New Zealand Celsias

With the ETS kicking off tomorrow, Venture Southland have put together this handy resource full of tips and advice on how you can save energy There’s a few business cases used to illustrate the effectiveness of certain energy saving techniques, as well as links to some handy resources. Read on….

Tips to save energy from Venture Southland

1)    Switch to more efficient lighting

The Right Light website has a great simple guide to help you work out what you are using now, and what you can switch to; www.rightlight.govt.nz. The more lights you have, the higher your potential savings.

• The Ascot Park Hotel in Invercargill saved $11,000 per year by switching to energy efficient lighting.

2)    Check your equipment

Fridges, heat pumps, or any other equipment that has dirty filters clogged with dust will have to work harder to do their job. Check fridge seals too. 

• Reading Cinemas in Invercargill have made significant savings by installing extraction fans to remove excess heat that was causing some equipment to work harder than necessary. 

3)    Do a walk around of your business, with your “energy wastage” goggles on and make a list of changes to make

Do you have electrical equipment that heats next to equipment that is trying to cool e.g. fridge next to oven? Do you have any equipment that is left on all the time, but is used only temporarily? e.g. coffee machine, fan heaters, computers. Do you have any areas where you can feel draft letting heat escape? Are you lighting any areas too brightly or unnecessarily?

• The Department of Conservation office in Invercargill cut their energy bills by simply “delamping” in overly bright areas.

4)    Identify your main energy use areas

What are your options for improvements? Have the costs of such investments (such as heat pumps, solar water heating, wood-fired boilers) come down since you last looked at them? Is EECA offering any grants that can help?

• Southland drycleaners, McCallums Group, cut fuel costs by two thirds and emissions by switching from LPG and light fuel oil to wood chip-fired boilers. The change also insulated them from energy market volatility that was creating major problems with keeping contracts profitable.

5)    Start a switch off campaign

Free stickers and posters are available from EECA, and a guide for motivating staff;

• Reading Cinemas installed an electronic timer was on the ice machine, which reduced its operation (and electricity use) from 24 hours to 12 hours a day.

For more tips, check out the Sustainable Business Southland site, or call Karyn on 03 211 1801 to find out what other assistance is available.

 Image: Flickr - ethangibbs808