GO EASY ON ENE RGY

Forest and Bird, Volume 22, Issue 1, 1 February 1991, Page 10

GO EASY ON ENE

RGY

O( TAC G

N ENERGY

Forest and Bird launched its energy conservation campaign in November with a seminar entitled Energy Futures in a Greenhouse World. The following is an edited version of campaign co-ordinator Keith Chapple’s address to the seminar.

Bes SEMINAR marks the beginning of Forest and Bird’s Go Easy on Energy Campaign. Forest and Bird is not alone in its concern for an energy efficient New Zealand. We have constant liaison with other conservation groups with similar concerns, and have a good information pool. Electricity has been selected as the first specific energy sector to come under scrutiny. Other sectors, such as transport, natural gas and alternative energies, are in the final stages of investigation and will be dealt with in due course. Among the fine attributes of electricity, there is a negative impact. It is this less glamorous side of electricity which lies at the heart of Forest and Bird's interests in this initial stage of our campaign. The major interests and concerns Forest and Bird has with energy and electricity fall into two broad categories: habitat loss and greenhouse gas emissions. All the available evidence shows that New Zealand has reached the end of the line as far as habitat loss is concerned. We are particularly concerned about potential loss of river habitat and the diverse conservation values associated with rivers. Forest and Bird has therefore in its provisional energy policy said that a specific action should be "to scrutinise and, where necessary, oppose any further proposals for damming New Zealand rivers and lakes." There is also a requirement to scrutinise and oppose applications for current water rights, where the enhancement or restoration of critical habitat is of overriding importance. The picture is not good. New Zealand continues to increase its energy consumption at such a rate that it is properly referred to as an international disgrace. Electricity consumption is presently growing at an underlying rate of 3 percent. If this rate of increase continues, New Zealand will be utilising all its power stations (including the mothballed Marsden B) about the year 2000. After that, power stations will have to be built at the rate of about one Huntly per year — and dams built on many of our remaining wild and scenic rivers. One of the aims of the Go Easy on Energy Campaign is directly related to future water right applications and the potential loss of habitat they represent. The aim is simply stated: to stabilise electricity consumption and halt the growth demand.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

The second concern is greenhouse gas emissions. Molly Melhuish recently write in Live Lines: "Scientists now know that the world’s use of fossil fuels has discharged so much carbon dioxide into the environment that a substan-

tial degree of global warming is almost certain to occur. Because the ocean acts as a giant "night store’, the earth’s temperature rise lags behind the increase in carbon dioxide and other gases. Natural variations in weather further obscure the evidence of rising temperatures. "Even so, all but a few percent of the world's atmospheric scientists believe global warming has begun. Several hot summers in Europe, together with oppressive air pollution have helped to thrust this greenhouse effect into the forefront of international environmental politics.

"In contrast, New Zealand's maritime climate helps mitigate any temperature effects and our clean air does not focus the public attention on our fragile atmosphere.

So popular concern, driven by popular observation and fear of the unknown, is largely absent in New Zealand. "Overseas, politicians and industrialists are much more cautious than either scientists or the person in the street. Likewise in New Zealand the electricity industry would like to belittle its contribution — after all electricity produces only 17 percent of New Zealand's carbon dioxide emissions." What is not generally recognised in New Zealand is that every time a consumer chooses to increase electricity use in the household or in industry, Electricorp has to burn fossil fuels to meet all the extra demand. All the recent increase in electricity consumption, 3 percent a year, has been generated by burning fossil fuels. New Zealand releases about 8 million tonnes of CO, per year — so last year's increase in electricity consumption represents about 10 percent of total CO, emissions. By stabilising electricity consumption, New Zealand would, in effect, reduce its CO, emissions by 10 percent and thus go 50 percent of the way to meeting the nation’s stated target of a 20 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2000.

Retirement Fund

There is one other aspect about increased electricity demand which ought not to go unremarked. New Zealand presently has a considerable surplus of generating capacity over demand — a surplus economists refer to

Geoff Bertram: "If we take on board some of the technological ideas that are out there, we can quite comfortably knock off over half of our electricity consumption."

as ‘under-utilised plant’, but which I prefer to call our ‘Energy Retirement Fund’. Used frugally with an eye to the future, New Zealand has sufficiently spare generating capacity to call upon well into the next century, without constructing any new plant. But if we continue to increase demand, we will gradually eat into and quickly use up our Energy Retirement Fund. This merely brings forward the day when massive expenditure will be required to build more power stations. In effect, we would have gobbled up our retirement fund well in advance of our retirement, and handed our children and grandchildren a huge financial and environmental burden.

