Updated database shows where and how New Zealanders use energy

New Zealand’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) has updated the Energy End Use Database, providing users with estimates of energy use across the country in categories such as sector, technology, end use and fuel type.

The database contains data for the year ending December 2012, having drawn its information from sources including MBIE’s Energy in NZ and Statistics NZ’s NZ Energy Use Survey. According to EECA Evaluation & Technical Manager Brian Fitzgerald, users will be able to find the answers to detailed questions covering energy use by sectors, technologies, in buildings and in transport.

Fitzgerald said the updated database will provide both government and the private sector with energy data to support the development of New Zealand’s response to energy security, climate change and business productivity. It will also be suitable for researchers, local authorities and the EECA itself, which will use the database to help develop and refine its energy efficiency programs.

“For example,” Fitzgerald said, “councils can interrogate this database to help develop their district energy plans or consultants can assess energy use by fuel type and industry sector to help inform analysis and scenario modelling.”

The database can be accessed here, while a summary report can be downloaded here and a guide to using the database can be downloaded here.