I just did a bill on bill comparison between our June energy consumption for last year versus this year. It turns out that we have successfully reduced our actual energy consumption for our motel manager flat by 487 kWh in just one month this winter.
Author: Richard Christie
Richard Christie runs a small motel on the Kapiti Coast and also writes the Balance Transfers blog. He is interested in how businesses can play a role in improving environmental outcomes, and the challenges associated with doing so. Although this is a blog nominally about the topic of inflation, one of the key recurring questions this blog covers is 'what will be the financial cost and financial impact of climate change?' The blog covers micro economic and business-specific topics relating to the business landscape in New Zealand.
My Biggest Mistake With Solar Panels
Installing solar isn’t all plain sailing. In addition to the complexities of matching energy production to energy use, and the huge amount of math that goes into crunching whether you will or won’t break even, there are other obstacles. This article is about the biggest ‘trap for young players’ that I fell into when installing solar.
Regressive Tax Calculator
I always find it difficult to communicate to people why regressive taxation is bad policy.
Using social media to save on meat
I’m still tossing up the idea of going vegetarian – despite the health benefits and value benefits, and the fact that I’ve done it successfully for a year and a half before, logistically it would be quite difficult. Unfortunately I am part of a family that, while they tolerate my other eco-friendly activities, if I forced them to go even partially vegetarian they would openly mutiny.
Our plan to cut winter heating costs by 67%
I like to think of a motel as one big eternal cost-cutting operation. The way we can afford to pay our staff more is by keeping overheads as low as possible.
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Winter energy consumption planning
Last year, because of the dry winter and its concomitant effect on hydroelectric energy generation, New Zealand burned its way through a significant portion of its coal reserves, resulting in the release of significant amounts of carbon into the atmosphere. At the household level, because of massive pressure on household winter energy consumption, winter energy bills shot through the roof, leaving families across the country out of pocket if they didn’t plan ahead and budget.
Pros and cons of ebikes for seniors
The other day while I stopping by at a local cafe a gentleman buttonholed me before I got on my bike and asked whether I thought the ebike I was riding would be suitable for a senior. He clarified that a lady he knew had recently suffered dementia and as a result had lost her license. She was 69 years old with no form of transportation.
Why living in Kapiti is great for savers
I recently had a business trip to Wellington during which time my well-honed budgetary instincts went on a temporary absence and I found myself awash with unnecessary expenses that pertained to nothing other than feeding my belly, hyper-caffeinating and socialising.
Find out how many trees you save by switching to an ebike
This is a really simple calculator to show you how many trees you save from having to be planted each week, month, and year by switching to an ebike.
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