Sustainability is a very real concept at Whakatane's Energy Options, according to commercial manager Ingeborg Hawighorst.
"We are living the message of sustainability, with a well-insulated office building, a pellet burner, eco-friendly light bulbs and hybrid cars," s he said.
"We want to practise what we preach in our day-to-day operation."
Energy Options is an energy products company set up by the Eastern Bay Energy Trust. Offering products that are kinder to both planet and wallet, it also prides itself in being able to sell products that are made in New Zealand.
"The pellet burner is made in Papamoa, and our new log burner, with a ceramic box, is made in Hastings," Ms Hawighorst said.
The new log burner uses a ceramic cylinder to contain the fire, meaning less heat is led away from the fire, which results in almost nothing remaining of the logs once the process has finished. |
"The high burning temperatures mean the emissions are greatly reduced. The burner also has a wetback and a cooking plate, which means you can use it instead of relying on electricity." Ms Hawighorst said.
Also selling insulation, eco bulbs and solar heating, Energy Options is taking a leadership role by promoting the practical steps that anyone can take.
"We won the Whakatane Triple A sustainable business award last year, have joined GreenFleet - and we are in the Get Sustainable Challenge."
The company had also sponsored 100 schoolchildren to go to the cinema to watch the Al Gore documentary on the threat of global warming, An Inconvenient Truth.
"Parents and teachers then went to see the film as a result of that," she said.
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