Case studies

You can talk the talk, but what do you actually do to manage energy better?

ASB Bank has found a path that rewarded it with energy savings of nearly $200,000 in 2008, one step towards a targeted $1m annual saving.

This case study looks at how this dynamic organisation has made energy efficiency integral to its business.
ASB has taken a measured approach, following a cycle of ‘plan, do, review and learn'.

This case study features a solar water heating installation at Solscape, an eco retreat near Raglan. Hot water is what tourists expect from the moment they unpack their suitcase and Solscape are using the sun's rays to solve this.

Fishing goes back to the future

Switching from trawling to anchor seining has cut Motueka skipper Ken Franks' fuel bill by more than half.

Since converting his 15m boat the FV Vanguard from a trawler to an anchor seiner in 2008 his catches sizes have increased too, and the quality of the fish is better. That means higher profit margins for Mr Franks at a time when rising fuel prices are forcing others in the industry to think about tying their boats up.

Mr Franks is now encouraging other trawler skippers to do the same.

At Kopua Holiday Park in Raglan they can't always guarantee that the surf is up, but they can offer the sun on tap. That's because they've installed a large scale solar water heating system on their main kitchen and ablution block that delivers plenty of hot water when it's needed.