The best low-cost eco-friendly home improvements you can do
Sustainability, on a shoestring? Yes please. Michael J Coren reports.
What if you had only $100 to invest in a cheaper, cleaner home? Or $10? Or even just $1? The conversation about cutting your emissions is often about big-ticket items: Stoves, furnaces, cars and other changes.
But millions of people are neither ready nor able to spend thousands of dollars. What if you didn’t need to?
I asked energy experts, efficiency engineers and readers how to get the biggest climate bang for your buck, whether you rent or own your home.
I wanted investments that turned a few dollars into a fistful of them, while cutting emissions within a few months or sooner.
I was not disappointed. There’s money just lying around your house squirrelled away in floor joists, behind air ducts and even under the bedspread. You just need to know where to look.
I’ve catalogued the best ideas to invest in the climate – and your comfort – by price, from $100 down to zero. And I’m sure there are many more.
Push your lawn mower
Cost: Starts around $100.
Why it works: Stuck cutting grass behind a belching engine? First, plant a tidy wildland – a mostly natural backyard with only a small area of grass that you have to mow. Next, try a push reel mower. I was hard-pressed to find one on Google Shopping that didn’t have four or fivestar reviews.
Have an attic? Pitch a tent
Cost: $100 to $240.
Why it works: The simple devices are usually made of nylon, insulation and Velcro, and fit over the attic opening. They cover the draughty space created by a poorly-sealed ceiling access to your attic.
Every time your heating or cooling system turns on, you’re pushing pressurised air out of your home. If there’s a gap where your stairs enter the attic, air will rush out there. A simple insulation cover cuts heat loss dramatically by stopping leaks, while keeping out insulation and dust particles that might drift down.
Close your chimney
Cost: $50 to more than $300.
Why it works: Fireplaces and old furnaces vent outdoors. If your chimney or flue isn’t sealed off when not in use, it’s a clean shot for all your warm air to leave your home,, says Christian Kaltreider, a researcher at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), one of the US Energy Department’s research centres.
A simple and inexpensive fix is to rig up your own seal by inserting a well-fitted piece of insulating material or buying a chimney seal or damper available online.
These can range from cast iron plates or doors that sit inside your chimney to top-sealing ones that cap the top. There are also draught stoppers made out of flexible material. You won’t be able to burn anything in your fireplace while the damper is in, but it will prevent air from leaving your flue and eliminate draughts.
Manage phantom loads
Cost: Starts around $50.
Why it works: Your house is filled with vampires, devices that suck power even when they’re not turned on.
The average home has about 40 of them, from plasma TVs to printers. They consume 5 to 10% of the United States’ energy, according to Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and generate 1% of global carbon emissions.
How do you know what’s sucking power? You can measure it by using a plug-in power consumption meter or wi-fi smart plugs. While not much on their own, these loads can be like adding an extra week or month to your utility bill.
Electric blankets are hot
Cost: Start around $70.
Why it works: If you want something cheaper to stay warm after turning down your heating at night, try heated blankets and mattress pads. Since these draw 50 to 200 watts, similar to an old incandescent lightbulb, the cost to run them could be as little as $40 a year.
Switch to LEDs
Cost: Starts at $1.
Why it works: The latest generation of LED bulbs are 90% more efficient than incandescent bulbs, and they’re cheaper and more reliable than earlier versions.
“If you’re not sure if a fixture can be replaced [with an LED],” says Edward Louie, an energy-efficiency engineer at PNNL, “the answer is yes. For pretty much every single fixture, there’s a way to do it.”
ATHOL:
ANZAC Service at the Athol Memorial Hall at 10 a.m. on Thursday the 25th of April.
AWARUA:
Service starts at 10am at the 2 nd NZEF Club, 177 Don Street. RSA Members fall in on Don Street, Club Members and guests assemble in the car park. Light refreshments to follow. All Welcome
BALFOUR – 10am
The parade departs from the Sports Ground gates at 9.50am for a Service at the Balfour Public Hall at 10am, followed by wreath laying at the new War Memorial. Cup of tea and refreshments will be provided following the Service.
Chairman: Murray McKeown Parade Marshall: Jennifer Baker Guest Speaker: John Dale
BLUFF:
Dawn Service, Bluff Memorial Grove, Flagstaff Road, 7am, Civic Service, Bluff Cenotaph, Marine Parade, 11am
CLINTON – 10am
At Clinton Community Centre followed by parade to Memorial.
Guest Speaker: Aaron Horrell
Cup of tea to follow.
DIPTON:
The Dipton service will commence at 10am at the Dipton memorial hall, with a cuppa to follow, speaker TBC.
DRUMMOND:
Community ANZAC Service, April 25.
Assemble at the War Memorial. If wet it will be held at the Drummond Primary School. ALL WELCOME.
After the service a cup of tea will be available.
DUNROBIN: 12pm
Assemble at the monument for the 12pm service organised by the Moa Flat Rural Women.
EDENDALE – 8am
The public is invited to the Edendale Anzac Day Service at the war memorial at 7.50am.
