you’re intending to cool is enclosed can ensure that you’re using your heat pump as efficiently as possible and aren’t wasting power. If you’re thinking about installing a heat pump, our installation team can help. To get a free quote, contact us here. Top tip: It's recommended that your heat pump runs between 18 – 22 degrees Celsius in cooling mode during the summer to save energy. Your home actually won't cool down any quicker if you set the temperature lower, to say 16 degrees, it just means your heat pump will work a lot harder – meaning you'll use more energy. When cooling, keep the temperature at 18 degrees celsius at the lowest. Get a Heat Pump Quote 2. Fan-tastic Cooling Tricks Fans are like your personal breeze machines! Make sure your ceiling fans are spinning counterclockwise to push cool air down. For portable fans, place them beside a window so that the cool breeze from outside gets pushed inside. Your best bet is to do this when the outside temperature is cooler than the inside temperature of your house, in the mornings or evenings is usually best. Want a DIY air conditioner? Place a bowl of ice in front of a fan and let the cool mist refresh you! Although heat pumps and fans are far more efficient than air conditioning units, you may want to cool your home without power at all! Discover our electricity-free tips below. 3. Let It Air Out Open windows and doors in the morning and evening when it’s cooler outside. Let the fresh air in and let it push all that stuffy hot air out. Cross-ventilation (opening windows on opposite sides of the house) works like a natural air conditioner—no electricity required! There’s often at least a soft breeze in Wellington to help with this, just ensure all doors and windows are properly secured open to avoid any large gusts coming along and slamming them closed! 4. Curtains: Your Secret Weapon Sunlight streaming through your windows might look pretty, but it’s also turning your home into a hot box. If you’re blessed enough to have a lot of natural sunlight in your home during the day, block out the heat with blackout curtains, tinted windows or reflective blinds—bonus points if they match your summer décor! Top tip: This doesn’t have to be an expensive upgrade, your regular curtains or blinds may do the trick, if you still want to see outside, try tinted window film. 5. Seal It Up, Stay Chill Think of your home like a cooler—you don’t want any leaks! Seal up gaps around doors and windows so the cool air stays in and the hot air stays out. DIY it by putting draught stopper round your windows, use door seals in summer as well as winter, and check whether you need any further insulation to fill gaps under your floors etc which, bonus, will also keep you warmer in the winter! 6. Shady Business Planting trees, installing awnings, or setting up outdoor pergolas can block the sun before it even hits your house. Not only does this keep your home cool, but it also adds curb appeal and value to your house. Win-win! 7. Ditch the Old-School Bulbs Incandescent bulbs do more than light up a room, they actually heat up your home too. Swap them out for LED lights, which are around 85% more efficient, and enjoy a cooler home and a lower power bill. Plus, LEDs last way longer, so you won’t be replacing bulbs anytime soon. 8. Turn Down the Heat (In the Kitchen!) Ovens and stoves are basically indoor bonfires. Keep your home cooler by grilling outside, using a microwave, or embracing the magic of an air fryer. Summer is the perfect excuse for more fresh salads and BBQs anyway! 9. Invest in a Good Quality Cooling Mattress Topper A good night’s sleep is crucial, and a cooling mattress topper can make all the difference. Designed to regulate temperature and wick away heat, these toppers help you stay cool and comfortable, even on the warmest of nights. 10. Chill & Wrap! Dampen a hand towel or face cloth with cold water, wring out the excess, and pop it in the freezer for about 30 minutes. Once chilled, drape it over your neck, forehead, or pulse points to quickly cool down. Perfect for beating the heat and getting a better night's sleep! Get a Heat Pump Quote today by clicking the button below. Get a Heat Pump Quote

