Energy efficiency
To achieve a truly sustainable energy infrastructure, our society must be more energy efficient.
For more than a decade we have recognised the environmental and financial benefits of energy efficiency programmes. Our long term policies help shape our region's overall electricity demand profile and help lower the peak electricity demand on our network. Policies which limit peak demand growth help us obtain maximum benefit from new investment in our network and help us to keep our prices down.
Energy efficiency programmes
We began our energy efficiency programmes in 1990. These programmes include:
- energy efficiency education
- network design and management
- promotion of efficient products and devices
- ripple control and cost-based pricing signal systems.
Our energy efficiency programmes have resulted in considerable long term savings in infrastructure.
Energy efficiency initiatives
- the subsidised energy efficient light bulb campaigns operated by the Electricity Commission, Orion and Meridian Energy in 2005 and 2006
- sponsorship of Community Energy Action, a charitable trust that provides subsidised insulation and heating with higher subsidies for people on low incomes, free energy advice and recycled curtains
- support of the Christchurch City Council's Energy Strategy, and assistance in establishing the Christchurch Energy Agency
- support of Earth Hour - an annual global initiative encouraging households and businesses to switch off lights and unused appliances for one hour
- successful programmes to reduce peak electricity demand.
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