New Zealand’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) has calculated that consumer and business uptake of energy-efficient appliances has resulted in energy savings of over $96 million in a one-year period - the equivalent of the annual electricity usage of over 130,000 New Zealand homes.
EECA Energy Efficient Products Manager Eddie Thompson said the authority calculated the energy savings for the year ending March 2014 by tracking improvements in the energy efficiency of products through sales information, as well as analysing how much businesses and households are avoiding in energy costs by using more efficient appliances. Nearly eight million energy-efficient products were sold over the year, he said - an increase of 3% compared to the previous year.
“New Zealand products are becoming increasingly energy efficient, mainly as a result of minimum energy performance standards developed jointly with the Australian Government,” Thompson said. “Minimum energy standards allow New Zealand to make gains in energy efficiency, at low cost to government and industry, with little impact on consumer choice.”
Along with improved standards, Thompson said New Zealanders are choosing more energy-efficient ENERGY STAR qualified products. He gave the example of ENERGY STAR qualified fridge/freezers, which are said to use up to 40% less energy than a standard model and “translate into major savings for the New Zealand economy”.
A combination of minimum energy performance standards and consumer education is making it easier for business and households to make informed choices about energy-efficient products, Thompson said. He revealed that 47 million energy-efficient products have been sold since 2002, bringing total savings to $450 million.