    • 10 Easy & Energy-Efficient Ways to Keep Your Home Cool This Summer
      • When Welly summer cranks up the heat, it’s tempting to blast the airconditioning. But what if you could keep your home cool without that shocking power bill? Ensuring you’re an environmental warrior AND have the coolest home (both metaphorically and literally) in town can be done, which is why we’ve come up with 10 easy ways to stay chill this summer without breaking the bank. 1. Install a Heat Pump – The Coolest Upgrade! Think of a heat pump as your home’s year-round temperature wizard. It keeps you cool in summer and cozy in winter, all while using much less energy than a standard air conditioning unit. It’s a common misconception that heat pumps aren’t energy efficient. But modern heat pumps deliver approximately 300-400% efficiency. This means for every 1kW of power your heat pump uses, it can deliver between 3-4kW in heating or cooling. The more efficient an appliance is, the cheaper it is to run! Ensuring your heat pump is regularly serviced, that its filters are kept clean, using a built-in timer to switch your heat pump on and off, and that the space that you’re intending to cool is enclosed can ensure that you’re using your heat pump as efficiently as possible and aren’t wasting power. If you’re thinking about installing a heat pump, our installation team can help. To get a free quote, contact us here. Top tip: It's recommended that your heat pump runs between 18 – 22 degrees Celsius in cooling mode during the summer to save energy. Your home actually won't cool down any quicker if you set the temperature lower, to say 16 degrees, it just means your heat pump will work a lot harder – meaning you'll use more energy. When cooling, keep the temperature at 18 degrees celsius at the lowest. Get a Heat Pump Quote 2. Fan-tastic Cooling Tricks Fans are like your personal breeze machines! Make sure your ceiling fans are spinning counterclockwise to push cool air down. For portable fans, place them beside a window so that the cool breeze from outside gets pushed inside. Your best bet is to do this when the outside temperature is cooler than the inside temperature of your house, in the mornings or evenings is usually best. Want a DIY air conditioner? Place a bowl of ice in front of a fan and let the cool mist refresh you! Although heat pumps and fans are far more efficient than air conditioning units, you may want to cool your home without power at all! Discover our electricity-free tips below. 3. Let It Air Out Open windows and doors in the morning and evening when it’s cooler outside. Let the fresh air in and let it push all that stuffy hot air out. Cross-ventilation (opening windows on opposite sides of the house) works like a natural air conditioner—no electricity required! There’s often at least a soft breeze in Wellington to help with this, just ensure all doors and windows are properly secured open to avoid any large gusts coming along and slamming them closed! 4. Curtains: Your Secret Weapon Sunlight streaming through your windows might look pretty, but it’s also turning your home into a hot box. If you’re blessed enough to have a lot of natural sunlight in your home during the day, block out the heat with blackout curtains, tinted windows or reflective blinds—bonus points if they match your summer décor! Top tip: This doesn’t have to be an expensive upgrade, your regular curtains or blinds may do the trick, if you still want to see outside, try tinted window film. 5. Seal It Up, Stay Chill Think of your home like a cooler—you don’t want any leaks! Seal up gaps around doors and windows so the cool air stays in and the hot air stays out. DIY it by putting draught stopper round your windows, use door seals in summer as well as winter, and check whether you need any further insulation to fill gaps under your floors etc which, bonus, will also keep you warmer in the winter! 6. Shady Business Planting trees, installing awnings, or setting up outdoor pergolas can block the sun before it even hits your house. Not only does this keep your home cool, but it also adds curb appeal and value to your house. Win-win! 7. Ditch the Old-School Bulbs Incandescent bulbs do more than light up a room, they actually heat up your home too. Swap them out for LED lights, which are around 85% more efficient, and enjoy a cooler home and a lower power bill. Plus, LEDs last way longer, so you won’t be replacing bulbs anytime soon. 8. Turn Down the Heat (In the Kitchen!) Ovens and stoves are basically indoor bonfires. Keep your home cooler by grilling outside, using a microwave, or embracing the magic of an air fryer. Summer is the perfect excuse for more fresh salads and BBQs anyway! 9. Invest in a Good Quality Cooling Mattress Topper A good night’s sleep is crucial, and a cooling mattress topper can make all the difference. Designed to regulate temperature and wick away heat, these toppers help you stay cool and comfortable, even on the warmest of nights. 10. Chill & Wrap! Dampen a hand towel or face cloth with cold water, wring out the excess, and pop it in the freezer for about 30 minutes. Once chilled, drape it over your neck, forehead, or pulse points to quickly cool down. Perfect for beating the heat and getting a better night's sleep! Interested in getting getting your home even cooler (in an energy efficient way of course) as summer cranks up the heat? Get a Heat Pump Quote today from our awesome team by clicking the button below. Get a Heat Pump Quote

