News & Resources

The updated Energy End Use Database estimates national energy consumption broken down by fuel type, sector, end use and technology. National data is available for the 2017, 2018, and 2019 calendar years. The database allows researchers, policy makers and the business sector to explore how energy is used by fuel type, sector, end use and technology. EECA has revised and improved data for a number of sectors in the database, including residential, and a range of industrial sectors.

Suncorp New Zealand has been named as a finalist for the Sustainable Business Network’s Climate Action Leader Award for 2020, for its commitment to renewable energy generation and reducing emissions. The Sustainable Business Awards have been running for 18 years and recognise and celebrate success in sustainability. The Climate Action Leader award is presented to an organisation that is actively leading and delivering impact and scale with climate action. In 2020, Suncorp Group joined RE100, and made a commitment to use 100% renewable energy by 2025. In July Suncorp New Zealand joined Meridian Energy’s Certified Renewable Energy programme, which allowed the business to report near zero emissions for Scope 2* and reach its target five years early. “We’re thrilled to have been shortlisted for the Climate Action Leader Award for our efforts to reduce our environmental footprint and support sustainable energy generation in New Zealand,” said Suncorp New Zealand acting CEO Jimmy Higgins. “Sustainable growth and lowering our environmental impact reflects our values of a resilient community, and our vision to protect what matters to New Zealanders.”

New Zealand companies aiming for 100% renewable energy can now use energy certificates to achieve their ambitions. The global RE100 initiative now recognises the New Zealand Energy Certificate System (NZECS), meaning that New Zealand businesses can purchase energy certificates to meet their RE100 commitment of sourcing 100% renewable electricity. Suncorp New Zealand is one New Zealand business that has adopted a Certified Renewable Energy product through Meridian Energy.

Leading agritech and herd improvement cooperative LIC has launched a new fund to support innovations with the potential to positively impact New Zealands valuable dairy sector. LIC has launched an early-stage investment fund, named the LIC AgCelerator

Electric truck, bus and bike projects are sharing in a $3.2 million government funding allocation. The eighth round of the low emission vehicles contestable fund has been announced by energy and resources minister Dr Megan Woods with 24 successful applicants. Recipients contribute a total $5m themselves under the fund administered by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA).

Clemenger Group New Zealand, which includes Colenso BBDO and Porter Novelli, has been award a Toitū carbonreduce certification, awarded to those making a viable effort to reduce their carbon footprint. The group went under an evaluation which showed where it sat in terms of its footprint, and provided active measures the group could take to reduce it. Jim Gall, CEO, says this is the next best step to ensure they have not only their clients needs in mind, but the country’s as well.

Z Energy chief executive, and CLC convenor, Mike Bennetts – the first guest on Stuff’s One Hot Minute video and podcast series – sets a challenge for the next Government. It was part of the company’s move to renewable energy and to reduce emissions as it worked towards net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Billions of dollars of industrial buildings face becoming ‘stranded assets’ warns a new report by the Australian and New Zealand Green Building Councils today. Green Star in focus: The case for sustainable industrial buildings warns of the increasing risk of significant industrial assets becoming stranded if they can’t show that they are low or zero carbon. The report finds that new Green Star certified industrial buildings produce 66% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than standard buildings and shows that a minimal 2% upfront cost to support green design can result, on average, in lifecycle savings of 20% of total construction costs. The report underscores that the technology, design, materials and expertise are available now to build more sustainable buildings which will meet investors’ growing demand for future-proofed investments that uphold environmental and social governance principles.

Fonterra is one step away from pushing the go button on its first factory to convert from coal to wood pellet energy. The dairy company’s Te Awamutu plant in the Waikato is putting the finishing touches on the $11 million power source conversion which could be used as a blueprint for its other factories around the country. It was part of the company’s move to renewable energy and to reduce emissions as it worked towards net zero carbon emissions by 2050.