Conservation, which the Government is now actively encouraging, includes lagging water heaters, insulating existing houses, using alternative methods of energy including localised solar and wind. This is on the increase and will lower electricity consumption projections. This acts as a credit against the next power account. This is great for electricity conservation, saves the need to build more destructive dams or polluting gas generation plants like Stratford, and stops power transmission loss as the electricity is used 'on the spot'. The cost is coming down.
Raw silicon is used whereas intensive processing was needed before.
The day will come when, say, rugby grounds will have photovoltaic cells all around the tops of their grandstands and will use the power saved, for the 'big night' when the ground will be lit up for the big game. FOB activity includes public education internationally, about the truth of electricity generation and consumption in New Zealand. FOB works actively to overcome 'mindsets' by Government and particularly Contact Energy Limited. With ne large scale hydro, the consumer loses out and the environment suffers as more rivers are destroyed by large reservoirs, and more greenhouse gases are pumped into the atmosphere.