Web Enquiries - Newsletters - Home Energy Checks - Outreach and Presentations - Advisor profiles

The Wellington Home Energy Advice Centre was launched in March 2008 as the first independent, impartial energy advice centre in the HEAC network. The Wellington Centre is operated by Sustainability Trust, a local not-for-profit community trust working in energy efficiency, waste reduction, transport, urban gardening, and behaviour change. The office is open for calls Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm. The toll free area covers the greater Wellington area including the Horowhenua, Manawatu and Wairarapa regions. Homeowners outside those areas can call directly on 04 389 3415 or use the online query form.

The Centre operates from  offices in Newtown, Wellington and offers the following services:

• 0800 free phone
• Email enquiries by web-form
• Home Energy Checks (a charge for these applies)
• Outreach
• Regular e-newsletters. Read the latest September Newsletter or browse an archive of previous months newsletters.

0800 388 588 and Web Enquiries

Our advisors can provide you with locally relevant advice across a wide range of issues including:

• Heating and insulation options
• Ventilation and internal moisture issues
• Appliances - advice on whiteware, computers, etc.
• Hot water systems - options, operation, temperatures, etc
• Windows - glazing and curtains
• Draughts - elimination of heat loss
• Your energy bills and current plan - checking your bill is correct, and finding the best plan and provider for your situation.

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Home Energy Checks

We offer personalised in-home visits to assess any issues that can not be easily resolved by phone and email. While our telephone and email advice is free, we do charge a fee for our Home Energy Check service to cover travel costs and the additional time involved.

Our Home Energy Check  provides an impartial, thorough assessment of your energy use and outlines options  that will improve your warmth and comfort and/or lower your energy bills.

A Home Energy Check can be especially valuable when you feel overwhelmed by information on heating or insulation options or need to troubleshoot an especially high power bill. The check consists of a visit which lasts approximately one hour, followed up with a written report summarising the main findings.

Home Energy Checks are charged at sliding scale and are subsidised for low and middle-income earners:

• Community Services Card holders (or eligible): $50
• Household income below $100,000/annum and above CSC level: $100
• Income above $100,000/annum: $150

HECs are usually restricted to Wellington City, Hutt Valley and Porirua. For locations further north, please enquire.

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Outreach and Presentations

Our advisors offer free, interesting, and relevant energy efficiency presentations to businesses, schools, or community groups (donations/koha welcome). Watch out for  Home Energy Advice Centre stalls at fairs and events throughout the Wellington region.

Call an advisor if you are interested in having one of our team talk to your group.

To contact an advisor, please use our online form or call 0800 388 588.

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Advisor profiles

Sarah Free
BE (electrical), Dip. Teaching, Master of Public Health

Energy Advisor

Sarah has a degree in electrical engineering, and initially worked in transmission line planning before retraining as a secondary school teacher, teaching science, maths and technology. In 2008, she completed a Masters degree in  Public Health, focusing on the connection between housing conditions and health.

Sarah is interested in eco-friendly urban design at all levels; homes, garden, suburbs and cities. Sarah currently works in the Wellington Advice Centre Mondays to Thursdays

 

Seth Hickling
BA (Philosophy)

Energy Advisor

Seth has a passion for people, community and planet, and he enjoys supporting people in practices that benefit the health, well-being and joy of themselves, their family, community and environment.

In 2005, Seth gained a BA from Victoria University, which included papers in architecture, design, mathematics, physics, political studies and environmental science.

Since graduating, Seth has worked in several roles within the sustainability sector including landscape gardening, community outreach and support for sustainable transport, and assessing houses for insulation retrofits. Seth currently works in the Wellington Advice Centre Wednesday to Friday.

 

EECN Staff

 

Sally Blackwell

Master of Environmental Studies, B.Mus, History and Literature

EECN Executive Officer and HEAC national co-ordinator

Sally has completed her  Masters degree which examined residential energy behaviour and is now working fulltime as EECN’s executive officer and HEAC national co-ordinator.

Before beginning her Masters degree, Sally worked at the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) where she was the project manager of the EnergyWise home grants programme, and later a senior advisor in Government and Local Government. Previous to this, Sally had a number of roles within the New Zealand music industry.