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About

Our Organisation.

With over 30 years of experience, we are driven by a desire to make a positive difference in our community. With a diverse range of skills and backgrounds, we are continually moving forward as an organisation in the energy efficiency industry.

Don Chittock

Don is currently working as the Resource and Sustainabilty Manager for Fulton Hogan in Christchurch. In the past Don has worked for Environment Canterbury as a Programme Manager in the development of regional policy and strategy across a number of portfolios. Don has experience in central and local government, management and people development.
For a number of years Don has been a Trustee of Opawa Primary School.

David Griffiths

David Griffiths is the chair of CEA. David has been working for the Christchurch City Council since December 17 where he is Head of Planning and Strategic Transport. He is leading three teams of land and transport planners in this role and is responsible for developing, in conjunction with key partners, the council’s long term strategic position for land and transport planning.
Previous employers include the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority, Canterbury Earthquake Temporary Accommodation Service and Housing New Zealand Corporation.

Sophie Logie

Sophie is a lawyer at Cavell Leitch in Christchurch. She leads the employment law practice, and also has experience in commercial and general litigation matters. Sophie enjoys working with a variety of clients, ranging from large national companies to individuals. Sophie is also a trustee for a not-for-profit animal shelter and has a particular interest in governance and strategic planning.

Lachlan Knighton

Lachlan is an experienced banking and finance professional, with a career of relationship and stakeholder roles across Not-For-Profit, Government, and Corporate entities. Lachlan has a particular interest in emerging business trends, and innovation in the technology sector. Lachlan has been a trustee and director in several community-based organisations prior to joining Community Energy Action in May 2022.

1994

CEA officially established.

1995

CEA is offered a free home in the Southpower (now Orion) building
Curtain bank starts with 150 sets of curtains and an EECA grant
We begin commercial hot water cylinder wrapping

1996

Paid coordinator appointed with lotteries grant
Start of subsidised energy efficiency products

1997

Southpower (Orion) becomes an official funder

2000

Warm Babies program launched, for families with new born children

2001

CEA wins EECA award in the residential category

2003

CEA begins working for CDHB and Environment Canterbury on the Clean Heat project

2004

Launch of Elderly Health programme
Mainpower becomes an official funder
CEA achieves runner up at the EECA awards (Sustained Achievement Category)

2007

Pilot begins for EECA’s Warm Up New Zealand (WUNZ) insulation scheme

2008

Awarded Top Achiever at EECA awards
CEA expands, Curtain Bank moves to seperate premises

2009

CEA is an EECA provider in the nationwide WUNZ scheme
Official launch of CEA’s energy advice service
Curtain Bank extends service to include whole house curtaining

2010

CEA is the winner of the EECA award in the community category
CEA moves to Moorhouse Ave, our first independent building. This building is severely damaged in the September quakes

2011

Staff work from home for several months before moving into temporary premises

2012

Healthy Homes project for hospital patients in conjunction with the CDHB begins
Curtain Bank extends service to provide linings to all curtains

2013

Milestone of 20,000 homes insulated
First project focussing on earthquake damaged homes begins

2014

Winner EECA award (Champion Christchurch Earthquake Recovery Category)
Repair Well for earthquake affected homeowners with NZ Red Cross begins
CEA moves to permanent premises in CBD
Curtain Bank broadens client criteria, CSC no longer required
Mobile Curtain Bank begins operating
Assessors trained in thermography and home performance assessment

2015

Warm & Well programme for earthquake affected homeowners with NZ Red Cross begins
CEA celebrates 21 years

2016

Repair Well, Warm & Well programmes end
CEA partner with Environment Canterbury (ECan) on Air Quality Programme
CEA Curtain Bank celebrates 21 years
CEA begins working on the West Coast assessing and insulating Grey District Council social housing units for the elderly

2017

Repair Well, Warm & Well Programme Completion Report produced
November 2016 Earthquake Hardship Support Project with NZ Red Cross begins
CEA worked closely with Buller District Council to insulate social housing units

2018

CEA hosted the nationwide launch of the Governments $142m insulation and heating initiative: Warmer Kiwi Homes

2019

CEA celebrated 25 years

2020

CEA hosted Minister Hon. Megan Woods announcement of the increase in subsidy levels for Warmer Kiwi Homes
CEA celebrated 25 years of the Curtain Bank
30,000 homes insulated across Canterbury and the West Coast

2022

5000 Home Energy Checks completed

2023

10,000 homes supplied with curtains

Main Funders

Other Funders

Lottery Grants Board logo

Our Charitable Work

Keeping Our Community Warm

Established in 1994, CEA has a proud history of keeping families across Canterbury and The West Coast warm and dry. As a charitable trust, we have your interest at heart. We provide subsidised insulation, free curtains and free energy advice for households with (more) assistance for those in need.

