Private energy use jumps

Households are the biggest energy "consumer", soaking up more than a quarter of the nation's electricity and other energy.

Statistics New Zealand Energy, Economy and Emissions figures for 1997 to 2003 show consumer demand increased 15 per cent, with carbon dioxide emissions - usually a by-product of burning fossil fuels - jumping 21 per cent.

Over the same period, the national economy grew 19 per cent.

But other figures recorded over the two years from 2003-2005 showed consumer energy demand then dropped 3 per cent, because of a big drop in direct sales of natural gas.

Government statistician Brian Pink said that although the 1997-2003 data suggested that economic growth now relied less on energy production, the nation still depended on non-renewable fossil fuels for 70 per cent of its energy.

"Households were a significant contributor to the sharp rises in the demand for fossil fuels and carbon dioxide emissions."

Most of the energy consumed by households was in the form of petrol used in cars: a 100km car trip uses enough energy to run an average house for three days.

Including the transport component, households produce more than three-quarters of carbon monoxide and 60 per cent of non-methane volatile organic compounds.

- NZPA