Energy

What's new?

National guidance on electricity transmission [17 August 2006]

Energy efficiency strategy to be replaced (EECA website) [30 March 2006]

The supply and use of energy has always had environmental consequences. In New Zealand, local effects from energy production include:

poor air quality and localised smog from wood and coal fires and motor vehicles
flooding land for hydroelectricity generation
geothermal generation affecting nearby geysers
waste heat from thermal power generation plants.

More recently, the threat of climate change has pushed energy to a central position in international debate. The questions are now about:

the energy we need
the long-term effects of how we now use energy
how we will change to more sustainable energy use.

Sustainable development in energy terms means managing a transition from the fossil fuels that we use now to lower carbon fuels, more efficient technologies and renewable energy.

Warm Homes Project

The Warm Homes Project is being led by the Ministry for the Environment to investigate how families can be encouraged to make their homes more energy efficient and to install cleaner heating.

Sustainable Energy

Sustainable Energy is one of the four priority issues identified in the Sustainable Development Programme of Action. This work is being led by the Ministry of Economic Development (MED). For more information see the Sustainable Energy section of the MED website.

Vehicle Fuel Economy Labelling scheme

The government has approved the implementation of a Vehicle Fuel Economy Labelling scheme. The aim of the scheme is to encourage consumers to buy more fuel efficient vehicles. More efficient vehicles will not only produce less greenhouse gas emissions, they will also save the consumer money at the fuel pump. The scheme will apply to new and used vehicles being sold from registered motor vehicle traders and to all internet sales - where the fuel economy information is available.

EECA, or the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority is the agent responsible for the implementation of the scheme. For more information on the scheme see the EECA Vehicle Fuel Economy Labelling webpage.

See the Vehicle Fuel Economy Labelling Cabinet paper that outlines the scheme for more details.

New Zealand’s energy market

In the last decade, New Zealand’s energy market has undergone a transformation. It is now largely deregulated and market-driven.

Experience worldwide suggests that a competitive market brings real benefits to consumers and can bring innovation to bear. However there are often tensions between cheaper energy prices and achieving environmental, security of supply and social objectives, and both the Ministry for the Environment and the Ministry of Economic Development have a role in providing advice to the Government on energy.