Parade to assemble at the Rugby Pavilion at 7.45am.
Waimahaka Service: 10am.
Seaward Downs service: Wreath laying at 11am. Cup of tea to follow.
Menzies Ferry Service: 2pm. Meet at the Menzies Ferry Memorial. Cup of tea to follow.
GORE:
Dawn Parade Service – 6.30am
Our 105 th service will be held at the cenotaph following the parade of ex service personnel, Service Groups, Scouts, Guides etc., which is to assemble on the corner of Mersey and Main Streets at 6.30am and be led by the Hokonui Celtic Pipe Band and official wreath bearers.
Wreaths may be placed at this Service. Please register your names with the RSA before the day.
Dress:- Mufti and medals.
Dawn service will be livestreamed on our Facebook page.
RSA Members, participants, and friends are welcome back to the RSA Clubrooms after the Parade.
The Gore RSA Bistro will be open for a $20 buffet breakfast from 8:30am to 10am. Lunch and dinner open as normal.
There will be musical entertainment at the clubrooms from 9am till 1pm.
Courtesy coach will be available all day.
Pickups for the service restricted to returned servicemen, their wives, or widows. Please call the RSA to arrange a pick-up.
A reserved table has been set aside at the clubrooms for Returned Soldiers.
Guest Speaker: Commander Chris Bone – RNZ Navy.
GORGE ROAD – 9am
Meet at The Gorge Road War Memorial at 8:45am.
Morning tea in the Supper Room of the Gorge Road Community Centre. Please bring a plate
HERIOT – 7am
Assemble at the monument at 7:00am for a dawn service. Cup of tea to follow.
Chairman: Gloria McHutchon
LUMSDEN: 7am
Assemble at the monument at 6.50am for the dawn service at 7am.
MATAURA – 8am
Assemble at the Mataura Butcher shop in Bridge Street at 7.45am.
Light refreshments to following the service at the Mataura RSA clubrooms.
MOSSBURN – 7am
Members of the Public are asked to assemble at the Senior Citizens Rooms from 6.45am with the march to the memorial gates beginning at 7am
All welcome for breakfast in the rooms after the service.
MYROSS BUSH:
Anzac Service. War Memorial Hall, Mill Road North at 10am. Speaker: Ken Calvert ‘The Battle for Crete’.
OREPUKI:
Anzac Service is at 9am at Memorial Gates, Dover St Orepuki.
QUEENSTOWN:
Anzac Day will be celebrated on Thursday 25th April 2024
The Queenstown RSA invites members, other service organisations and members of the public to the following commemorative activities.
6.30am Dawn Service Memorial Gates, Marine Parade, Queenstown (prompt start). The Dawn Service will be followed by a march to the Memorial Hall where wreaths will be laid.
PUKERAU: 9.30am
A Service will be held at the Memorial Gates at 09.30am.
There will be a morning tea at the school following the Service.
Padre: Rev Bruce Cavanagh
RIVERSDALE: 10am
The Service will commence in the Community Centre at 10am. Following the Service, the parade will march to the Cenotaph for the wreath laying.
Morning tea will follow at the Community Centre. Everyone welcome.
Chairman: Peter O’Connor Parade Marshall: Doug Wing Guest Speaker: James Watt
RIVERTON:
7am Assemble by Te Hikoi Museum Memorial for 30-minute service.
10am Assemble by Te Hikoi Museum a Group March to Cenotaph across bridge after Service and Address. Then return to Riverton RSA for light refreshments.
TAPANUI: 10am
The Service will be held at the Tapanui Community Centre.
Following the Service everyone is welcome back to the RSA Clubrooms for a cup of tea and refreshments.
Chairman: Horace McAuley Parade Marshall: Colin McDonald Guest Speakers: 3 Short War Stories from West Otago residents
TE ANAU: 11am
Special Dawn Service to be held 7:00am at the Te Anau Club. Cup of Tea to follow.
Assemble at 10.40am outside Paper Plus before leaving to Anzac Reserve for the 11am service.
Parade Marshall: Steve Reed Chaplain: Hunter Pearce
Guest Speaker: Lt. Colonel Paul Reed
THORNBURY:
Anzac Service - Assemble at the Fire Station at 8.30am for a parade start at 8.45 am. Morning tea to follow.
TOKANUI:
9:30am: An Anzac Day Service will be held at 9:30am in the Tokanui Memorial Hall All Welcome morning tea to follow.
TUATAPERE/ORAWIA:
Dawn service at 7am at Orawia followed be a moring tea at the Orawia community centre. Then we have the 10am Service at the Tuatapere RSA hall with a cup of tea after that back at the RSA hall in Tuatapere.
TUTURAU: 11am
An Anzac Service will be held at 11:00am at the Tuturau War Memorial. Meet at hall prior to service. Shared Lunch to follow at the Tuturau Hall.
WAIKAIA: 10am
A Service will be held at the Community Centre at 10am.
