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Our blog is where knowledge meets purpose. Dive into practical guides on home energy and electrification, catch up on our latest partnerships and milestones, and explore the bigger sustainability picture we're all part of.

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New Zealand

Home energy

Solar and the 2026 election: what each party is offering, and what to check before you sign

Four parties go into the 7 November election with a plan to help households pay for solar, mostly through low-interest loans repaid on your rates. Here is what National, Labour, the Greens and Opportunity are each offering, where Act stands, and what the plans have in common. None of it exists yet, and whoever wins, you'll still be choosing the installer, so we've included EECA's checklist for quotes and warranties too.

4.10.26
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6
 min read.
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New Zealand

Home energy

Electric vehicles

Petrol is $3.40 a litre. Here is what charging an EV at home actually costs.

Petrol is averaging around $3.40 a litre and the AA can't see it falling. On EECA's figures at 2024 prices, 100km in a petrol car cost about $19, the same as an EV at a public fast charger, while charging that EV at home off-peak cost about $11, road user charges included. So the saving from an EV is real, but it lives almost entirely in your driveway. Here is what the numbers show, what they leave out, and the one question to answer before you buy.

28.9.26
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5
 min read.
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Home energy

New Zealand

Your power bill is about to drop. Here is what to do with the next six months.

The clocks go forward at 2am on Sunday 27 September, and your power bill starts falling. Most of that drop is the heating going off rather than the house getting better, and it hides the part of the bill that never takes a summer break. Here is what actually changes, the free things EECA reckons are worth doing this week, what New Zealanders are really asking us to fix, and a six-month plan that gets the work done while installers still have capacity.

21.9.26
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6
 min read.
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Home energy

Australia

Is a home battery worth it? An honest look for Australian homes in 2026

More than half a million Australian households have now applied for the federal battery rebate, and rooftop solar just set a fresh quarterly record. So batteries are clearly having a moment. But a battery is a big spend, and it is not automatically worth it for every home. Whether it pays off comes down to your solar, your evening power use, and the gap between your day and peak tariff rates. Here is a plain-English look at when a battery makes sense, when it does not yet, and how to work out your own numbers.

15.9.26
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6
 min read.
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Home energy

New Zealand

Should you replace gas hot water with a heat pump?

Methanex, which uses 40% of New Zealand's gas, will idle its plant in early 2027 because domestic supply is declining. The catch for households is that gas is not expected to get cheaper as a result, because the pipeline network's costs are fixed. Here is what a hot water heat pump actually is, the two types and how to choose between them, what EECA says it costs and saves against gas and electric, and why the decision is worth making before your current system fails.

14.9.26
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7
 min read.
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Home energy

New Zealand

Is solar worth it in New Zealand in 2026?

Every major party is now promising to help New Zealanders with the upfront cost of rooftop solar, and that is the one thing they agree on. The maths already works for a lot of houses: EECA puts a 5 kW system at about $11,500 installed, saving $1,000 or more a year, a 7 to 10 year payback on panels warranted for 25. Here is what it costs, what it saves, what else in the house changes the answer, and what Kiwis are actually asking installers for.

7.9.26
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7
 min read.
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Home energy

Electric vehicles

New Zealand

Can you get an EV through your employer in New Zealand?

Australians on ordinary salaries drive new EVs because of novated leasing, where the car comes out of pre-tax pay and the usual fringe benefit tax does not apply. New Zealand has a lower FBT rate on employer-provided EVs coming in April 2027, but nothing like the Australian exemption. Here is what the difference actually means for the car you end up with, and what you can do about it now without waiting for a policy change.

31.8.26
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6
 min read.
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Home energy

New Zealand

How much can you save by going all-electric in New Zealand?

Across the New Zealand households using Cogo, the average home could save around $3,000 a year off its power bill by making the electric upgrades they are already considering. That figure is the house alone, and does not include anything you would save on petrol by switching the car. Here is where the saving actually comes from, what to do first, and why it does not have to happen all at once.

