The report, produced in co-operation with Chatham House, explores the key global energy trends over the next 10 to 20 years and examines the major implications for business both in terms of future resource constraints and the need to move to a low carbon economy. The report identifies the major energy risks facing business over the short to medium term, including operational, supply chain, regulatory, financial and reputational risks. It also identifies potential opportunities for companies in the areas of renewables and energy efficiency. Source: Lloyds User Comments: When a well respected organisation like this writes such a strong report, it really hits home the need to look at my own sources of energy.

EECA provides independent authoritiative advice to help New Zealand businesses boost productivity through energy efficiency energy-saving technology and renewable energy. Includes case studies fact sheets advice and funding. Source: Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority User Comments: Everything I wanted to know about energy including someone to call.

The site provides advice and tools that suit the demands of various business sectors: accommodation and education property and business services retail trade and industrial operations. For each sector there are specific practical energy management tips that target the priority areas for achieving energy savings. Source: New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development User Comments: Detailed guide which explained all the relevant information great list of useful links. Check out the 'Simple Energy Savers' it's a good place to start!

Lists various cost-effective energy saving measures that can be easily implemented in most businesses and will reduce energy usage greatly. Tips are organised by the type of equipment they are associated with eg. Lighting computers etc. Source: Meridian Energy User Comments: The links at the top don't work :( you have to scroll down to the info you want but theres some really useful energy efficient tips that I'd never thought of!

Lists a variety of simple no-cost strategies to save energy. Source: Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority - Business User Comments: Tips are brief and easy to understand.

Lists a few energy saving actions you can implement in your business at a very low cost. Source: Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority - Business User Comments: There's so many ways to save energy purely by changing lights!

This page gives ideas for getting staff aware of the importance of energy effiency and getting them involved with an energy effiency plan Source: Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority - Business User Comments: The downloadable step-by-step guide looks like it will come in very handy!

This page explains basic energy saving principles specifically for heating ventilation and air conditioning equipment and lists a few strategies that are easy to implement. Source: Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority - Business User Comments: Great ideas that seem simple now I've read them but I wouldn't have thought of myself!

This page lists simple changes that can be made to the way firms manage their plants and machines that will deliver significant energy savings. Source: Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority - Business User Comments: Good simple and logical steps to take in the journey to energy efficiency

An easy-to-follow six-step plan to kick-start your business' energy efficiency. Source: Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority - Business User Comments: If your business is looking for a place to start becoming energy efficient you've found it!!

Light pollution is stray light emitted from poorly designed and aimed lighting installations for advertising, business, security and street lighting. This brochure explains what you can do to minimise your impact. Source: Royal Astronomical Society User Comments: Some simple tips that will not impact badly on your business - great stuff!

A technical overview of how energy use can be reduced through using your office lighting more effectively. Source: Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority - Business User Comments: Suggestions are not just stated but clearly explained

This technical guide outlines two key ways that industrial lighting operating costs can be reduced and organises potential actions into no cost/low cost oopportunities and higher cost opportunities. Source: Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority - Business User Comments: Great to see information targeted at industrial businesses only

Navigate around this site and you will find information and tools to help you make informed choices about lighting to save energy and money. Source: Electricity Commission User Comments: Wow! I was blown away by all the info on this site - lots of great tips and explanations!

Tips to save the amount of energy used to light both commercial buildings and industrial buildings. Source: Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority - Business User Comments: The downloadable case studies of 'Improved lighting in action' were inspiring

The aim of this Guidance is to streamline and simplify the consenting process for solar water heaters through improving the understanding of the Building Code performance criteria related to solar water heaters, and providing a framework for preparing and assessing alternative solutions. Source: Department of Building and Housing User Comments: This is really useful because the accepted solution does not fit well with systems installed for Southland conditions. So, you will have to go through a consent process. If you chose an installer who has already got producer statements for their system, this will help the consent process.

Is solar water heating for me? Solar water heating options. Installing and using a solar water heating system. Source: Smarter Homes User Comments: This site is good, really practical advice specifically for NZ.

Describes some easy low-cost actions you can take to increase the energy efficiency of your business, small local hot water systems as well as providing descriptions of NZ businesses using solar and heat pump heating. Source: Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority - Business User Comments: It's amazing to see how many solar and heat pump water heating projects are in progress NZ!

Detailed analysis of solar water heating providing the following information to help with your decision: the benefits the desirable design and location of a house and points to consider when choosing a solar water heating system Source: Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority - Energywise User Comments: Glad I read the things to consider on this page before choosing which tank!

Explanation of the ratings and labels used in New Zealand to help you make energy efficient choices. Links to further information on specific labels. Source: Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority - Energywise User Comments: Good overview - make sure you click on the specific links to understand fully

A guide to choosing energy efficient appliances and what energy ratings and labels mean Source: Australian Government User Comments: A bit difficult to find my way around this site

Introductory page about appliances follow the 'Learn more' links to find out how to choose energy-efficient appliances and save further energy in the way you use them. Source: Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority - Energywise User Comments: Liked this: there are two price tags that come with any appliance: the upfront price and the ongoing running costs

Describes the benefits of purchasing products with Energy Star label - the global mark of energy efficiency Source: Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority - Business User Comments:

This directory provides information about what various ecolabels and other sustainability indicators mean. Source: Ministry of Economic Development User Comments: This cleared up questions I'd had about what symbols I'd seen around are for

This site supplies the typical running costs and power usages of various appliances. Source: Consumer magazine User Comments: Put things into perspective!