Chairman: Andrew Dickson Parade Marshall: Ray Dickson Chaplain: Chris Waples Guest Speaker: Helen McLeish
Cup of tea at the Waikaia Recreation Centre to follow the parade to the memorial. All welcome
WAIKAKA: 10am
The Waikaka Anzac Committee invites members and the general public to participate in their Anzac Day Service to be held at the Waikaka Centennial Hall at 10am.
The scout flag raising ceremony will begin at 9.55am. Following the service march to the war memorial for wreath laying. Cup of Tea to follow in the hall. Potluck lunch. Please bring a plate
Chairman: Stuart Davie Parade Marshall: Dougal Stringer Guest Speaker: Jeannette McIntyre
WAIMAHAKA:
An Anzac service will be held at 10am at the Waimahaka monument. A cup of tea will follow at the Waimahaka hall.
WAIMUMU/TE TIPUA:
An Anzac Service will be held at the Waimumu-TeTipua Hall at 10am.
At the conclusion morning tea will be served in the hall. All welcome.
WINTON: 7am
The Service will be held at the Anzac Oval at 7am.
Wreath bearers are asked to report to the band rotunda at 6.50am.
Morning Tea to follow in the Memorial Hall.
WOODLANDS:
ANZAC Day meet 7.45 for 8.00 start at woodlands garage please bring a plate and join use for morning tea afterwards.
WYNDHAM: 9am
Assemble at the Town Square at 8.45am. Parade will commence with a wreath-laying ceremony at the War Memorial.
Morning Tea to follow at the Wyndham Evangelical Church after the ceremony. All Welcome.
Poppy Day, this year held on Friday April 19, is the RSA’s main fund-raising activity.
Donations collected on Poppy Day help the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services Association improve the health and well-being outcomes for New Zealand's veterans of all ages.
The RSA was established in 1916 with the aim of taking care of New Zealand’s veterans and their families as soldiers returned from Gallipoli.
While today’s soldiers face different challenges, the RSA’s support to them and their whanau continues.
In 2024 New Zealand celebrates 102 years of the Poppy Appeal – with the Poppy campaign running throughout the month of April and Poppy Day, the RSA’s street collection, on April 19.
The first Poppy Appeal in 1922 netted 13,166 pounds – poppies were sold for one shilling each.
Today's poppies are sold for a gold coin donation and a million poppies on average are sold each year.
Get involved
There are many ways to get involved with the RSA.
You can join as a member of a local RSA (visit https://www.rsa.org.nz/find-an-rsa/ find-a-local-rsa/ ) and get involved in your community.
Or you can join the online RSA (https:// www.rsa.org.nz/find-an-rsa/rsa-online/ ) an emerging community of like-minded individuals with veteran support at its core.
You don't always need to reach for your wallet to donate to the RSA, your time is just as valuable. Local RSAs are always looking for volunteers to spend some time helping them out, especially collecting on Poppy Day.
If you would like to volunteer, contact your local RSA. If you have free time and are physically able, let them know what you can do to help. Mowing lawns? Driving a veteran to an appointment? Stacking firewood?
The gift of a little time can mean so much to someone in need.
Donate
And of course - you can donate to the RSA (https://www.rsa.org.nz/support-us/ donate/) Your donation could help fund a cataract operation, medical care, mobility assistance, help with school fees, emotional support including trauma counselling, and treatment for post-traumatic stress, hearing aids, equine therapy, or companion dogs.
Every day the RSA supports veterans throughout New Zealand, and the demand for its services has never been higher.
Since 1990 New Zealand has created over 60,500 veterans of military service, and there are around 140,000 living veterans across New Zealand.
Support offered includes advice and guidance, advocacy services and financial support to improve accessibility in accommodation, enable access to mental health services, get medical conditions treated, and ensure children and whānau of the fallen and injured are looked after. It also provide assistance navigating services available through other agencies.
Please give generously.
A brief history:
Ka maumahara tonu tātou ki a rātou We will remember them
The Anzac legend began on April 25, 1915, when around 20,000 soldiers of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) landed under fire on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey.
For eight long months, New Zealand troops, alongside those from Australia and other allied nations, battled harsh conditions and Ottoman forces desperately fighting to protect their homeland.
By the time the campaign ended, more than 130,000 soldiers had died: at least 87,000 Ottoman and 44,000 Allied soldiers. Among the dead were 2779 New Zealanders.
Gallipoli was New Zealand’s first major battle of World War One and the country was deeply affected by the massive loss of life and the return home of the injured. New Zealanders have marked the landings at Gallipoli since news of the event first reached our shores.
Over time there have been changes in the way that Anzac Day is commemorated, reflecting the changing features and concerns of New Zealand society.
Today, Anzac Day promotes a sense of unity and is a time for the nation to pay respects and acknowledge the many thousands of our military personnel who are serving or have served, and who are called upon to support New Zealand in times of war, conflict, and disaster.
As time has passed the meaning of the word ‘Anzac’ has changed too.
Once used solely to refer to those who fought as part of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, today the term represents the characteristics that are seen as important to New Zealanders and those serving in the New Zealand Defence Forces, including courage, commitment, comradeship and integrity.