Tailored resources for sectors

Businesses account for around 40% of New Zealand's energy-related emissions, so they represent a big opportunity for decarbonisation.

Our Sector Decarbonisation Programme collaborates with sector associations and technical experts to connect New Zealand businesses with world-class innovation and best practice guidance to decarbonise at a sector level.

The programme also provides new businesses with best practice knowledge when they enter the sector.

Decarbonising businesses

EECA takes an energy efficiency first approach — that is, helping businesses understand how to use their existing equipment and processes as efficiently as possible to reduce overall energy use. This reduces energy use and costs, with a flow on to their emissions, and makes fuel switching possible and cheaper later.

Programme benefits

  • Reduce costs — Improving energy efficiency can reduce the cost of operations and energy, and prepare for the rising cost of high emissions activities under the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).
  • Create value — Improving processes and equipment can lead to an increase in productivity, and decreasing your business's impact on the environment can also drive customer interest.
  • Future proofing — The programme can prevent competition between individual businesses for the same services, resources, and opportunities - reducing costs and ensuring future business continuity for businesses in a low carbon environment.

A big part of decarbonising our economy means understanding what options there are to transition, developing plans to get there and support for bringing on new technology.

Hon Megan Woods

5 steps to decarbonisation

  1. 1

    Increase engagement and awareness

    Businesses learn about the importance of decarbonisation and understand which processes in their business have the most impact on carbon emissions. With this awareness, businesses can get on the path to decarbonisation and become inspired to take action with their teams.

  2. 2

    Measure emissions and set targets

    Businesses are guided through measuring and accounting for their energy consumption and energy intensity to better understand how they compare to other businesses within their sector, and how they are progressing.

  3. 3

    Optimise equipment and improve processes

    Reviewing and adjusting the way that equipment performs can be a big win for energy reduction, as well as cost and productivity. Businesses are given information on how sector-specific equipment can be optimised, and specific actions they can take.

  4. 4

    Reduce energy demand

    New technology or upgrades to existing processes can reduce the demand for energy. We undertake global technology scans to identify the best approaches and innovations in the sector, which helps businesses identify opportunities to decarbonise prior to fuel switching.

  5. 5

    Switching to renewable energy

    Fuel switching is a crucial step in reducing New Zealand's emissions, so the final step involves working with the sector to identify the best way to switch to renewable energy sources.

Sectors we're working with

  • Aged Care & Retirement Living Decarbonisation Pathway

    This pathway follows 5 key steps to help aged care or retirement living operators reduce their energy related emissions and the sector’s impact on the climate.

  • Brewing Decarbonisation Pathway

    We’ve developed a 5 step Brewing Decarbonisation Pathway to help breweries reduce their energy related emissions, collaborate, and reduce the sector’s impact on the climate.

  • Coffee decarbonisation pathway

    We’re developing a 5 step Coffee Decarbonisation Pathway for New Zealand coffee roasters, to help roasters reduce their energy-related emissions.

  • Commercial building pathway

    This pathway follows 5 key steps to help the owners and managers of commercial buildings reduce their energy related emissions and the sector’s impact on the climate.

  • Covered Cropping Decarbonisation Pathway

    We’ve developed a decarbonisation pathway for the covered cropping sector in collaboration with Tomatoes New Zealand and Vegetables New Zealand to help reduce emissions sector-wide.

  • EPS Plastics Decarbonisation Pathway

    We’ve developed a tailored pathway for Expanded Polystyrene manufacturers. In 5 steps, you’ll discover how to reduce costs, create value, and future-proof your business – all while reducing emissions.