History

The Community Energy Network  began as an informal network of seven community-based organisations in 2005, and was originally called the Energy Efficiency Community Network.

At that time all members delivered insulation retrofits to low income households under the government’s Energy Wise home grants scheme (the precursor to the current Warm Up New Zealand: Heat Smart programme). They decided to form a network to provide peer support to one another and share resources, they also wanted to provide a voice for the Community Energy sector. In 2007 the group formed a charitable trust.

The Community Energy Network Incorporated Society was formed in 2010 to better reflect the nature of the organisation and to allow new members to join. The Network currently consists of 9 organisations from the Far North to Bluff.

Community Energy Network members and Executive Officer at the official launch, 15th Dec 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By working together the Network provides a platform for community sector organisations to come together and create positive changes in their communities. Our work is focussed around household energy efficiency and sustainability because of the huge social, environmental and economic benefits it creates.

Our strength lies in our diversity of experiences, a values-based approach to reaching common goals and our relationships across the community, private and public sectors.

 

Home Energy Advice Centre

The Community Energy Network established the Home Energy Advice Centre (HEAC)  in 2007 in response to a need for independent, locally relevant, personalised energy efficiency advice. New Zealand has a wide variety of places people can get information about energy but there was a significant gap for quality advice free of commercial imperatives, to aid decision making.

The HEAC model was based on the successful UK model of Energy Advice Centres  run by the Energy Saving Trust, adapted to the New Zealand context.

The HEAC project was initiated by Community Energy Network in 2006 with funding from the Minister for the Environment’s Sustainable Management Fund. The first HEAC was launched in Wellington, in March 2007 and based at Sustainability Trust. Further funding for the Wellington pilot was provided by Wellington City Council.

A second year of funding from the Sustainable Management Fund and support from Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority allowed for the continuation of the Wellington service and development of two further HEACs in Auckland (hosted by Eco Matters) and Christchurch (hosted by Community Energy Action).

An independent evaluation of the HEAC undertaken in 2009 by OPUS International with funding from Hikurangi Foundation demonstrated the effectiveness of the service and high levels of client satisfaction. In October 2010 the the Home Energy Advice Centre was awarded the Community Award at the 2010 EECA Awards.

Central government funding ceased in June 2009 and the service continued until 2011 due to the generous support of Eco Matters, Sustainability Trust, Community Energy Action and a number of their local supporters. Lack of on-going funding means there is no longer a separate national HEAC service. However, the HEAC host organisations (Eco Matters, Sustainability Trust and Community Energy Action) still offer services locally and as a national network we are working closely together to ensure New Zealanders still have access to highly skilled, trusted, professional community-based energy advisors.

For more information about this see the Energy Advice page or Find An Advisor.