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You are here: The issues Contains: Climate change Contains: Policies and initiatives Contains: Other government sustainability initiatives with climate change benefits Contains:

Other government sustainability initiatives with climate change benefits - Households

There are many things we as New Zealanders can do to reduce our household emissions and many of them are remarkably easy to do. Current government initiatives for households include the following.

The Household Sustainability Campaign

The Household Sustainability Campaign focuses on practical ways in which New Zealanders can improve energy efficiency and reduce waste in their homes. This programme will have co-benefits for reducing the impacts of climate change.

The EnergyWise Homes Package

This provides a “one-stop-shop” of information and support to improve the energy efficiency and heating of New Zealand homes. The package is designed to meet the needs of people in all income groups, and across a range of heating and energy efficiency needs.  The package includes:

  • activities to improve public awareness and information about energy efficiency, the benefits of energy efficiency (for people’s health, wealth and the environment), and existing government initiatives to promote energy efficiency
  • research to assess, and help householders compare, the energy efficiency of different household products (eg, hot-water systems, lighting products, space heaters, small-scale energy systems)
  • a proposed interest-free loan scheme to help homeowners install or upgrade energy-efficient products (such as insulation, efficient lighting, or hot-water heating systems) and clean heaters in their homes.
  • funding to maintain the number of energy-efficiency retrofits through EECA’s EnergyWise Home Grants scheme (targeted at low-income householders) at 12,000 homes per annum
  • grants for about 800 new clean heating (Warm Homes) retrofits per annum for low-income households, targeted at areas of low air quality
  • developing a Home Energy Rating Scheme for New Zealand, which may require a homeowner to obtain an accredited assessment of their home’s energy efficiency, at the time of sale, with the aim of creating a financial incentive for homeowners to invest in energy efficiency, and a market-based incentive for financial institutions to support such investment. It is intended for the scheme to be launched on a voluntary basis at first, although the government may decide to make it mandatory at some time in the future
  • work by central government agencies to support councils to implement new energy efficiency-focused legislation, such as recent changes to the Building Code, and to help councils promote energy efficiency within their communities
  • funding for central government agencies to work with private companies and institutions to develop new financial incentives (such as green mortgages or direct subsidies) for householders to invest in energy-efficient technologies.

Smarter Homes

The Smarter Homes website offers advice on how to have a home that is more environmentally and financially sustainable.  It has information on energy, design, landscaping, materials, construction and water.

Building Code review

The Building Code review takes into account the new purpose and principles of the Building Act 2004, which includes requirements for sustainable development. The changes to the Code encourage the reduction of emissions by ensuring our buildings are designed, constructed and used in ways that promote energy conservation and efficiency in areas such as water heating,  heating, cooling, ventilation and lighting.

Solar Water Heating Programme

The solar water heating programme  will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by promoting the uptake of solar water heating, which in turn reduces the demand for electricity and gas.  The programme includes:

  • an information website for consumers about solar water heating systems
  • a quality standard and energy performance modelling for solar water heating systems
  • financial assistance to new home builders and existing homeowners
  • a commitment to putting more solar water heaters into government buildings
  • a contestable innovation fund for new projects, which will lead to a significant increase in the use of solar water heating.

Energy Star

Energy Star is a global mark showing products with outstanding energy efficiency. The energy star label was introduced to New Zealand in July 2005. The label makes it easy for consumers to compare the energy consumption of different models of appliances.

Residential lighting efficiency programme

A campaign by the Electricity Commission to market (including with subsidies) compact, fluorescent (energy-efficient) light bulbs to householders.

New Zealand Housing Strategy

The New Zealand Housing Strategy will help reduce emissions by promoting energy-efficient houses that are healthier to live in. In addition to the health benefits, energy-efficient homes have a reduced environmental impact and lower heating costs.

Urban Design Protocol

The Urban Design Protocol provides a platform to make New Zealand towns and cities more successful through quality urban design. The Protocol seeks to ensure the design of our cities minimises waste production, and energy and water use, and maximises the efficiency of land use and infrastructure.

The roll-out of the New Zealand Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy provides an opportunity to accelerate the delivery of these – and additional - measures in partnership with local government, the private sector and community groups.