Efficient and renewable energy

By making the best use of our energy resources, New Zealand’s economy can run more efficiently and more productively.

An efficient and renewable energy system means managing both the supply and the demand side. It means making the most of all the opportunities available to us to conserve energy, use energy efficiently and use as much renewable energy as is practical.

As well as significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, energy efficiency and renewable energy deliver many co-benefits: energy is more affordable for businesses and families; businesses are more productive with better international competitiveness; we have a more secure electricity system; people are healthier from living in houses that are warmer and drier; and more jobs are created.

More energy efficiency

Efficiency makes good business sense. Even apart from the benefits to our environment and making effective use of our limited resources, saving energy will deliver bottom line cost savings to businesses of any size. Efficient energy use also increases competitiveness in challenging economic times.

More renewable energy

Advances in technology mean we have an increasing number of ways available to us to power our homes, businesses, factories and farms.

Concern about climate change and peak oil has lead to a greater focus on renewable energy.

New Zealand has an excellent range and supply of renewable energy resources.

Most of the time these resources will be developed on a large scale, but there is also a way of supplying local communities with smaller scale energy generation. This is called distributed generation.

Achieving productivity gains will come if we continue to improve the efficiency of our electricity supply system.

A well-functioning energy system will also consider demand-side responses to maximise efficiency.