Generating electricity like growing veges

AS solar panels multiply, many people will no longer view electricity as yet another bill to be paid, but as a homegrown ‘‘vegetable’’ to be shared, an academic believes.

University of Otago Associate Prof Janet Stephenson discussed ‘‘electricity as a vegetable’’ as part of a wideranging keynote address at this year’s Eco Design Advisor Conference, in Auckland.

The conference, focusing on ‘‘Housing Fit for Our Future’’, was to have been held in central Auckland. However, it had to be shifted elsewhere in the city because of the smoke and disruption generated by the fire at the Sky City Convention Centre.

Prof Stephenson, who directs the university’s Centre for Innovation, discussed ‘‘Climate change, energy and housing — what’s the state of play in NZ’’ on Thursday.

The conference was opened that day by Energy and Resources Minister Megan Woods, and continued yesterday.

Prof Stephenson said the country’s future housing stock faced several major challenges in the future, including the threats posed by coastal flooding and erosion, partly arising from rising sea levels.

Having houses that were readily relocatable could be a sensible precaution for some locations in future.

Houses also faced rising challenges from predicted climate change and more extreme local weather events, including storms, and higher potential fire risks.

Nevertheless, smart housing changes and initiatives involving energy use, if handled wisely, could contribute to wider positive changes.

Given the growing popularity of solar panels, as well as greater homegeneration of electricity, and the rising trend towards electric vehicles, it was notable that housing, transport and energy were moving together in a positive way.

People were charging the battery of their electric vehicles at home.

Whereas householders once thought of electricity as a bill that must reluctantly be paid, the ability to generate electricity now made the situation more like a person growing vegetables in his or her own garden.

‘‘You produce it on your own roof,’’ she added.

When there was a surplus of generation, they could sell to, or share with, neighbours and other members of the community, as was the case at Waitati with the Blueskin Energy Network, she said.

‘‘Everybody wins,’’ she said. ‘‘It’s about locals supporting each other.’’