[Glenda]

'Fraid the rental we are in is cold, cold, cold. We are up in the "winterless north" and can only be very very grateful we are not in this house further south!

The design is excellent for summer though - high ceilings and wider than average roof overhangs which restrict sunlight entering the house. Ideal for Australia. :rolleyes: The high ceilings also prevent dampness which affects only one room - the smallest bedroom which is south/west facing and has a normal ceiling height.

There is no central heating in this house, only an open fire which is really quite useless for heating. Electric heaters have been necessary, but usually for only the first couple of hours in the morning after waking up ... it is often warmer outside than in. Last winter we did make good use of hot water bottles.

Can't remember the temperatures or humidity of other houses I've lived in here in NZ in the past. None had central heating and all had a woodburning stove which proved very effective.

I've gone for a heat pump in the newbuild house with a heat transference system from the area of heat pump to three of the bedrooms (to keep the kids warm). Also, a woodburning stove will be installed (a little one that I can cook on if there is a long powercut). The good thing about most heat pumps is that they can be used in summer too, as an airconditioning unit.

:smiley: