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Helping households towards sustainability

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The Household Sustainability Programme, established in 2007, was designed to help New Zealand householders make choices that benefit the environment and increase overall wellbeing.

New Zealand households spend around $100 billion per year on goods and services accounting for 57 per cent of gross domestic product. As well as being a major driver of the New Zealand economy, household consumption places pressure on the environment through increased use of natural resources, waste generation, energy use, water use and greenhouse gas emissions.

Consumer research was an important element of the programme. It included the Household Sustainability Benchmark Survey and the Household Sustainability Survey 2008.

The sustainability.govt.nz website was developed to provide New Zealand families with information and advice on the small, medium, and large steps they can take to live more sustainably. The website also features discussion forums, case studies, blogs and news and events.

The programme helped New Zealanders identify practical steps to cut their electricity and petrol bills, make their homes warmer, healthier and cheaper to run, and cut back on their water use and waste.

More information

Last updated: 12 June 2009