EECA Awards 2014: Council's energy smarts net award

Jake Roos.

The EECA Business Awards celebrates organisations and community groups making efficiency and environmental concerns part of what they do.

A decade-long focus on energy efficiency by Kapiti Coast District Council was recognised this week with the council named winner in the community and public sector categories of the annual EECA Awards.

Jake Roos, the council's climate change and energy senior adviser, says the emphasis on green issues was resident-led, and is part of Kapiti's long-term community plan.

"It's important for the council to lead by example," said Roos, who pointed out that carbon and energy-saving projects could produce net operational cost savings.

"So there is a strong economic rationale for action."

The council involved the community in green initiatives with an annual "greenest neighbourhood" competition. An "energise Otaki" initiative aimed to turn the district into a net exporter of energy and hub for clean-tech companies.

It was also the first council to be accredited under the Certified Emissions Measurement and Reduction Scheme, leading to a carbon dioxide emissions cut of nearly half in three years.

The judges of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority awards said Kapiti, which was also highly commended in the energy management category, was a "relatively small council leading the pack".

The council shared the public sector award with Unitec, which had roped staff and students into helping the tertiary institution make annual energy savings of $200,000.

The starting point was installation of 50 meters to monitor energy use and a goal of a 5 per cent cut in consumption was set. Actual savings were 8 per cent.

Security staff were encouraged to help reduce after-hours energy waste by manually switching off lights and equipment.

And more than a quarter of the savings - $55,000 - was a result of using software to turn off student computers.

The award judges said Unitec's "holistic approach" had far-reaching non-energy benefits.

"They've shown consistent improvement and great leadership with robust systems."

The EECA Awards winners table printed yesterday omitted Energy Plant Solutions which was the joint winner of the large business category with Momentive Speciality Chemicals.