Buick Security System

Ventilation installer disputes claims of heat

An experienced installer in the home ventilation industry says consumers are being deliberately confused by some companies so as to sell more product.

Gordon Buick, a Foxton installer and owner of heater company Therm.r.duct, concurred with a recent Otago University study that said "positive pressure" systems which use "free heat" from the roof cavity do not make houses warmer during the cooler months.

Consumer NZ welcomed the study, saying some advertising had been misleading.

Mr Buick, who worked for the British company which devised the systems originally, said the ventilation industry had been advised to regulate itself but had been unable to find consensus.

He said positive pressure systems were never meant to provide anything other than ventilation without an energy-efficient heater, but some firms had failed to make this clear.

And they had been telling customers they needed more ventilation outlets than necessary. "The commission agents, which are dominating the industry now, are being told what to say and they're not explaining to people that they could have one vent if they were happy to leave their doors ajar. Obviously it's not illegal but neither is having half a dozen toilets in the house."

Mr Buick also took a swipe at the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority, which maintains that opening windows gives modern houses sufficient ventilation.

"We've been [so] paranoid about keeping the heat in with the high prices that we're trying to make our homes as air-tight as possible, but ... the moisture-laden air can't get out."

EECA senior technical adviser Christian Hoerning said the windows advice was "a sufficient option" for most houses, but for security or draught reasons, not everyone wanted to leave windows open.

He denied EECA was ignoring the ventilation aspect of its "heating, insulation, ventilation and moisture control" message.

"We are actually quite explicit about it's more than one thing that you need to look at to create a warmer, drier, healthier home."

Mark Bassett, principal scientist for the Building Research Association Branz, said ventilation systems were "one of the least effective ways of dealing with moisture" compared with dealing with it at source.

"There are more effective methods ... such as rangehoods and bathroom extractor fans."

Meanwhile, EECA chief executive Mike Underhill said his body would be prepared to take action under consumer laws if ventilation companies continued to mislead.

Houston Lifestyles Magazine, Homes & Events » See the new Buick ...

Buick has been working hard to present itself to the buying public in a new way. With the restructuring of GM, it now plays a different role and covers a different segment of the market. Buick is now positioned as an “upscale” brand but without encroaching on the “luxury” turf of Cadillac. Current Buicks are more engaging, refined and appealing to a younger demographic.

The new midsize Regal is actually nothing like the Regals of the past. Some argue that the car is so different that the legacy name no longer describes the vehicle accuracy. The current model benefits from GM’s global platform doctrine, which states that they will have a global vehicle design which includes the best attributes from GM worldwide operations. That means that the Regal has a controlled, yet comfortable, ride thanks to the European branch of GM, the interior volume that the Chinese need and the styling and accruements suitable for the North American market. The days of Buick’s boulevard ride and velour interiors are gone.

Efficiency is a common theme in the design of this vehicle. With high gas prices and federal government regulations demanding better fuel economy and lower emission, this midsize Buick doesn’t even offer a V-6 engine. Rather it comes with two different 4 cylinder engines; a 2.4 liter and an optional turbocharged 2.0 liter. Both are joined to a very nice 6-speed automatic transmission and a manual is available on the turbo model. The standard 2.4 develops 182 horsepower and moves the 3,600-pound sedan around with no difficulty. The turbo 2.0 liter produces 220 horsepower and 258 ft lbs of torque.  The turbo in the Regal delivers the traditional V6 feel along with a 32 mpg highway EPA economy rating.

The Regal handles with responsive and engaging precision. It goes where it’s pointed and loves corners, yet it also manages to deliver a very nice ride quality.

The Regal’s styling is modern, sleek and arguably the best looking Buick ever. The interior is no less appealing. Full instrumentation along with leather seating is standard. Only two interior colors are offered. Black with shiny metal accents, which seems to be all the rage today, but for my taste is like living inside a coal mine. The Cashmere’s interior is a warm light brown combination that is much more inviting. The Regal is festooned with all the latest technology, yet surprisingly, the tachometer displays rpm’s as “20 hundreds” rather than “2 thousand” an old illogical German automotive design that even Mercedes, BMW and Audi have now abandoned.

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