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 About BEES

Dixon_Manners_Intersection.JPGIn this section:

What is BEES?

Commercial consumers spend nearly $1 billion each year on 49.32 petajoules of energy (New Zealand Energy Data File 2011). The commercial sector was responsible for 1,011 kilotons (KT) of carbon dioxide-equivalent gases in 2008 (New Zealand's Greenhouse Gas Inventory 1990-2009) or nearly a 20th of all of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions. Achieving even a small improvement in efficiency would have a significant impact.

BRANZ is conducting New Zealand's first nationwide survey examining energy and water consumption in our commercial buildings. The 6-year Building Energy End-use Study (BEES) will examine a sample of eligible (predominantly commercial) buildings of varying sizes.

Eligible buildings are predominantly commercial and include office, retail and mixed-use categories. Ineligible use types are industrial, hospital and educational facilities, residential, parking, recreational, ancillary and outbuildings. Vacant buildings or land are also classed as ineligible.

Why do it?

The BEES research will provide new knowledge and understanding of resource use and indoor environments in New Zealand's non-residential buildings. This will tell us where energy and water efficiency improvements can make the biggest impact, as well as facilitate greater comfort and productivity for building occupants.

The results from BEES will be used to provide better information to consumers and to inform guidance and policy aimed at improving the performance of non-residential buildings in New Zealand. More resource-efficient buildings and more productive work environments are better for New Zealand business, the economy and the environment.

Who's involved? 

This project is funded by BRANZ from the Building Research Levy, the Ministry for Science and Innovation, the Department of Building and Housing and the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA).

The work is being carried out by BRANZ, the Centre for Research Evaluation and Social Assessment (CRESA), the Centre for Building Performance Research at Victoria University of Wellington and Energy Solutions Ltd.