    • Home Electrification and Getting Off Gas
      • If you're a homeowner wondering when to retire gas appliances, what to switch to, whether to do it all at once or one at a time, how to fund it, and whether it's even worth it—you're not alone. At Sustainability Trust, we've been operating in the home efficiency space for 23 years. Last financial year alone, we visited more than 7,500 homes in the Wellington region. Through this work, we constantly hear questions about electrification and know that many homeowners don't know where to start.

    • Insulation grants - are you eligible?
      • Did you know that there are thousands of properties around the Wellington region that are eligible for government-funded insulation grants, simply because of the address? In this blog post, we will help you check if you are eligible to get your home insulated for just a few hundred dollars.

    • Innovative design for reusable serviceware collection
      • FillGood provides resuable serviceware solutions. The reusable serviceware replace disposables at events, venues, and in hospitality, providing a smart, cost-effective solution for serving food and drinks. When FillGood couldn’t find a market solution for liquid collection, they reached out to Industrial Designer Darcy Snell, and Garage Project Sustainability Champion, Steve Almond for help to develop a prototype design.

    • Innovative design for reusable serviceware collection
      • FillGood provides resuable serviceware solutions. The reusable serviceware replace disposables at events, venues, and in hospitality, providing a smart, cost-effective solution for serving food and drinks. When FillGood couldn’t find a market solution for liquid collection, they reached out to Industrial Designer Darcy Snell, and Garage Project Sustainability Champion, Steve Almond for help to develop a prototype design.

    • How much does a heat pump cost to install? You could be eligible for a huge discount.
      • Imagine warm, toasty air filling your living room during chilly Kiwi winters, and a cool, refreshing breeze keeping you comfortable over summer. That’s the beauty of a heat pump—it’s a two-in-one solution that works as a heater in winter and an air conditioner in summer. It also has a dehumidifier mode, to reduce moisture in the air. Beyond keeping you comfortable, it also helps reduce energy bills with its efficient technology, making it a win for both your wallet and the environment.

    • 10 Fun & Energy-Efficient Ways to Keep Your Home Cool This Summer
      • When Welly summer cranks up the heat, it’s tempting to blast the airconditioning. But what if you could keep your home cool without that shocking power bill? Ensuring you’re an environmental warrior AND have the coolest home (both metaphorically and literally) in town can be done, which is why we’ve come up with 10 easy ways to stay chill this summer without breaking the bank.

    • Getting Ready for National Volunteer Week…
      • The Curtain Bank could not run without the support, mahi and encouragement of the volunteers who come into the workroom every week. It seems nothing can adequately express just how lucky we are to have such a great team, and that without them, Juliet and Amanda would end up buried beneath a three-ton pile of donated curtains! Or is there?

    • Getting Ready for National Volunteer Week…
      • The Curtain Bank could not run without the support, mahi and encouragement of the volunteers who come into the workroom every week. It seems nothing can adequately express just how lucky we are to have such a great team, and that without them, Juliet and Amanda would end up buried beneath a three-ton pile of donated curtains! Or is there?

    • Green Home Loans
      • Did you know if you’ve got a mortgage with one of the major banks in New Zealand - chances are you can access a low or no interest loan to make sustainable improvements to your home? Read our latest blog, written by our very own CE to learn more about which banks have started offering low or no-interest loans to encourage the uptake of sustainable home improvements.

    • Green Home Loans
      • Did you know if you’ve got a mortgage with one of the major banks in New Zealand - chances are you can access a low or no interest loan to make sustainable improvements to your home? Read our latest blog, written by our very own CE to learn more about which banks have started offering low or no-interest loans to encourage the uptake of sustainable home improvements.

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