City Scene - June 2003: Council emergency cuts saving up to 20%

June 2003

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Funding changes

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Council emergency cuts saving up to 20%

Christchurch City Council is using about 13 per cent less electricity as a result of emergency measures and could increase its savings to above 20% if the city can cut down on the amount of water being used.

CCC, already a leader in energy conservation, has brought in emergency measures to contribute to the national effort to use less electricity. All Council buildings are operating on lower lighting and staff are making an extra effort to switch off equipment when it is not in use.

As well, the city’s decorative outdoor lighting is not being used and switching times for street lighting have been adjusted to use less electricity. Several of the Council’s plants and pumping stations have also been switched to alternative energy sources.

“Together, those measures have cut our demand for electricity by around 13%,” says Dr Leonid Itskovich, the City Council energy manager. “And if we can get this message across about saving water, we can get that up over 20%.”

The city water supply is an electricity-hungry service because every drop must be pumped to homes and businesses and the wastewater must be pumped away again, he says. “If everyone cut their water use by a fifth — 20% — the Council’s electricity demand would fall by 10%,” Dr Itskovich says.

Through its Target Zero team, CCC offers help for business operators interested in energy savings, as well as other areas of waste minimisation.

Managers interested in learning about how to save electricity (and money) quickly and permanently should consider the Target Zero meeting on 4 June, from 8.30-10.30am at the Councilfs Fendalton Service Centre, on the corner of Jeffreys and Clyde roads.

Industry speakers will talk about where to look for lighting savings and the environmental and cost benefits of using gas for heating. Information will also be given about the Resource Efficiency Visit reporting format Target Zero is using for manufacturers, with examples of where quick savings have emerged.

CCC is an acknowledged leader in energy conservation. In the last seven years its energy management efforts have accumulated savings of 27%. In 2002 it was awarded the Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority's (EECA) Supreme Energy Wise award and its Sustained Achievement award.

CCC provides free independent advice to homeowners through its Energy Efficiency Show Home at 10 Leander Street in Papanui (11am to 6pm every day except Wednesdays).

Local lines company Orion has a special website - at www.drywinter.co.nz - which includes estimates of local savings rates and power-saving tips. The national Winter Power Taskforce website is at http://winterpower.org.nz