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Efficiency strategy launched

EECA’s new guiding strategy sets a goal for New Zealand to have an energy productive and low emissions economy.

The New Zealand Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy 2017-2022 will influence EECA’s programmes for at least the next five years.

The recently-launched strategy encourages businesses, individuals, and public sector agencies to take actions to help New Zealand make the most of its clean, renewable energy sources.

It asks EECA to focus on three priority areas:

renewable and efficient use of process heat
efficient and low-emissions transport
innovative and efficient use of electricity.

Click to NZEECS

Priorities are right, says CE

The NZEECS priority areas are the right ones for New Zealand, says EECA’s Chief Executive Andrew Caseley.

“EECA’s main focus in the past has been on electricity efficiency but we’ve become increasingly aware of prime opportunities to do more to increase energy efficiency, and also transition to a low carbon economy," he says.

He sees particular opportunities in process heat and transport, which are both priorities under NZEECS.

“I would love to see our businesses become among the least energy and carbon intensive in the world,” he says.

After leading EECA for six months, Andrew says his staff are keen to meet the challenge.

Andrew's opinion - NZ Herald

Levy funding changes all go

EECA will be able to spread levy funding across more activities to find the greatest gain after new legislation was passed by Parliament.

The Energy Innovation (Electric Vehicles and Other Matters) Amendment Act allows EECA to recover levy funding from a transport fuels levy and a natural gas levy, as well as the electricity levy.

“A broader source of funding will help us meet the NZEECS objectives of energy productivity and emissions reduction,” says Andrew Caseley, CE of EECA.

“It means we can focus on the transport and industrial sectors in addition to electricity efficiency.”

The legislation also means heavy electric vehicles can be exempted from road user charges and may be allowed to use special vehicle lanes.

Consultation on the proposed use of EECA’s funding from the three levies opens later in the year.

Image: Peter van Meer

Insulation grants go wider

Low-income home owners are now eligible for insulation grants under EECA’s Warm Up New Zealand: Healthy Homes programme.

Government grants have targeted landlords with rental properties occupied by low-income tenants since mid-2016 but they’ve been slow to take advantage of the scheme, says Andrew Caseley, CE of EECA.

He’s pleased the Government has extended the eligibility criteria. “Our programmes have helped to insulate about 300,000 homes over the last 9 years. We have until the end of June 2018 to make another 20,000 homes

warmer and drier, so we really want to get this funding out the door.”

The grants will provide 50 per cent of the cost of ceiling and underfloor insulation for low-income home owners, as well as low-income tenants who were already eligible.

Rental properties must have adequate ceiling and underfloor insulation by 1 July 2019 under the Residential Tenancies Act.

Energywise website

SPE released

EECA's Statement of Performance Expectations 2017/18 is now online.

EECA will continue to work towards achieving its main outcomes through engagement with three key sectors: residential, transport and business.

We will also respond to a growing recognition of the opportunity to mitigate climate change through energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy.

Click to EECA's SPE