The second largest city in South Island of New Zealand, Dunedin has to improve their energy usage. The latest survey shows they need to be more efficient.
In the latest survey of the energy usage, conducted by the University of Otago, the residents of Dunedin are below nationwide average with their use of energy. The energy study was a collaboration between the university and Dunedin City Council, to measure Dunedin's energy efficiency.
In the study, Dunedin's energy efficiency is found to be three percentage below the national average. It found that the city only has 37 percent of the energy consumption of the renewable resources.
In term of renewable energy resources, Dunedin's energy efficiency is able to reach 42 percent of resources from wood fuels. While the rest of the energy source comes from the renewable sources of electricity. The study on the Dunedin's energy efficiency was made by a Commerce student at the University of Otago, Olive Dippie, under the supervision from Director of the Centre for Sustainability at the University of Otago Dr. Janet Stephenson and the Director of the University’s Energy Management Programme Dr. Michael Jack.
Dunedin City Council considers the report to be very important for improving Dunedin's energy efficiency. According to General Manager of Services and Development at the Dunedin City Council, Simon Pickford, the study is an important complement to the draft Energy Plan 1.0. The draft plan is an outline of the long-term plan for Dunedin Environment Strategy.
"We’re enthusiastic about the report," Pickford said about the report on Dunedin's energy efficiency. He added that the Dunedin City Council is, "very pleased with this successful joint project involving the Council, University and Chamber of Commerce.”
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, in the Otago region. As one of the major cities in New Zealand, the measurement of Dunedin's energy efficiency is important for the city. While the University of Otago is the second largest universities in New Zealand with a good tradition in scientific research, and it holds annual science festival such as last year's festival below:
