When popular interior designer Katrina (of Katrina Life & Design) was searching for a single heating, cooling and hot water system for her home in Wagga, NSW, she looked no further than Panasonic.
The former contestant of renovation show The Block (2011) understood the importance of finding a solution to support her eight-star energy rating goal that was efficient, consistent and above all, easy to manage.
“When you are building or renovating, comfort and running costs can shape the way your home feels every single day. Many people focus on insulation or windows when they think about energy efficient homes, and yes, they are important. But your heating, cooling, and hot water can represent a huge part of your energy use,” Katrina said.
Katrina recognised that a connected, whole house system would deliver consistent comfort, lower running costs, fewer temperature swings, easier control from one place and better energy use across the year.
“To achieve an eight-star home, every choice needs careful consideration. A whole house solution is one of the most effective ways to improve energy efficiency and long-term comfort because everything is designed to support each other rather than operating as separate pieces.” Katrina said.
“This is exactly why we went with Panasonic. We wanted reliability, comfort, and smart controls that would make daily living feel effortless.”
Wagga has four distinct seasons, so the Panasonic solution needed to be able to perform seamlessly in an environment that can range from 40°C summer heatwaves to chilly 4°C winter nights. The solution also needed to run quietly and integrate smoothly with solar to help manage running costs.
An 8-star rating means Katrina’s home requires very little heating or cooling to stay comfortable, which cuts down on energy bills and reduces the carbon footprint. The architect-designed home has main areas facing north to keep warm in winter and protect from the harsh heat in summer.
The 13kW solar panel system can power much of the home sustainably, further lowering the environmental impact. Efficient water heating and using Air Conditioning for cooling and heating when needed, are also important contributors to the rating, as are the polished concrete floors which act as a thermal mass, double-glazed windows and doors, R2.7 wall and R 2.6 roof insulation and a thermal wrap.
Balanced air in the home
Katrina chose Panasonic’s 22kW R32 Inverter NX Series Splittable Ducted air conditioner and zone controller for her home, providing heating and cooling in one system. She soon found that the strength of the indoor and outdoor units meant the home reaches temperature quickly but still runs quietly in the background.
“The house feels comfortable without the system working overtime or using more energy than necessary. Instead of big temperature drops or sudden bursts of hot and cold air, it keeps everything balanced throughout the day,” Katrina said.
The air conditioning system’s zoning system also put Katrina in control of each area’s temperature, eliminating the need to heat or cool unused spaces. The result was lower energy use, balanced airflow and personalised comfort in every room.
“For us, zoning is the quiet hero of energy efficiency. It lets the system work smarter, not harder,” Katrina said.
Taking control with Comfort Cloud
Katrina’s zoning system is supported by the Panasonic Comfort Cloud App, allowing her to control heating and cooling with just a smartphone or tablet with smart home technology. With the App, Katrina can set timers, preset air conditioning based on her daily routine and check temperatures in real time.
“The Comfort Cloud App has been a game changer. Everything can be adjusted from my phone, which means I do not need to walk around changing settings or worrying about leaving the system running,” Katrina said.
The Comfort Cloud App also fosters an environment of sustainable living by keeping an eye on Katrina’s energy habits in the home. The App enables Katrina to track the energy usage and cost of her air conditioner, and easily compare data on a daily, monthly and yearly basis.
Importantly, Katrina can maintain quality air 24-hours a day in her home by turning on nanoe™ X using the Comfort Cloud App. nanoe™ X inhibits certain bacteria, viruses, pollens, allergens, mould, and hazardous substances found in PM2.5, providing effective deodorisation and improving air quality.
Bringing down hot water bills
Katrina’s whole house solution is completed with the Panasonic Hot Water System, which is paired with Reclaim Energy’s water tank to use CO₂ heat pump technology to provide the most energy efficient form of heating for water used every day.
“Choosing an efficient hot water system can make a major difference. Instead of creating heat entirely from electricity, The Panasonic CO₂ heat pump captures heat from the outside air and compresses CO₂ to a very high pressure to generate high temperatures, transfers that heat into water through a gas cooler, and stores it in a tank. It achieves very high efficiency and very low environmental impact, while reliably producing hot water,” Katrina said.
“It is simple to use and fits nicely with the everyday routine of the house.”
With an operating range of -10 °C to +44 °C, the ultra-quiet solution is perfectly suited for all Australian conditions, even in colder climate areas. It is designed to save money, achieving up to 80% savings on a hot water bill.
The industry leading technology also saves energy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions, meaning the system is kind to the planet as well as your wallet.
The power of the whole house solution
Panasonic’s mission for a whole house solution is to create a consistent home experience, with products that work towards the same goals of comfort, efficiency and easy living.
“Partnering with innovative designers such as Katrina reinforces Panasonic’s commitment to delivering sustainable solutions in modern construction,” said Michael Tate, Trade Marketing Manager HVAC Group at Panasonic Australia.
“By implementing energy-efficient technologies like Comfort Cloud, which enables remote monitoring and control of air conditioning to reduce power consumption, alongside the new CO₂ heat pump that significantly lowers hot water energy demand, Panasonic demonstrates how it is responding to the evolving needs of contemporary homes.”
For Katrina, energy efficiency is not just about a rating on paper. It is about how her home feels when she is living in it.
“Having the right systems in place has made a huge difference to comfort and running costs, and it has helped me create a home that genuinely supports the way we live,” Katrina said.
To learn more visit:
Creating an Energy Efficient Home with a Whole House Panasonic Solution
Why We Chose Panasonic for Our 8 Star Energy Rated Home
Panasonic’s air conditioning solutions are available for both residential and commercial applications. For more information, to locate a dealer or to request a quote, visit our website here.
| Product | RRP |
| RE315AGLH DHW315 GL Tank | $2,070 |
| HE-UM60AR CO2 Heat Pump 6kW | $4,920 |
| SDHP-V1.1DHW Remote Control V1.1 | $727 |
| S-224PE4R 22.4kW Indoor | $4,701 |
| U-224PZH3R8 22.4kW Outdoor | $6,367 |
| CZRTC6Z Zone Controller | $369 |
| CZ0CAPZ1M Zone Box Variable | $710 |
