Law family - Canterbury

With the help of a Right House technician, the Law family of four got the energy-efficiency solution they had been aiming for with a minimum of fuss and hassle.

Leigh says having the paperwork, local council contact and form filling taken care of was a stress free way to get the solar panel technology installed.

"These guys were great because they sorted all the planning permissions. It was absolutely painless for us, they did absolutely everything.”

For Leigh, husband Brian and two children Mairi and Callum, the new solar panels are taking a load off their power bills and a heat pump is brightening their environmental conscience.

Since moving to the North Canterbury town of Cust four years ago, the family has relied on a woodburner to keep the southern chill out, but in the last year have had to chop kindling only twice.

Flurries of snow are not unknown in the Canterbury hinterland and Leigh says it can get "pretty chilly” especially in the morning.

Leigh admits the two Law youngsters don't help the electricity bill by tweaking the heat pump to "tropical” temperatures from time to time, but being able to set the heat pump to a timer saves firing up the woodburner and makes mornings more comfortable.

Solar water heating made sense in the sunny countryside, Leigh said. "It seems such a waste not to, everyone should have it down here.”

Taking the heat off their power bills was the motivation for solar panels and while still working out how much they are saving, the Laws are happier without their smoking chimney.

"The kids get a lot of comments from their friends at school.

"They don't really get the money side of it yet, but they know they are doing a really good thing for the environment,” Leigh says.

Right House installed combination of the heat pump and the solar panels have made a major difference, keeping out the chilly Canterbury mornings and giving the Laws a measure of confidence they are doing their bit for their patch of New Zealand.
"It makes you feel a lot more self sufficient. And it makes our life way more comfortable, especially with a young family.”