Ok, I had an argument last week with two of my Kiwi mates who told me that the UK (or in my case, Scotland) is a miserable place to be in winter. I defended Scotland by stating that although it can be dark and cold, we also have Christmas, snow, festivals and as always, warm, dry shelter.
I decided to make this image as an illustration of how I view the NZ winter. I know I am not alone with this view after numerous chats with Canadian, Norwegians, Swedes and other Scots. See a pattern here? yes, that's right, we are all from 'cold' countries.
Of course there are many ways to skin a cat and this will not apply to everyone. But I maintain the view that NZ on average is still a far colder country than Scotland during winter due to the lack of heating, insulation and poor construction. You may not agree with the illustration, but all I can say is that in a New Zealand Winter, when I wake up in the morning, I am cold. When I go to work, it's cold, when I go to a restaurant, its cold, if I go to the pub, it's cold, and the NZ winter follows you everywhere you go.
In Scotland, when I shut the door on a cold day, that's it. End of story, the cold stays outside.
Here are some stats about NZ Homes
- 45% of existing homes are mouldy
- 16% of homes have no insulation at all
- 21% of people aged 18–24 say their home is cold and uncomfortable
- 84% of households say they don’t have the financial means to make energy-saving renovations
- Typically more than one third of the energy used in the home is for keeping warm
- Nearly two thirds of homes in New Zealand were built before insulation became a legal requirement in 1979—just over one million properties
- More than a quarter of the nation’s homes could be making their occupants ill
- More than 75% of people who rented or bought a home in the past two years did not check insulation, hot water cylinders, heaters and other water and energy efficiency appliances
- You live in New Zealand during winter when...
- Read more @ Idealog.
- NZ Homes are a Health Risk >>
- Freezing Cold Houses anger RNZAF Mums
- NZ Catches Death of Cold
- Cold Damp and Mouldy
- Cold, but it's a Damp Cold NZ
*I pinched these images off Google Images, I do not intend to infringe anyones copyright. If I have done so, please leave a comment below and I will immedately remove the image. Thanks.
New Zealand Cold Winter, Scotland Winter, Snow, Freezing, cold, damp, home, insulation, heating,
2 comments:
You're right Muzz, though I have not experienced winter in Scotland I have awoken many a morn here in NZ to a house that is colder inside than it is out. I do remember, with a smile, the first winter morning in my current house - I had been walking around inside in only a pair of boxers. I left the house thinking it was a regular warm morning only to realise as I stepped out the door that it was bloody freezing outside.
Thank God for double glazed windows and modern insulation technology.
I do pity though those who do live in your average cold NZ house.
Indeed. We are currently getting on with the 33% Government Funding for Insulation in our new house, I dearly hope this is the last winter I wake up with my socks on. :-)
Post a Comment