24.8.26
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6
 min read.
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Home energy

New Zealand

Hot water is about a third of your power bill. Here's how to cut it.

Hot water is about 30% of the average New Zealand household's energy use, which makes it the biggest chunk of most power bills, yet it's often not thought about. Here's four ways to cut costs, starting with the cheapest: change when the cylinder heats, insulate the cylinder and its pipes, replace it with a hot water heat pump, or divert your own solar into it. One thing you shouldn't do is turn down the cylinder temperature.

17.8.26
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8
 min read.
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Home energy

New Zealand

Do you need a battery to make solar worth it in New Zealand?

Do you actually need a battery to make solar pay? Not necessarily. Panels earn their keep on the power you use while the sun is up, so if someone is home in the daytime, or the hot water and the appliances can be shifted into the middle of it, panels alone stack up. A battery is a second, separate decision, and it is really about your evenings. We run the numbers on both, using MBIE's model household, and set out which one fits which house.

7.8.26
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8
 min read.
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Home energy

Electric vehicles

New Zealand

Is a second-hand EV worth it in NZ in 2026?

Petrol prices this winter are climbing towards $3.50 a litre, and thousands of Kiwi households have responded by going electric. But do the numbers still stack up now that EVs pay road user charges? We ran the honest maths: charging at home works out at the equivalent of about $1.60 a litre with RUC included, worth roughly $1,150 to $1,800 a year for a typical household. And you don't need a new car to get those savings. Each one of the 10 EVs most saved by Cogo users is second-hand, with the used BYD Atto 3 leading the pack.

20.7.26
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4
 min read.
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New Zealand

How do I electrify my home in New Zealand? A step-by-step guide

Electrifying your home in NZ means swapping fossil-fuel appliances and petrol cars for efficient electric alternatives — heat pumps, solar, EVs and more. Here's the order to do it in, what it costs, and how much you'll save.

20.7.26
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6
 min read.
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Home energy

How the Warm Homes Plan puts banks back at the centre of the home energy transition

For climate and lending teams, the Warm Homes Plan represents the market intervention we've been waiting for. Government-backed low-interest loans finally make retrofit financially viable for the millions of so called "able-to-pay" homeowners who've sat on the sidelines. The banks that crack the customer journey now will own this market as it scales beyond initial subsidies into a self-sustaining opportunity.

29.1.26
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 min read.
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Home energy

Join Cogo’s Retrofit Platform Pilot: Solving the challenge of home energy retrofits

Home energy retrofits are essential to the UK’s net zero journey, but progress remains slow. The solutions exist - from insulation to electrification - yet homeowners face financial and practical barriers to action. Through Cogo’s Retrofit Platform Pilot, we’re inviting banks and building societies to explore how partnership, innovation, and green finance can accelerate adoption. This is a unique opportunity to co-create new models that help households act - and position lenders at the heart of the home energy transition.

4.11.25
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 min read.
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Home energy

How banks can accelerate the home energy transition through green mortgages

Residential buildings are responsible for nearly a fifth of global emissions. Decarbonising housing is therefore one of the biggest climate challenges we face. The technologies to cut household emissions already exist, from heat pumps and solar panels to insulation and energy-efficient appliances. The real challenge lies in enabling households to overcome the financial and practical barriers to adoption. This is where banks have a unique opportunity to step in.

12.9.25
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2
 min read.
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Home energy

Why helping customers electrify is a growth opportunity for energy retailers

The global shift to a low-carbon economy is transforming the energy market. For energy retailers, this shift brings both pressure and possibility. In this blog, we explore why supporting customers to electrify their homes and transport is both a climate necessity and a commercial growth strategy.

19.8.25
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 min read.
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Home energy

Saving energy, saving money: Why smart enterprises are backing smarter homes and vehicles

Electrification, once a costly aspiration, is now a realistic and often money-saving pathway for millions of households.