Policy Measures

The present situation won't change itself and neither will it change without some fundamental changes in thinking in some areas, and a series of policy measures or action. I suggest that high priority should be given to a policy measure which actions a comprehensive public education programme aimed at producing an energy efficient New Zealand. Such a programme should be as well funded as that which has promoted the con-

sumption of electricity over the past three years, and aimed at every facet of energy use within New Zealand. It should be aimed at the household and industry but, perhaps more importantly, the electrical supply authorities for it is at the retail level and the area where the consumer is closest to the electricity industry, that effective efficiency information can be readily absorbed.

Different supply authorities will face very different pressures. I suggest that what will be common to all supply authorities is the direction of change toward energy efficiency — it is not the question of if, but when. It is toward this aim the Electricity Supply Association has bought rights to the ‘Competitek’ service of energy efficiency expert Amory Lovins’ Rocky Mountain Institute. This is an up-to-date and independent assessment of the quality of many thousands of products available for increasing efficiency. It is also a valuable insurance against a final obstacle to implementing energy efficiency poor information, which makes us vulnerable to fraudulent or less competent sellers. Thought might be given to a second policy measure which deals, really, in the general area of philosophy. I suggest Electricorp should look seriously at its present management philosophy. I readily acknowledge that Electricorp, as a state-owned enterprise, has a statutory obligation to operate a successful business. But, it also has a statutory duty to be an organisation that exhibits a sense of social responsibility by having regard to the interests of the community in which it operates, and by endeavouring to accommodate

or encourage them when able to do so. I believe the interests of the community lie in an energy efficient New Zealand, and Electricorp can accommodate these interests within its present structure. Going easy on energy is one of those rare situations where everyone is a winner. Consumers have more money to spend, the supply authorities act in a socially respon-

The Price of Power

OREST AND BIRD MEMBERS often ask why the Society is pursuing an energy efficiency campaign and why do we campaign against hydro electricity schemes. Isn't hydro electricity one of the most benign sources of energy at our disposal? New Zealand has paid a high environmental price for hydro electric developments. Here are some examples of the problems. Forests Lost: A considerable area of forest in Fiordland National Park was drowned by the raising of Lake Monowai. Black Stilt: Almost the entire Waitaki River system is modified by hydro development. By the 1950s, the black stilt was confined to the Upper Waitaki River and lakes. Since then, braided rivers have been diverted into canals and lakes have been raised, drowning delta feeding areas. The black stilt population has dropped to about 70 and thousands of dollars have been required for artificial breeding and habitat programmes to prevent its extinction. Blue Duck: This rare torrent duck has lost large areas of river habitat, with damming and diversions. The Tongariro power scheme has reduced blue duck numbers on many rivers around Tongariro National Park, the North Island stronghold for the species. Geothermal Field Drowned: Two thirds of the world renowned Orakei Korako geothermal area was drowned under Lake Ohekuri on the Waikato River. It could be revived if the lake level is lowered when the water rights for the dams on the Waikato River are considered. Despite the wide documentation of environmental problems with hydroelectric developments since the battle to save Manapouri, the Ministry of Commerce has recently come out with a report proposing new dams throughout New Zealand. The report, entitled Hydro Resources of New Zealand, proposes dams on the Mohaka, Rangitikei, Motueka, Buller, Grey, Kawarau and Mataura Rivers, where National Water Conservation Orders are pending or being heard. The report does acknowledge that NWCOs on the Motu, Rakaia and Ahuriri Rivers could constrain their development. 4

