Christchurch:A World Leading Sustainable Energy City

Mike Underhill, March 2014

NABFROW

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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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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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• 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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• 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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NZ Energy Use

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NZ Greenhouse Gas Emissions

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• 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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The Benefits

Sustainable

Energy City

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• 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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• 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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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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• 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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• 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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• 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

NABERSNZ

6543

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• 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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• 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 Citywould mean …

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• 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