The New Zealand government energy agency Energy Efficiency and Conservation Agency (EECA) provides funding and advice to help lead New Zealand to a better energy future. The EECA website has a section devoted to programmes and funding: http://www.eeca.govt.nz/programmes-and-funding. CAfE aims to work alongside EECA but concentrating on Christchurch, particularly in light of the rebuild of the City.
The excellent EECA website says; "We encourage, support, and promote energy efficiency, energy conservation and the use of renewable sources of energy at home, in business, and on the road through a number of work programmes.
We base our programmes on evidence of what works and where the biggest gains can be made. We constantly evaluate how effective they are, and make changes if required. We also deliver some work programmes on behalf of other government departments."
Our results
To measure our results, we add up the energy savings we can prove are being made as a result of our programmes. We then compare this with our costs, to work out the cost or rate of the energy savings being produced.
Currently we are delivering energy savings at an effective rate of 6.2 cents per kilowatt hour.
That’s less than the average retail price of electricity, and it’s also less than it would cost to build new generation.
As well as energy savings, our programmes are designed to:
- Help New Zealand businesses be more productive and competitive
- Make our energy system more secure
- Help New Zealanders live in warmer, drier homes and breathe cleaner air
- Reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change
Funding
There are benefits from using energy wisely and using renewable energy. But we know it can sometimes be difficult for people at home or in business to make the initial investment. Even though more efficient products and systems can pay for themselves over time, the upfront cost can be a barrier.
EECA offers a number of funding packages for homeowners, businesses and renewable energy developers.
EECA ENERGYWISE™ has support to:
There is also more information on key areas of energy efficiency:
- Energy efficiency in your house
- Choose to have an energy efficient home
- Insulate your home
- Save money with your home appliances
- Choose the right water heating system
- Make your home warmer and healthier
- Travel more energy efficiently
- Choose a heat pump (and use it smartly).
EECA also offers funding to businesses.
Residential opportunites and information Find out more about funding available on the ENERGYWISE™ website