How home appliances can save millions of dollars a year

New Zealand consumers and businesses saved $24 million over one year. Photo / 123RF

​Latest figures show that the uptake of energy efficient appliances saved $24 million for New Zealand consumers and businesses over one year, according to the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA).

Standards and regulations manager Eddie Thompson said analysis of sales data shows 6.1 million energy efficient appliances were sold in the year ending March 2017.

"Savings from the uptake of energy efficient appliances over one year in New Zealand are equal to the energy used by 25,000 homes. The reduction in carbon emissions is equivalent to taking 37,780 cars off the road each year."

Thompson said New Zealand worked closely with Australian regulators on minimum energy performance standards which remove the worst performing products from the market.

"This approach harmonises standards across both countries, with significant benefits to New Zealand."

Since the transtasman programme began in 2002, 66 million energy efficient products have been sold with savings to New Zealand of $848m – along with carbon reductions of 1.4 million tonnes.

Some of the biggest gains in energy efficiency have come from improvements in the energy efficiency of heat pumps and domestic fridges, Thompson said, and the data included commercial and domestic heat pumps, fridge-freezers, storage heaters and compact fluorescent lights (CFLs).

The number of appliances sold in the year ending March 2017 is about the same as the previous year.

Heat pump and fridge-freezer sales increased but sales of CFLs have declined, with retailers reporting people moving to LED light bulbs.

In 2015 there were about 106,500 heat pumps sold and this increased to nearly 150,000 in 2017.

The number of domestic fridge-freezers rose from 168,000 to 229,000 over the same period.

EECA is a government agency which promotes energy efficiency, energy conservation and renewable energy.

It says that improving energy efficiency across the economy could save the country between 15 per cent and 20 per cent of annual energy costs.

It is seeking feedback on its proposed energy levy-funded activities for the coming financial year where it receives part of its funding from levies collected from the engine fuel, electricity and gas sectors.

The authority is proposing to deliver programmes including technology demonstrations, a low emission vehicles contestable fund, electric vehicle information campaign, work with large energy users to help reduce and decarbonise energy use, investment in improving the energy efficiency of commercial buildings and a programme to regulate the energy efficiency of appliances.

Energy savings:

Fridge-freezers: Depending on the model you choose, the running cost of a new fridge/freezer over a 10 year period could be between $600 and $2000.

LED light bulbs: A new LED light bulb costs from $8 and can provide a saving of up to $20 a year in running costs compared to an incandescent bulb (including purchase price).

Click here for a full list of appliances.