By supporting CEA, you are giving back to the community. All our surpluses go into helping local families stay warm, dry and healthy.

Curtain Bank

Our Curtain Bank provides families with free high-quality curtains. Donated curtains are cleaned and backed with thermal lining. People wanting curtains can choose from a range of materials which are made to their specific measurements. We rely heavily on volunteers and donated materials to run this service.

Since 1995, we have provided over 10,000 homes with free curtains. That works out to be over 200,000 square metres of fabric! Which is about one and a third times as big as Eden Park.

Additional funding and surpluses go into purchasing essential supplies and paying utilities. Our Curtain Bank was featured in Stuff, you can read the article here.

Subsidised insulation

We are a registered provider of the Warmer Kiwi Homes programme. This government subsidy covers 80% of the total cost of an insulation installation for eligible homes. As a charitable trust, we often top this up to 100%. Providing additional funding ensures every family can live in a warm, dry, and healthy home.

Since 1995, we have insulated nearly 35,000 homes across Canterbury and The West Coast.

We rely on donations and funding to continue this service. Any surpluses from non-subsidised insulation go directly into our funding pool.

Energy advice

Our Energy Advice Service provides independent energy advice and education to individual homeowners, tenants and landlords. Home Energy Checks are the core of our Energy Advice service. We offer independent and free advice that can help reduce power usage, and identify areas of risk. This advice is comprehensive and tailored to the unique circumstances of the home.

We also present to community groups and professionals working with vulnerable people in the community. These presentations offer valuable and free energy advice and are a great way to connect with those in need.

We have conducted over 5000 Home Energy Checks since this service began in 2009. We have also presented at over 1000 education sessions.

Other charitable projects

At CEA, we are involved in a range of other charitable projects. We regularly partner with other like-minded organizations to assist vulnerable community members.

Some of these projects include Healthy Home Standards, Tenants Checklist, Woodburner training and independent energy advice.

Some comments from our Partners

At Orion our purpose is to power a cleaner and brighter future for our community. Orion was one of the first supporters of CEA following its establishment in 1994 and we’ve worked in a collaborative partnership with CEA for more than 25 years. By funding CEA’s insulation and advice services over the years, at Orion we’re delighted to have helped improve the lives of thousands of vulnerable households, as well as helping to reduce fuel poverty, within the region we serve. CEA play a valuable role in making a real difference to the health and wellbeing of our community.

Paul DeavollOrion

When selecting sponsorship partners, MainPower seeks to work with organisations who are making a real difference in the lives of the residents of North Canterbury and Kaikoura. Community Energy Action has a fantastic track record of doing just this. Installing insulation in over 20,000 homes, providing hundreds of curtains and home energy checks has had a remarkable impact on the overall health of our region’s housing stock – and subsequently our people.

Nicola CullMainpower

Genesis Energy has partnered with the Community Energy Action Trust since 2010. As a major energy generator and retailer we believe in doing our part to help those people in the community who struggle to make their homes energy efficient. Hence our support is focused around the Trust’s Curtain Bank. We believe the Trust has done an exceptional job in servicing the needs of the community through the Curtain Bank and this is evidenced by the year-on-year growth of the service.

Jenny BurkeGenesis Energy

For many years Environment Canterbury has partnered with CEA to deliver home heating advice and our home heating appliance subsidies in Rangiora, Kaiapoi, Christchurch and Ashburton. CEA is both a charitable trust and a business and we value its ability to attract funding from multiple providers and to connect the various services and funding streams with those who need it most. This results in better outcomes and warmer, healthier homes for our Canterbury communities. CEA’s team is committed and knowledgeable. They provide a full home energy check for our customers and provide the right advice and funding recommendations.

Karen UptonEnvironment Canterbury