In New Zealand there are several air conditioning options available. Most homes will be equipped with a unit fitted high onto the wall. These units are fairly quiet and can be fitted to provide air conditioning and warm air for just one small room or for much larger rooms, so each unit can range from 2.2 kilowatts to 7 kilowatts. These air conditioning units are now much more efficient so no longer cost a lot of money to run. Several units can be operated from the same inverter system.

Alternatively air conditioning units can be fitted directly into the ceiling. These used to be large units but are now much smaller and can be fairly discreet. The sound levels on these units are low and it is possible to get a unit with a capacity as low as 3 kilowatts and as high as 14 kilowatts.

Those who have a smaller home and who may not want the expense of fitting a permanent unit can opt for a portable air conditioning unit. The advantage of these units is that only one is required and can be moved from room to room as needed, they can be operated by remote control and can both heat and cool as needed. Units come in a range of output sizes so it is easy to choose the right one for your home. A portable system is often the best option in areas which do not traditionally have high temperatures during the summer months as a system may only be needed for an hour or two each day or for a few hot days each year.

Those who have rooms with high ceilings can opt for a console split system for air conditioning. This is a unit which is fitted to the wall but below the height of the window. These can also be operated from the same point and can be placed in all rooms. The advantage of these units is that the room will heat from a lower level and be fairly quick. Hi-wall units can take a while to heat a room if the ceilings are high.

For heating, most homes have under floor heating. This also gives the option of cooling in the summer and works on the principle of heat conduction. The system is quiet and discreet as there are no radiators in each room. It is also considered to be much more environmentally friendly option as less energy is consumed as a lower water temperature is needed. There is very little needed in the way of maintenance and it can be controlled from one small control panel. Under floor heating is often used in homes which are being designed to be environmentally friendly.

There are other options available for those who are looking for a heating system for their homes. Central heating is available powered by gas, solid fuel or wood pellet boilers. Homes in urban areas may opt for gas as most have access to mains gas, although in rural areas gas central heating may mean bottled gas, which can be fairly expensive to run. A diesel boiler is an option in rural areas although the cost of operating this is strongly affected by global fuel prices. Wood pellet boilers and solid fuel boilers are popular in rural areas as these can be a cost effective option. Many homes in rural areas will have a multi-fuel stove which can provide heat for just one room or can have a back boiler to heat hot water and run radiators. Fuel is easy to come by and relatively inexpensive and some stoves are also suitable for cooking on.

Ground source heat pumps and air heat pumps are another option for heating as these extract heat from their surroundings and pump it into the house. These are a fairly clean system of heating and similar to air conditioning. Other clean systems or environmentally friendly systems include using solar panels to provide electricity for the home to run electric heaters or a wind turbine to carry out the same task.

All areas of New Zealand have a number of heating and air conditioning specialists and you will not be limited to just one option, no matter where you are in the country.