18.7.25
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3
 min read.
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News

Home energy

New Zealand

ASB and Cogo launch online energy calculator to help customers save thousands a year by switching to electric

ASB has partnered with global carbon management fintech Cogo to launch a new online calculator which enables Kiwi to measure, understand and optimise the efficiency of their home and vehicle, helping to lower costs, while making their homes more sustainable.

7.7.25
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2
 min read.
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Green banking

Rethinking how banks integrate green solutions

Banks are investing in green tools, but many are struggling to convert interest into engagement. This blog explores how integrating sustainability into the core customer journey can help banks achieve greater impact and value.

29.5.25
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3
 min read.
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Home energy

How banks can reduce mortgage portfolio carbon risk through engagement

The global mortgage market is huge and comes with an equally significant carbon footprint. Banks have the data, tools and influence needed to reduce financed emissions and drive meaningful change. Keep reading to find out how…

21.3.25
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2
 min read.
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Cogo in action

Engage for Change Series: Hugh Montgomery on breaking the cycle of climate inaction

In this conversation with Hugh Montgomery—Professor at UCL, Scientist, Clinician, Author, and Co-Founder of Real Zero—he warns us that we’re running out of time to act on climate change. Hugh shares the barriers getting in the way of climate progress and offers a hopeful solution. Hint: it starts with us.

5.12.24
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3
 min read.
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Cogo in action

Engage for Change Series: Ravi Vekaria on empowering climate action through education

Can education empower climate action? In this episode of our Engage for Change Series, Ravi Vekaria, Digital and Tech Sector Coordinator at The Carbon Literacy Project, explains how knowledge can drive sustainable choices, foster innovation, and inspire collective action.

26.11.24
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2
 min read.
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Cogo in action

Engage for Change Series: Mike Barry on leading sustainable business transformation

As part of our Engage for Change Series for COP29, we spoke with sustainability business leader Mike Barry to uncover how businesses can move beyond incremental changes to drive meaningful transformation. Mike shares actionable insights on embedding sustainability into operations, the traits of effective leaders, and the role of global collaboration through COP.

21.11.24
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3
 min read.
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Cogo in action

Home energy

Engage for Change Series: Mike Berners-Lee on harnessing carbon data for climate action

As part of our Engage for Change Series for COP29, we spoke with sustainability expert Mike Berners-Lee on how carbon data and transparency can help mobilise individuals, businesses and governments for impactful climate action. Read on to discover his insights.

12.11.24
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3
 min read.
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Home energy

Green banking

How banks can use data to accelerate the home energy transition

Financial institutions are key to accelerating the home energy transition. This blog explores how banks can leverage data-driven solutions to make sustainable home upgrades more accessible, while also meeting regulatory requirements and seizing new commercial opportunities.

21.10.24
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3
 min read.
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News

ING Nederland makes carbon footprint insight available to all customers

17th June 2024: All private customers can see the CO2 emissions of their expenses in the ING Mobile Banking App. ING does this in collaboration with carbon footprint management experts, Cogo. Through the Footprint Insight functionality, customers can see the impact of their spending on the climate. In addition to insight into their CO2 emissions, customers also receive tips to reduce their emissions and a comparison is made with the average CO2 emissions of the Dutch. For the roll-out to all customers, ING has improved both accessibility and comprehensibility. The customer's footprint is now easier to find, with the customer's spend and related footprint information shown together in the ING App.

18.6.24
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2
 min read.
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News

Our partnership with OTP reaches new heights: 600,000 visits to the carbon tracker and counting

16th May 2024: OTP customers are showing just how keen they are to measure their carbon footprint with over 600,000 visits to the bank’s carbon tracker in its first six months. The opt-in feature is powered by the green fintech, Cogo’s, carbon footprint methodology which is seamlessly integrated into the banking experience.

9.5.24
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 min read.
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Green banking

What’s driving the next generation of consumers?

Gen Z, labelled the ‘most disruptive generation ever’, is reshaping the consumer landscape. Banks need to rethink their engagement strategies to attract and retain this generation. This blog explores what drives Gen Z’s financial behaviour and outlines steps banks can take to meet their evolving expectations.

