Mike Underhill Chief Executive, Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority (EECA) - speaking at Seismics and the City 2014. Building Innovation: Collaborative and innovative relevant to the rebuild of Greater Christchurch.

1. Christchurch:
A World Leading
Sustainable Energy City
Mike Underhill, March 2014
NABFROW

2. Coming ready or not – rebuild is happening
(1)Energy efficient building design will have
long term impact
over 80 years - the life of the building
(2) Aspiration - sustainable energy city will
have fundamental long term changes.
We must do (1) …
ARE WE UP FOR DOING (2)??
Two Christchurch Challenges
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3. In conjunction with CAFE, a successful design advice service has been offered:
• 130 applications, 580,000 square metre of floor area
• 50% new office space
• Savings average $8.50 per square metre per annum
• 60-70% intend to implement
Costs
• Typically less than $3 per square metre in a $4000 per square metre building
• Locks in gains over life of building
Barriers
• If owner does not ask, developers are not offering.
Energy Efficient Commercial Buildings
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4. • Wall and ceiling insulation currently offered
• Glazing, space heating, and air tightness - major opportunities
• A mass market Build Back Smarter being developed
• Multiparty approach needed to get this off the ground
• Policy and encouragement for low emission woodburners needs to be
addressed
• Normally minimal incremental cost
• Innovative loan funding, or targeted rates, to reduce any capital barrier.
Energy Efficient Homes
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5. • Existing NZ homes very inefficient
• One square metre hole
• Cold damp draughty homes equals unhealthy homes
• Benefits
– Health
– Well being
– Less school and work absenteeism
• Insulation and warmth in top 3 pre-purchase questions
Why Do It
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6. NZ Energy Use
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7. NZ Greenhouse Gas Emissions
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8. • Goes well beyond simple energy efficiency
• Sustainability in energy, water, waste & air quality
• Low carbon is critical
• Transport is an important part of the mix
• A district energy scheme could provide visible leadership
• Strong civic leadership in rebuild
• Cities embracing these principles are attracting international young people
who value quality lifestyle and often are entrepreneurial and creative.
• Becomes point of differentiation
Aspirational sustainable city
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9. The Benefits
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10. • Technology washing over all energy devices
• LEDs – no maintenance streetlights
• Renewables – low emission wood burners
– Ultimately PVs on every roof
• Transport- Electric vehicles,
– Renewable diesel
– Efficient vehicles
– Biking & public transport
• Thermal envelope design – solar gain, heat recovery
• Behaviour change – technology can help
Where’s The Innovation
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11. • Already electricity 75% renewable
• Flat city perfect for evs and bikes and walking
• Efficient heating and low emission wood burners virtually eliminate
carbon & particulates
• Rebuild provides unique opportunity to capture sustainability
• Pvs will become economic
• Leadership is needed
– Make the commitment
– Develop Christchurch sustainable energy city charter
– Establish a small Sustainable Energy City team to provide info
and push
Christchurch Can Do This
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12. Now is the time to set the type of city that
our grandchildren and great grandchildren
will inherit ….and be proud of
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13. • Ask the community what their sustainable energy vision for Christchurch
would be
• Make the commitment
• Develop a Christchurch Sustainable Energy City Charter
• Fund and establish a Sustainable Energy City team
• Implement an action plan of priority projects
What Next?
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14. • A more prosperous, competitive and resilient economy – that retains and builds
wealth in the region.
• Warmer, drier and more energy efficient homes - meaning healthier and happier
citizens.
• Reducing transport energy greenhouse gas emissions, less economic drain and
cleaner air
• Put Christchurch on the world map as a leader in urban energy systems and be
able to show how it was achieved whilst recovering from a disaster.
The world is looking for energy leadership and examples of getting it right.
The Benefits
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15. • We are making progress, but not transforming Christchurch into a Sustainable Energy City
– Commercial Buildings Tools & Advice
– District Energy
– Home Insulation Partnerships
– Build Back Smarter Pilot
– ‘Breathe’ Inner City Living Showcase
– Smarter Grid Study
Progress so Far
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NABERSNZ
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16. • Efficiency could save us $2.4 billion of the $18 billion that we spend on energy
each year
• Poor quality housing stock and associated health costs
• Transport is our biggest area of energy use, biggest source of energy-related
carbon emissions, and people’s biggest energy cost.
• High carbon heat energy used in business and public facilities
• Foreign exchange risks - especially affecting fuel prices
• Energy affordability / fuel poverty
NZ Energy Issues
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17. • Widely upgrading the thermal performance of homes
• Minimising energy use in businesses and commercial buildings
• Ensuring public facilities are built to a good energy efficient standard to the
extent it’s economically efficient
• Developing efficient low-carbon transport systems –active, public and electric
• Developing efficient and renewably fuelled energy systems eg district energy
scheme
A World Leading Sustainable Energy City
would mean …
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18. • EU Energy Cities - Covenant of Mayors
– Christchurch is already a member and has committed to a Sustainable Energy Action
Plan (Sustainable Energy Strategy 2008-18)
• Bristol: 2015 EU Green Capital
– Doubling cycling every few years
– Domestic energy use reduced by 16% in 5 years
• Malmo: Goal to run city all on renewable energy by 2030
– Transforming from declining industrial city
• Vancouver: 2013 World Green Building Council Leadership Award
– Goal to be world’s greenest city by 2020
These cities are committed to sustainable energy.
Join other world leading energy cities
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