I am certainly not suggesting we use coal as this does produce very dirty smoke but providing wood is dry it produces very clean and sweet smelling smoke. My problem is that as long as people in cities require more and more electricity the more we lose in the beautiful wild parts of New Zealand, it is the lovely wild river valleys that we lose forever. I am afraid that New Zealanders have become a race of N.I.M.B.Ys we need to find ways of producing electricity that is not only clean and environmentally sound but is reversible once a beautiful river is dammed the landscape is changed forever. Windfarms seem to me to be a reasonable alternative as they can be removed if no longer needed and they can be built closer to where the power is needed istead of having to run ugly pylons across our beautiful country.
I don't have the answers but it seems to me that a little clean smoke is small price to pay.

Derekjs………. Your argument does not stack up! Wind power is not efficient,it is loud and offensive to the eye to some people. How many wind farms do you have next to your house? I believe tidal power is worth checking out myself! From where I live there is nothing “”SWEET”” “”SMELLING”” about smoke! Would you complain if I was to build 20 wind units next too you?
NIMBYS is a non word used buy people who want to accuse others of not wanting what negative people want to install on the masses!

Derekjs if you want to continue this discussion I suggest we go to a general discussion site as this site is a heatpump discussion site

I hav just discovered Grown Ups & hav been reading comments on Heat Pumps with gr8 interest ! I am friend & caregiver to an 86 yr old man, he lost his wife 2 1/2 yrs ago & has 'short term memory loss' & I am working with his doctor to keep him in his own home as long as possible, he has a great sense of humour, is very charismatic, still catches local buses & pays own bills etc, but, he will not turn on any heating, as he forgets & so freezes in Winter. With permission frm his Lawyer, a decision has been made to have a Heat Pump installed with a 7 day timer. It has'nt been an easy decision, I am a dressmaker, not a Heating Specialist, & every Tradesman I've spoken to, believes his product is the best ! I feel a huge weight of responsibility, Yay. The majority of Grown Ups hav experienced a reduced Power Bill, but a couple of you hav had HUGE increases, & this is worries me a little. However, it has been decided, & he needs to be kept warm. I will post comment when the deed is done Thankyou all for your helpful comments.

There is an article in the Listener about heatpumps and cars being big users of future electricity. It suggests that heat pumps should be on a timer. I just turn mine down to 14 at bedtime and turn it up to 20 on rising. Does anybody use the timer?

if you are able to use a fire in your part of the world, Derekjs, then you go for it. We had solar panels on our house in W. A. and we never used the electric for hot water in the summer at all. The cost in good old Kiwi land is way out of my league.

This country is backwards when it comes to believing that an efficient power saving plan should be built into every home built and not to have to be an expensive extra added later.

Thumbs down from me to all those inefficient bureaucrats sitting in their flash homes whose job it is to not allow the lower income workers the right to cheap heating.

I have enjoyed your journey with the Heat Pump Joybels, I have chosen a Timer because my elderly friend wont remember to turn it up or down and new technology would bamboozle him, so it needs to be preset, hope it works !

Post deleted at 08 Jun 2010 9:51pm by brono

I have been reading comments re heat pumps with interest as have recently moved into property with one installed.
Having no experience with them, and there being no operating manual left, and not so far having been able to obtain one, I have had to rely on what I have been able to find out from others, none of whom have this particular model which is a Toshiba Inverter. I have been "shaking in my shoes" to say the least, at the comments appearing here re some costs being exhorbitant, eg $450 or so. as I was told a difference of around $45 a month could be expected.
Is there anybody out there who has this model? If so I would be grateful for any information re use of same.
I have been running at 18o day til early evening then at 20o til bedtime then down to 18o again which seems to keep house comfortable. Have on some days turned off til evening as sun has been out and house naturally heated but told by heat pump user to leave on always.
Reading comments posted it seems that some leave on all of the time and some only part of the time. Do they not use more power if not left on which was what I was told?
Any comments gratefully received.

Hello Emme,
I have just read your comment, and thought that this web site may help you ....... http://www.manualsonline.com/

Hope it helps you. Kind regards ....... Shirley33

Hi Emme, How frustrating when manuals are carelessly thrown away. Wattle Downs is such a pretty name. The nearest town, city from you may be able to put you on to a Toshiba supplier. The different brands can vary in lowest and highest temps reached. The remote will show you the options available when you pull down the lower cover. I only turn mine off if I am going away. The elderly should try to maintain a 21cel in the winter as we need the heat. But we are not all created with equal inner thermostats. If you are comfortable with what you are using then that is fine. As it is really cold here now at night, I leave mine on 17cel overnight and can vary up to 24 throughout the day. In Farenheight terms these are 64 and 78. If you turn it right off then it uses more power to crank up from turning it on. My max. heat is 30cel and min. is 10. Hope this helps you, but trying to find a manual may help. Cheers and warm tootsies. Joybel

Me again You will find several sites available. Look for the word "contact"

Hello all and a very big thank you to Shirley 33 and Joybel.
I did try the manual site but unfortunately they did not have one relating to the model that I have. Still looking however and am hopeful that I will be successful.
Yes Joybel Wattle Downs is a pretty name and a lovely place to live. Close to Auckland City but far enough away to be countrified.
I will stay with 18 and 20o in the meantime as it seems to be ideal, might be a different story after first account though but hopefully by then I will have a manual or at the least have found a supplier who can help.
Again thank you and I shall continue to keep up with site comments.
Cheers....Emme