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The government has today announced a further change to the funding of Warm Up New Zealand: Heat Smart.

An additional $24 million has been negotiated by the Maori Party to insulate the homes of low income homes. This additional funding forms part of the Emissions Trading Scheme legislation agreement between the Government and the Maori Party.

Essentially, it means that there is more money for low income homes. Some funding will also be tagged to insulation projects with iwi, but these details are being worked through.

Most New Zealand companies are doing little to curb energy waste despite the many benefits of reducing energy costs, new research shows.

A study by Synovate commissioned by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) shows a wide disparity between industry sectors on energy management. Overall, only 23% of businesses are committed to energy management. A further 16% are open to managing energy, but the majority are either ambivalent (39%) or say energy is not a priority (21%).

Media statement from Hon Gerry Brownlee, Minister of Energy and Resources

A high profile television campaign has been launched to help New Zealanders increase the energy efficiency of their homes and businesses, Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee announced today.

The new prime time campaign, called The Energy Spot, will screen three nights a week (Sunday, Monday and Tuesday) at 6.50pm, on four television channels, as well as 13 other times during the week.

Smaller-scale renewable electricity generation received a boost today with the announcement that the Distributed Generation Fund, run by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA), has opened and is receiving applications.

The fund helps potential developers of distributed generation projects, such as community-owned wind farms, small-scale hydro, geothermal, solar, or other renewable energy technologies, complete detailed feasibility studies to assess whether the project is viable.