Recent Work

 

Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) – Business Projects

 

• Development of a programme for EECA to improve the energy efficiency of new commercial buildings in NZ.  This included identifying four separate stages of a building project: initial design, detailed design and construction, commissioning, and post-occupancy auditing.  Responses from potential service providers were sought and analysed against criteria relevant to each of these stages and contracts awarded accordingly.  This work was subsequently extended to include management of the procurement of a second round of service providers, a review of the programme’s performance and an investigation of options to fund energy efficiency upgrades in existing buildings.
• Research into how EECA could be more effective at assisting and encouraging industrial businesses in Canterbury to implement energy efficiency initiatives.

 

Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) – Residential Projects

 

• Development of a pilot programme for EECA to improve the energy efficiency of new housing built as part of the Christchurch rebuild.  This work focused on how to make improvements in the building envelope, space heating, water heating, lighting and appliances in homes through engaging with several leading local building companies.
• Research projects on the energy efficiency of heat pumps, gas heating appliances and electric hot water storage cylinders.  This work was carried out in partnership with EnergyConsult Pty Ltd as part of trans-Tasman research into minimum energy performance standards, appliance labelling and development of regulatory impact statements.

 

EECA/Australian Government

 

• Working in partnership with EnergyConsult for EECA and the Australian Department of Industry and Science on behalf of the trans-Tasman Equipment Energy Efficiency (E3) programme to carry out an update of the Residential Baseline Study into energy use in the Australian and New Zealand Residential Sectors covering the period 2010 to 2030.
• Collaboration with EnergyConsult Pty Ltd and Sustainable Energy Transformation Pty Ltd on a 5 year programme of work for EECA and E3 on domestic hot water systems in NZ and Australia. This work has the objectives of reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from the production of hot water as well as to provide consumers with the ability to make informed purchasing decisions on hot water systems.  Key tasks include the development of a range of policy options, a 5 year implementation roadmap and a report on test methods and standards for all hot water systems.

 

Ministry for the Environment

 

• Production of a report on issues related to standards for testing and measuring solid fuel burner emissions and efficiency in relation to the review of the National Environment Standards for Air Quality (NESAQ). Work also included providing technical advice on a range of other policy matters, such as advising on the potential impact of proposed changes on industry and householders, implications of reviewing existing minimum standards and advising on emerging solid fuel burning technologies.
• Various projects for the Ministry for the Environment in relation to an assessment of emissions from wood burners, an independent assessment of the capital and operating costs of a wide range of domestic heating options and advice on Government funding for clean air initiatives.

 

Environment Canterbury

 

• Project management of Environment Canterbury’s project to facilitate ultra-low emission woodburners (ULEBs) being tested, authorised and sold for installation in Christchurch.  This included acting as Secretariat for the ULEB Industry Working Group and the ULEB Authorisation Panel.
• Development and implementation of Environment Canterbury’s Healthier Homes Canterbury scheme which provides the ability for ratepayers in Canterbury to install heating, insulation and ventilation into their homes and to pay the cost off via their property rates over 9 years. The work included specification of technical requirements for heating, insulation and auditing processes, development of budgets, managing the procurement process for service providers, overseeing marketing and promotional activities and preparing job descriptions for project staff.
• Management of the implementation of Environment Canterbury’s Clean Heat Project to financially assist homeowners to change from open fires and solid fuel burners to cleaner forms of heating.  This involved taking the project from a policy and a draft project design through to public launch.  Key tasks included: reviewing the policy and making recommendations and clarifications as appropriate; management of project budget; employment of staff; reporting to Directors and Councillors; negotiating with equipment suppliers; analysing tender responses; gaining support and co-operation from a wide range of Environment Canterbury staff; and liaising with stakeholders.
• Development of a programme for clean efficient heating in towns throughout Canterbury as a combined project for Environment Canterbury and the various district councils.  This included engaging with project co-funders and providing training for service providers on the correct sizing of replacement heaters, including heat pumps in particular.

 

NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment

 

• Collaboration with EnergyConsult Pty Ltd on the preparation of a product profile and policy options for space heating in Australia and NZ. Opportunities for reducing the energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions associated with space heating were identified and assessed as part of this work.
• Collaboration with EnergyConsult Pty Ltd and Sustainable Energy Transformation Pty Ltd on the production of a report identifying factors that influence patterns and volumes of residential hot water use.

 

MainPower NZ Ltd

 

• Investigation and analysis of opportunities for MainPower to help their customers to manage electricity demand with a view to reducing peak demand, thereby saving network infrastructure costs for MainPower and delivering energy cost savings for customers.  The initial strategy was developed in 2004 and has included two subsequent strategic reviews and overseeing the implementation of specific projects. Projects arising from the strategy included retrofitting home energy efficiency measures into low-income homes, two light bulb replacement programmes, a programme of energy audits for major commercial customers, energy education programmes for school children and a programme for energy efficiency in the dairy/irrigation sector.

 

Christchurch City Council

 

• Development and management of an implementation strategy to substantially grow the Build Back Smarter service aimed at incorporating energy efficiency, renewable energy and sustainability features into earthquake related home repairs in Christchurch. 

 

Community Energy Action

 

• Development of a business plan for Community Energy Action to manage a substantial prospective increase in the volume of home energy check work and to address the impact on their staffing, organisational structure and workflow.

 

Bay of Plenty Regional Council

 

• Technical and project management advice to Bay of Plenty Regional Council in relation to their Rotorua “Hot Swap” heating incentives programme. This included providing an ongoing role working with service providers to identify and resolve programme implementation issues and to guide quality assurance.  Work also included managing four RFP processes for the supply and installation of heating and insulation including developing the documentation and analysing responses against a range of criteria.

 

Christchurch Agency for Energy

 

• Establishment of the Energyfirst programme to promote energy efficiency in the design and construction of new commercial buildings in Christchurch.
• Development of the processes, forms and reporting for a programme for major trading banks to fund home energy assessments for bank customers applying for mortgage funding to buy new or existing homes. 
• Identification and analysis of options for Christchurch Agency for Energy to make the most effective use of available funds towards energy efficiency improvements in Christchurch.

 

Christchurch Polytechnic (CPIT) – now Ara

 

• Preparation of a pre-feasibility study for Christchurch Polytechnic and Community Energy Action for the establishment of a demonstration home centre to show what can be achieved in terms of energy efficiency and sustainability in the repair of earthquake damaged homes in Christchurch. 

 

Palmerston North City Council

 

• Preparation of an “oil vulnerability audit” for the Palmerston North City Council to identify areas of significant exposure of the Council to the supply and price of oil.  This included identifying numerous opportunities for the more efficient use of energy (oil based and electricity) and to substitute renewable energy for traditional energy sources.

 

Nelson City Council

 

• Development of a programme for Nelson City Council for a financial assistance package to replace high polluting open fires in low-income households in Nelson.  An integral part of this programme design was the inclusion of building envelope insulation measures such as ceiling and underfloor insulation and door and window draught stopping.  The project also included developing funding applications to other organisations with complementary objectives and overseeing the implementation of this programme with a particular focus on clarifying issues of programme eligibility as well as the specification of heating and insulation products and managing the tender process for the supply of these items.