Public Sector Award Winner - Department of Conservation

As part of its wider Sustainability Programme, the Department of Conservation (DoC) implemented a raft of energy efficiency initiatives from 2007 to 2009.

Measures included installing energy efficient lightbulbs and shower heads, hot water cylinder wraps, solar-powered hot water systems, solar panels and draught proofing measures in various DoC offices and huts.

DoC worked in partnership with Right House to make islands with a DoC presence as energy efficient as possible - a key component of which was replacing diesel generators with wind-energy and solar units. Stewart Island Field Centre is an excellent example of this programme - the building was installed with solar-electric panels and has been double-glazed and insulated.

Sustainability champions were established in all 13 DoC Conservancies and 51 Area Offices. DoC head office provided a methodology and framework and gave practical advice to make it easy for staff around the country to facilitate energy management initiatives.

Rory Renwick and Al Morrison (Department of Conservation) with Minister of Energy and Resources Hon. Gerry Brownlee.