People power

Flick Electric’s world-first Choice app calculates for customers the carbon impact of their electricity on a weekly basis. Many New Zealanders have assumed because they are with a company that generates electricity from renewables, that they’re using cleaner electricity at their house, says Flick CEO Steve O’Connor. “The truth is, our national power supply is like a pot of vegetable soup. You get a mix of whatever is in the pot when you take your serving. The only way to reduce your carbon impact is to know how much carbon is being created and make a decision to use electricity, or not, on that basis.” The Choice app provides live updates about the carbon impact of New Zealand’s electricity use, and sends alerts so consumers know when to switch things on and off. Flick has also partnered with charity Trees That Count – donations paid by customers to offset their emissions are used to plant native trees, providing a way for customers on the grid to exercise true control over their carbon footprint. Read more on page 51 and good.net.nz/flick-electric