Energy Options

Energy Options is a community organisation based in Whakatane and owned by the Eastern Bay Energy Trust. They strive to lead New Zealand’s energy efficiency industry and have a number of programmes that have brought significant social, health and environmental benefits within the Bay and beyond. 

Energy Options has enjoyed substantial growth, working across the wider Bay of Plenty region.  The business is built around the ethos of energy efficiency and as such is committed to:

• Preserving our environment
• Helping those in need with healthy, warm and comfortable homes
• Supporting our communities.

Energy Options insulate the ceilings and underfloors of homes using polyester blanket insulation.  We sell high quality, efficient, Clean Air approved heating, install solar hot water systems and give free advice on minimising power consumption.

A preferred provider to the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority, the team at Energy Options deliver home retrofit insulation projects throughout the North Island, helping thousands of households by improving the occupants' comfort and energy efficiency.

The challenge

• Communication of our principles to educate the public and staff.
• Translating principles into reality and measuring success.
• Reduction in fuel consumption and vehicle mileage.
• Minimisation of energy use and environmental impact of offices.
• Sustainable product specification and employment.

Some responses

• Weekly staff meetings and all public communication try to highlight social and environmental aspects.
• Monthly director’s report includes a triple bottom line update, KPIs for lifetime energy savings in homes installed and business carbon emissions.
• Mileage, fuel consumption and efficiency monitored for all vehicles.
• Establishment of regional bases and independent teams reduces staff travel.
• Refurbishment of office buildings using recycled materials, double glazing, rain harvesting, wetbacks, solar water heating, natural lighting, ventilation and cooling.
• All products purchased using life cycle analysis and social accounting.
• Strong involvement by staff in community projects and education, i.e. Curtain Banks, Kiwi breeding programmes, tree planting, school environmental education.
• Welfare to work recruitment policies.

The results

• Becoming more sustainable makes us more efficient.
• Positive profile and ability to give credible advice to customers.
• Growth in business and vulnerable households positively impacted.
• Lifetime energy savings, occupant comfort and health benefits from homes insulated.
• Office power use is 30kWh/m²/yr as opposed to the national average of 200kWh/m²/yr.

Bay of Plenty Regional Awards judges' comments

• Sustainability is considered a core focus for strategic planning and decision making. 
• Operational activities are reviewed against key criteria of sustainability principals including an awareness of Life Cycle Assessment on both product and service. 
• There has been a considerable investment into the premises, taking into consideration future growth of the organisation as well as potential for technological advancement. 
• Throughout all of the integrated sustainable activity taking place, this organisation has not lost its focus on its core vision, which is to influence and support the community towards self sufficient energy efficiency.