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Action area: Renewable building energy

While we have no regulatory instruments to improve the emissions intensity of buildings in Wellington, we lead by example in our own buildings and facilities, increasing energy efficiency and shifting from natural gas to renewable electricity.

Building energy consumption creates carbon emissions through the use of electricity and natural gas and accounts for 13% of Wellington city’s total carbon emissions. Although the Council administers the Building Act it has no power to require an ‘improved’ standard that would reduce energy consumption across Wellington’s building stock.

This line graph shows Wellington city building energy emissions over time for both residential and commercial properties between 2020 and 2024. Both are slightly lower than they were in 2020.

Central and regional government policy settings 

Building energy standards are set through the Building Act by central government. In the past year, the government’s Building for Climate Change programme has not progressed. In the Second Emissions Reduction Plan there are no proposals to put in place policy or funding mechanisms to improve building performance.

The Council’s role

During the 2021 Long-term Plan the Council provided incentives and funding to support developers and homeowners wanting to improve the energy performance of their buildings. We have also improved the performance of several Council-owned buildings and facilities. Our Energy Strategy and improving the energy performance of our facilities and buildings, are now part of Council’s Emissions Reduction Plan, approved in November 2023, which targets a 57% reduction in our 2020 Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030.

Win-win from private-public partnerships 

Through the Te Kāinga programme, Wellington City Council partners with developers to convert commercial buildings into residential apartments which are then rented to families, flatmates, couples, and individuals. The Council balances the rent it charges tenants with the cost to lease the building, which makes the programme cost-neutral for the Council and ratepayers.