Large services sector, modest energy users

Large services sector, modest energy users

17 October 2014

The total energy use of the services sector accounts for less than 20 percent of the total business use, Statistics New Zealand said today. The services sector contributes 44 percent of New Zealand's GDP and covers 55 percent of people employed.

In 2013 the services sector used over 75,000 terajoules of energy. This is an increase of less than 3 percent since 2010.

“The total energy used by the services sector is equivalent to having 95 million 25W light bulbs on every hour for a year,” energy statistics manager Jason Attewell said.

Electricity, petrol, and diesel remained the main energy sources for the services sector, contributing more than three-quarters of the total energy use.

"Service industries are labour intensive businesses such as cafes, accountants, and filmmakers. This means their energy use is similar to New Zealand household use: electricity for lighting and heating, and petrol and diesel for driving."

In 2013, more than 60 percent of businesses in the sector had energy management initiatives in place. Half these businesses are monitoring energy use or cost while a third are installing energy-saving technologies.

This is the second time energy use data has been collected for the services sector.

The New Zealand Energy Use Survey covers each of the primary, industrial and trade, and services sectors over a three-year period.

For more information about these statistics: Visit New Zealand Energy Use: Services sector 2013

ENDS

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