Dave MacIntryre says print businesses can save money by saving energy

Members of PrintNZ now have the opportunity to cut their energy bills, and reduce their carbon footprint at the same time, by taking part in a new programme being run by PrintNZ in conjunction with the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) and the Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED).

Through the scheme, firms which take part will have about half of their programme costs subsidised. If the experience of other companies who have already undergone the scheme is taken as a yardstick, the potential annual savings for each participant could run into thousands of dollars — more than paying for the cost of undergoing the study within the first year.

Ruth Cobb, membership services manager for PrintNZ, says the PrintNZ energy efficient programme offers potentially huge ongoing cost savings to members. She says, “With the members who come on board, we are targeting sustainable five per cent reductions in energy costs. We are looking to choose 10 businesses with an annual energy spend of about $80,000 plus (inclusive of transport costs) which would mean potential savings of up to $5000 a year.

“For those 10 businesses, the cost of entering the programme will be reduced by subsidies from $8550 to $3900. So, even in the first year, they will make a saving if the five per cent savings target can be reached.”

Cobb adds that evidence from case studies of companies that have followed the EECA programme has shown that significant savings can be made on energy costs, inclusive of transport costs. This is as true for smaller businesses as for larger.

She says, “We have had one member company who followed the programme off its own initiative and achieved good results. On a much larger scale the ANZ National Bank worked with the EECA on evaluating the lighting used in their premises.

“Installing more efficient lighting tubes created a direct energy saving worth around $50,000 a year. Further savings were achieved in electrical maintenance, where costs dropped from $150,000 a year to around $10,000.”

Measured savings
Businesses chosen to take part in the subsidised programme will receive support and participate in workshops to calculate their carbon footprint and produce a greenhouse gas inventory report compliant with 1S014064-1 requirements.

A baseline energy audit will be done, providing an energy report that outlines energy efficiency opportunities and the possible cost savings.

A carbon warranty audit will also be produced to certify the business to internationally-recognised carbon warranty and 1S014064-1 standards.

The chosen businesses will work with consultancy companies Energy NZ, whose team includes electrical and mechanical engineers and other science-based qualified staff, and Sustainable Edge, a leading sustainability consultancy company assisting businesses implement business practices that improve their top and bottom line performance.

Sustainable Edge consultants are qualified in greenhouse gas reporting and provide consultancy services in carbon measurement, management and offsetting, for clients in Australia and New Zealand.

The outcomes for the chosen businesses will be that they will have a certified carbon footprint; a carbon warranty and 1S014064-1 logos they can use on their letterheads and company websites to create a point of difference with competitors; an ability to meet their customers’ changing expectations in terms of sustainability and carbon efficiency; and of course the ongoing cost savings and increased energy efficiency for their own operations.

Ruth Cobb says that while it is important to achieve savings that go straight to the bottom line, helping improve productivity and competitiveness, the importance of businesses of being able to show their sustainability credentials is becoming more important in a tough marketplace.

She says, “Consumers are increasingly favouring businesses that show a commitment to environmental responsibility. A Colmar Brunton study showed that 88 per cent of consumers also want to purchase environmentally- or socially-responsible products, so investing in energy management and/or renewable energy can help boost brand value and reputation.
“Requests for tenders from print companies are very often now accompanied by a request to see environmental certification. If you can show you are accredited in the ISO 1400 range it is a major help in getting a foot in the door.”

Apply now
PrintNZ now invites members to apply to take part in the energy efficient programme.

Cobb says, “What we need to know from applicant members is the size of their energy bill, inclusive of transport costs, to see whether they fit within the target criteria; their commitment to the timeframe for the programme, as it will take about nine months in total to complete; and their commitment to meeting their part of the subsidised cost.”

Applicants should put their names forward by November 23 at the latest as PrintNZ will make a decision before Christmas, with the chosen companies beginning work in the new programme early next year.

As all the workshops will be held in Auckland, the programme may be more suited to companies in the upper North Island. However companies throughout New Zealand are welcome to apply if they are prepared to meet the costs of attending the workshops and also the costs of having auditors travel to their businesses.

Cobb says that, given the potential ongoing cost savings, this may well still make the programme appealing to a wide spread of PrintNZ members in other regions.

She adds that companies that have taken advantage of thses sorts of opportunities over the past few years have spoken about how the improvements in their businesses have not only improved their profits but also increased staff awareness of the issues involved.

For further information on this initiative, please contact Ruth Cobb, manager, PrintNZ, mobile (027) , tel (09) , email

Success with the EECA
AS more companies become aware of the advantages of energy saving, the EECA has begun to amass a file of case studies:
Auckland Meat Processor’s Otahuhu factory has implemented a new automated cleaning method to clean some of the plant’s moving processing tables. It saved over $200,000 in the first financial year and it is anticipated that it will return over $4.5 million in savings over a ten-year life cycle.

Clive Scouring in Napier is capturing heat previously released as waste and turning it into energy savings worth more than $100,000 a year. The company captures energy from its chimney and uses it to pre-heat water for other processes at the plant.

Three companies installed all-electric moulding machines: Monaghan Plastics, Tru Design Plastics and Tru-Test Limited. The new machines used nine per cent less energy than hydraulic machines when making products with short cycle times, such as medical clips. But energy savings of nearly 80 per cent were possible with products requiring longer cycle times, like electric fence insulators.

Who is the EECA?
The EECA is the government agency that works to improve the energy efficiency of New Zealand’s homes and businesses, and encourage the uptake of renewable energy.
Its goal is to maximise cost-effective energy savings and stimulate the uptake of both large and small-scale renewable energy.

Its core business is determined by assessing the potential for cost-effective energy savings and emissions reductions. It also targets energy savings that result in significant co-benefits such as health improvements, and having New Zealanders live in warmer, drier homes and breathe cleaner air, on the basis that there is a total net benefit to the nation.

A further goal is to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change.

It bases its programmes on evidence of what works and where the biggest gains can be made, and constantly evaluates how effective they are, making changes if required.
To measure its results, the EECA adds up the energy savings it can prove are being made as a result of its programmes. It then compares this with its costs, to work out the cost or rate of the energy savings being produced.

Currently it estimates it is delivering energy savings at an effective rate of 6.2 cents per kilowatt hour.

EECA uses a number of channels to communicate with both businesses and homeowners. It works with individual businesses to help them better manage their energy use and become more productive and competitive. It provides information and advice for businesses of all sizes and provides some financial assistance to businesses that meet specific criteria.

Some funding and financial assistance is also given to homeowners to invest in more efficient products or systems, or switch to renewable energy.

The rationale for providing some financial assistance and incentives is that while there is an upfront cost, these projects pay for themselves over time.

The EECA also sets and monitors minimum energy performance standards for a range of products and sets the rules for energy rating labels that show the relative energy efficiency of different products.

The other organisation helping subsidise the PrintNZ Energy Efficient Programme is the Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED).
ATEED is a council-controlled organisation, which aims to help lift the Auckland region’s economic wellbeing, and support and enhance the ability of the region’s businesses to compete internationally.