The Federal government allotted an additional $A500 million ($NZ551 million) to expand its Social Housing Performance Initiative (SHEPI), adding funding for a further 50,000 homes.

 
“The Australia government is making a real difference for social housing tenants who are the least able to afford energy efficiency upgrades, and most likely to face higher power bills.” said Dr Chris Mardon, Managing Director of Ecobulb, a New Zealand energy efficiency company.
 
“The best way to lower power bills is to not use electricity in the first place – Australia is setting the ANZAC standard in how tens of thousands of households can have cooler homes in summer and warmer homes in winter and save on energy bills.
 
“By comparison, New Zealand has dramatically cut or curtailed public investment in energy efficiency and carbon abatement schemes."
 
“The Gidi Fund is gone. Money for commercial lighting upgrades is gone. The only programme remaining is Warmer Kiwi Homes, which has been downsized.”
 
“The second emissions reduction plan released this week talks about ‘enabling energy efficiency’ through development of better building and product regulations. This could take years to provide benefits and doesn’t help low-income people wanting to lower their power bill right now.       
 
By comparison, Australia’s SHEPI funds energy efficient upgrades which include installing hot water heat pumps and LED lighting.
 
Dr Mardon said that many New Zealand homes were still using old lighting technology rather than modern LEDs, and hot water heat pumps were extremely rare. Both these technologies are much more efficient and result in lower energy bills and less need for fossil fuel generation in mid-winter. Energy efficiency also reduces peak loads on electricity networks, which means lower lines charges.
 
“Energy efficiency is a no-brainer as it is far cheaper option than building new generation, upgrading transmission and distribution lines. Let’s hope that the New Zealand government takes notice of the excellent incentives being offered by our nearest neighbour.”