THE DOMINION WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 5 1990 -_ Power and responsibility ONCE again, the Electricorp behemoth is rampaging through the corporatised landscape. Since its establishment two years 4g9, it has gleefully accepted its duty to be a successful business. It has been much less enthusiastic about its obligation to show a sense of social responsibility. Its decision to appeal against the Planning Tribunal’s compromise on the headwaters of the Wanganui River is as regrettable as it was predictable. The corporation, which has been diverting water from six streams to feed the Tokaanu and Waikato power stations, had appealed against a 1988 decision of the RangitikeiWanganui Catchment Board to reduce the volume by 32 per cent. Wanganul Maoris appealed too, they wanted to restore the full flow to their river. The tribunal balanced the conflicting ec nomic, social and environmental claims, and ordered a 19 per cent reduction in the drawoff from June next year. It found that power generation had enjoyed an undue advantage since the Tongariro scheme began taking the water 18 years ag0- This had adversely affected natural features of the river, Maori cultural and spiritual interests associated with it, and recreation and tourism in the region. In fixing minimum flows for the Wanganui, the tribunal emphasised protection of the water resources and the need to meet as many demands as possible so that benefits "can be enjoyed and shared by all interests to the best corp. Identifying the national interest with its own economic advantage, it wants all the water available — and if other people and downstream ecosystems have problems because of ‘The corporation’s myopic self-interest is transparent, but it outdoes even that by the sanctimonious Way it tries to justify the ap1. The argument is not simply about doljars and cents, it says, but about "conflicting environmental values". Poor Electricorp is anguished that for every litre of water it loses — so finely balanced is the power supply that Electricorp must measure the impact in litres — it will have to burn more coal and gas to make up the shortfall. The guilt of adding to carbon dioxide in the atmosphere weighs heavily on the corporate conscience. So it should, beginning with the fuel-burn-ing stations it already operates. But instead of working alongside conservationists to reduce electricity consumption, and hence its emissions of carbon dioxide, it is vigorously Pro moting its use. It pleads the business imperative of a state-owned corporation to excuse its rejection of wider community responsibilities — unless, of course, they can be quantified to yield a commercial advantage. That spurs it to spend large sums of public money on one appeal and then, when it does not get its way, to launch another. Its huge financial resources have become an arsenal to wear down those who challenge its singlewhen the Conservation Department enters the lists to fight another round in the interests of the environment. That is a lamentable waste. Finance and State-Owned terprises Ministers Ruth Richardson and Doug Kidd are the shareholders of Electricorp on behalf of the public. They should knock some heads together and rein in the juggernaut.

Estimate of Electricity Conservation and Management Savings in New Zealand Category % Potential Savings on 1988 use LT Heat (Low Temp Heat-Low Cost) 39 Drive (Motors) 50 Electronics 50 HT Heat (High Temperature Heat) 10 Lights oS : 90 Feedstock 30 LT Heat (Low temp High Cost) 32 Total 57 Source: Electricorp

sible business manner, and gain the goodwill of their constituents, the Government receives more taxes, the environment gets a breather, and Electricorp doesn’t have to worry about building any more Clyde dams. Things will not happen on their own. They have to be made to happen, and we could all begin to go easy on energy by paying attention to all those little electric gadgets around the home with little lights and timer switches. Things like water jugs and heaters which, amazingly, have little lights to tell you they are off; videos, all those electronic clocks, duster busters and other self-charging gadgetry, computers . . . the list really does seem endless. A rough calculation of these little lights and gadgets which we don't really need, adds up to the equivalent electricity generation of a Luggate dam, (440 Gwh), or a quarter of a Clyde. In total, they cost the electricity consumer about $40 million per annum.

Amory Lovins has calculated that about half of New Zealand's present electricity need not be generated; this would cause no loss of service to the customer. That’s a lot of extra dollars to spend on other things. This type of information will be vigorously pushed into the public gaze. I want to stress that the Go Easy on Energy Campaign is a positive campaign. The Campaign is not about doing without, but about doing better with what we have. I believe that the key to an energy efficient New Zealand is close co-operation at all levels. ¥

Copies of the proceedings of the November Energy Seminar (featuring Roger Blakeley, Geoff Bertram, Keith Chapple, Jim Guthrie, Jeanette Fitzsimons, Barry Leay and David Pate) are available from Forest and Bird, PO Box 631 Wellington, for $15.

Energy efficiency made easy

ALTING THE INCREASE in electricity demand is not as difficult as one might first think. The following are four energy efficiency measures which, in total, add up to about 1,000 Gwh per year or, about 3 percent of total generation. Coincidentally that is the same percentage increase in demand at present. e Turn down hot water heater thermostats by 15 degrees celsius. This measure would save 334 Gwh per annum. Eliminate ‘instant on’ remote controls for TV receivers. This measure would save 57 Gwh per annum, or about 30 percent of the electricity involved in the recent Wanganui River decision. e Install high efficiency fluorescent light bulbs in kitchens. This measure would save 305 Gwh per annum. e Replace incandescent light bulbs in living rooms with high efficiency fluorescent bulbs. This measure would save 273 Gwh per annum. The sum of these four measures is 969 Gwh per annum which is roughly equivalent to the annual increase in electricity demand. If the four measures were implemented in a year, about $90 million would be released into circulation. #&