Tips to save the amount of energy used for refrigeration with specfic information for standard commercial and industrial refrigeration. Source: Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority - Business User Comments: Good specific info

These webinars offer training on a range of energy efficiency areas. Source: Energy Star User Comments: You can access the webinars that have run in the past too. Some you have to register for. This is an american programme, so beware some of the subject matter may not be relevant!

Explains three basic steps steps you can follow to keep track of your business' energy use: Reading your energy bills Analysing your energy bills and monitoring your energy use Source: Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority - Business User Comments: Really helped my understanding

Outlines simple changes you can make to the way you use monitor and maintain equipment that will cause significant savings for the costs of your business and the environment. Source: Ministry for the Environment User Comments: Very useful info on air compressors

A variety of downloadable Target Sustainability Guides Calculators and Worksheets to help your business become more sustainable.Topics include: The Path to Sustainability Waste Energy and Water. Source: Christchurch City Council User Comments: Really useful to quantify how much of a difference an action is going to make.

Energy Usage Calculator to determine where energy is being consumed and what equipment needs to be targeted to improve effiency. Source: New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development User Comments: Now I know what equipment I need to start with!

An easy-to-use tool for medium and large business to assess their energy management and identify opportunities to improve energy use. Source: Contact Energy User Comments:

A list of low-cost actions to insulate your building and thereby require less energy to maintain comfortable energy temperatures. Source: Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority - Business User Comments: Very brief. Nice to see a contact email for specialised info

Comprehensive information explaining types of insulation how much is enough and when where and how to install it. Plenty of links to even more detailed information too. Source: Smarter Homes User Comments: I now understand the different types of insulation and will be able to make informed choices

Coherent information about the 5 types of insulation Right House specifies in and installs Source: Right House (insulation service provider) User Comments: Very easy to understand and make comparisons between insulation types - good to have costs listed

This guide outlines the changes that have been made to energy effiency and building requirements so it's worth a read to check ur current situation and/or plans are compliant. Source: Department of Building and Housing User Comments: Very wordy. Pages 13-17 were most useful to me - good diagrams

"Contains documents explaining minimum energy efficiency measures to meet NZ building code (clause H1 of the building code). " Source: Department of Building and Housing User Comments: " For someone with an older building it is helpful to see what is now required as a minimum for new buildings or additions."

Daily news for New Zealand designers and architects Source: idealog User Comments: Some interesting stuff on here if you are involved in a new design and looking for some inspiration!

The Smarter Homes website contains information on sustainable design, water use, landscaping, energy use, building materials and construction. Source: Smarter Homes User Comments: A lot of useful information broken down into sectors

Homesmarts is a quick, easy way to find out how your home measures up, and learn about the simple steps you can take to create a better living environment for yourself and your family. Source: Beacon Pathway User Comments: Although this site is looking at it from a home perspective, most things are relevant to a business to some extent!

Level will help you design and build homes which have less impact on the environment and are healthier, more comfortable, and have lower running costs. Source: BRANZ User Comments: There are some great fact sheets here to help make decisions when designing a building.

This page and attached brochure provides advice on how to utilize the sun's energy when designing a house (relevant to any building). Source: Tasman District Council User Comments: Download the Solar Heating Home Brochure .

This guide includes a selection of medium to long term potential energy and resource saving ideas that can be easily integrated into the design of a new building in the early stages at little or no extra cost. Source: Christchurch City Council User Comments: Really innovative ideas and tips on using sustainable materials when building

Includes a variety of information about designing and building sustainable buildings. Start by exploring build magazine or checking out the range of interactive tools. Source: BRANZ User Comments: Hard to find what I wanted to know

Well-explained wikipedia entry describing thermal mass it's use and the materials used. Source: Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia User Comments: Helped me grasp the thermal mass concept eg. when outside temperatures are fluctuating throughout the day a large thermal mass within the insulated portion of a house can serve to flatten out the daily temperature fluctuations

The website of the organisation dedicated to accelerating the development and adoption of market-based green building practices. Suggestions: Check out the 'Resources' particularly the informative 'Case Studies' and up-to-date 'Green Building Reading'. Also the information on 'Green Star' to get your Green Building Achievements Rewarded. Source: NZ Green Building Council User Comments: The Green Building Reading put into perspective what's going on in the world to do with sustainability

The only Eco-Neighbourhood in NZ much can be learnt from the way it was planned for designed and constructed. Source: Earthsong Eco-Neighbourhood User Comments: A great role model to follow great tips for sustainable design can be found in the links to the right

SIESA has been investigating alternative means of power generation for Stewart Island for both the environmental and economic benefits of renewable generation. The widgets show realtime and historical information about how the two different solar arrays are performing. Source: SIESA User Comments: It's great to see some real time data on various small scale renewables such as wind and solar panels in Southland. Great stuff.

Introduction explaining reasons for using renewable energy in your business with links to detailed information on specificways to generate renewable energy. Source: Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority - Business User Comments: Really great info on the different ways to generate renewable energy easy to compare will help with my decision of which is right for my business

Describes the benefits of generating renewable energy Source: Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority - Energywise User Comments:

This page gives reasons why you should generate your own electricity and options of how to do it. Source: Smarter Homes User Comments: Practical reasons to start generating my own electricity