As part of its energy efficiency efforts the City Council bought the fairly typical 40-yearold house in Papanui to use as a showplace for practical, affordable steps people can take to improve the space heating of a typical Christchurch house.

Energy advisors ask people to give them as much information as they can about their homes and discuss the various ways they could make those houses warmer, healthier and cheaper to heat.

The Show Home is open from Thursday to Tuesdays, 11am-6pm. Leander Street is off Sawyers Arms Road, just east of the mall expansion.

"At the Show Home, we're not pushing any one type of heating," says Leonid Itskovich, the City Councilfs Energy Manager. "What the advisors can do is talk to you about the merits and problems associated with electricity or different fuels or types of insulation and about the running costs. The idea is to talk about your home and look at what you can do, what you can afford to do, to make it warmer and more energy efficient."

The home has several draught-stopping products installed on the doors and windows, there are examples of ceiling and under-floor insulation, various types of double glazing, solar water heating and other energy efficient products and heating devices.