New Zealand has the power to significantly reduce energy bills
New Zealand households and businesses will find that taking easy energy saving actions can far outweigh any increased energy and transport fuel costs as a result of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), says Mike Underhill, Chief Executive of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA).
“Not only can businesses and households offset any prices increases, they have the opportunity to go further and significantly reduce their energy bills,” Mr Underhill said.
From tomorrow, the energy sector enters the ETS, meaning transport fuel prices are likely to rise by about 3.5 cents per litre, and electricity costs by about 1.5 cents per kilowatt hour. For the average household, that’s about $3 a week in increased costs, or $165 a year.
“Simply by adopting efficient driving techniques such as keeping your car tyres pumped up and accelerating smoothly can save as much as 20% on your fuel bill. Using timers and thermostats for appliances such as heat pumps and heated towel rails can save several hundred dollars a year,” Mr Underhill said.
“It is the same for businesses. Obviously the actions are different depending on the size and the sector, but in our experience many businesses can save 20% - often more - off their annual energy bill through energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives.”
EECA’s business website features a new interactive tool called Energy Leader that helps businesses find out what they can do to reduce their energy bill. After answering a few simple questions, businesses will receive a tailored action plan that will help focus energy saving efforts, measure progress and motivate staff to get on board.
“We have found that one of the biggest barriers to businesses reducing their energy bills is they just don’t know where to start. This new web-based tool will help point people in the right direction, and make it easier to start to take action,” Mr Underhill said.
In some cases, government funding is available to help consumers and businesses invest in ways to be more energy efficient, including grants for insulation, heating, solar water heating and business energy audits.
How households can offset the ETS price rises
Here are easy things households can do to reduce energy bills – most are cheap and some are free.
| Action | Cost to do |
Estimated savings |
| Switch off your second or beer fridge | Free | $100 to $300 a year |
| Dry your clothes outside rather than using a dryer | Free | Around $200 a year |
| Only use your heated towel rails when needed | Free | Around $100 a year |
| Switch your appliances off at the wall when not in use | Free | Varies |
| Shut your curtains at dusk to keep the heat in | Free | Varies |
| Wash your clothes in cold rather than warm water | Free | $50 - $75 a year |
| Set your computer's power-saving options | Free | Varies |
| Replace a 100W bulb with an energy saving bulb | $5 | $110 over life of the bulb |
|
If your shower fills up a 10 litre bucket in less than a minute, install an efficient shower head |
Varies | $150 or more a year |
| Wrap your electric hot water tank and the first few metres of hot water pipe |
$70 | $80 a year for an older cylinder |
| Use a household energy meter to monitor power use | Varies | Varies |
For tips on saving money on vehicle fuel, visit the ENERGYWISE™ website
More information
More information for households can be found at:
More information for businesses can be found at:
Senior Communications Advisor, EECA
T: 04 470 2421
F: 04 499 5330
M: 027 445 5975
