MODERN HOMES COLDER THAN OLD HOUSES

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28642, 19 July 1958, Page 6

MODERN HOMES COLDER THAN OLD HOUSES

‘The Press” Special Service

AUCKLAND, July 18.

The typical modern New Zealand house is much less agreeable to live in than the older, traditional style of home, according to Dr. L. Bastings, former principal scientific officer of the Dominion Physical Laboratory. Dr. Bastings has spent many years investigating the comfort and efficiency of buildings. In his publication, entitled “Insulation and Heating of Buildings,” Dr. Bastings said: “Modern homes in general are much colder, more damp, and less satisfactorily ventilated than were those of the older type.” He said the reason was different building techniques, making it difficult to attain adequate warmth and ventilation without draughts Dr. Bastings criticised the open fire as a domestic heater He saic| it had a low efficiency of 10 to 20 per cent., tended to create draughts, depended almost completely on radiation for its effectiveness, and was generally uneconomic.

Although the open fire was still the chief means of domestic heating, a great many alternative methods had appeared in recent times.

jThese were the convector open fire, slow combustion stove; gas radiator; gas convector; oil-fuel heater.; high-temperature electric radiator; lowvtemoerature electric radiator; electric heater-blower; thermal-storage electric heater; under-carpet electric cable heat-

ing; floor heating by buried cable; various forms of central heating. Dr. Bastings gave a comparison of estimated running costs, showing how much a householder paid to produce one therm of heat by different methods. The figures were:—

Electricity (assuming 100 per cent, efficiency), Is lOd; gas radiator (60 per cent.), 3s 4d; gas convector (75 per cent.), 2s 3d; open coal fire (15 per cent), 4s 3d; coal convector fire (35 per cent.). Is lOd; coal stove <45 per cent.), Is sd; kerosene (100 per cent). Is 7d; range oil (70 per cent.). Is 7d; light diesel oil (70 per cent.). Is 4d.

Dr. Bastings’s book is primarily for architects, builders, contractors. and informed “users,” and it is especially valuable because of power cuts and, rising power costs.

The book deals scientifically with every aspect of heating, in? sulation, and ventilation of buildings. It is published by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.