19.4.24
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 min read.
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Green banking

The power of embedded green finance

Banks recognise the need to align their offerings with growing consumer demand for sustainability. But despite efforts, many struggle to effectively embed green products and services into their offerings, hindered by outdated systems and a lack of customer data.

5.3.24
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2
 min read.
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Home energy

How banks can help customers improve energy efficiency

The recent World Climate Action Summit at COP28 marked a pivotal moment as 121 countries committed to the Global Pledge on Renewables and Energy Efficiency. This pledge aims to triple renewable energy capacity and double the rate of energy efficiency improvements by 2030. Now, the focus turns to how to achieve these ambitious targets.

8.12.23
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2
 min read.
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Green banking

The crucial link between financial and planetary health

Climate health and financial well-being are linked on both a global and personal level. This blog explores how climate change affects vulnerable communities and economies and the role financial institutions play in mitigating the impact. We also dive into banks' role in empowering individuals to reduce their carbon footprint and consequently improve their financial well-being.

2.12.23
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 min read.
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News

Cogo announced ‘Exporter of the year’ at the ExportNZ ASB Wellington Export Awards

Carbon footprint management fintech Cogo, which works with banks to help customers measure, understand and reduce their carbon impact, has announced that it’s won in the Exporter of the year category at the ExportNZ ASB Wellington Export Awards.

9.6.23
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Cogo in action

Cogo in action: Putting our values on show at Money20/20

Our mission at Cogo is to empower hundreds of millions of individuals and businesses to measure, understand and reduce their impact on the environment. We’re attending Money20/20 Amsterdam to spread this message and inspire the banking industry to take climate action. Discover how we plan to tell our story through our sustainable stand design.

2.6.23
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3
 min read.
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News

UK

10% increase in NatWest customers using Cogo data to manage their carbon footprint

20th February 2023 – The number of NatWest customers accessing Cogo’s carbon impact data through their banking app has increased by 10%, according to the NatWest 2022 annual report. The number today stands at 334,500 active users – up from 300,000 in just six months.

28.2.23
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2
 min read.
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Green banking

Key takeaways from our webinar: How banks can play a more urgent role in the transition to net zero

Following COP27, we gathered leading sustainability experts to discuss how banks can play a more urgent role in the climate transition. Keep reading to discover some of the key insights from the conversation between Gary Kendall, Head of Climate Strategy Implementation at Natwest, Paul Watchman, Special Legal Adviser for UNEP, Jonathan Ward, Senior Carbon Impact Manager at Cogo and Madhvi Mavadiya, Head of Content at Finextra.

7.12.22
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3
 min read.
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Cogo in action

Home energy

Cogo in Action: Switching to an Electric Vehicle (EV)

At Cogo, we’re united by our mission to create a fairer and more sustainable world. We’re a passionate group of people who believe in the power of collective action. And we are driven to empower and inspire everyone to be more sustainable. So, we’re starting a series where our team shares some of the changes they are making to reduce their carbon footprint, however big or small. Plus, tips on how you can too.

12.7.22
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7
 min read.
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News

Cogo joins Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on her trade delegation to Australia

Cogo announces it is taking part in Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s trade delegation to Australia as part of a group of companies undergoing expansion into the region.

30.6.22
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4
 min read.
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News

Cogo to join Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s upcoming trade delegation to Singapore and Japan 

Carbon footprint tracking expert Cogo will join Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s upcoming trade delegation to Singapore and Japan from 18-25 April as part of a group of companies undergoing expansion into these two regions.

11.4.22
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3
 min read.
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Cogo in action

How we’re breaking gender bias at Cogo

The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is #BreakTheBias. The aim is to raise awareness about gender biases, stereotypes and discrimination. And inspire people to fight for equality.

9.3.22
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4
 min read.
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News

New Zealand

Climate Action Innovator Award Winners!

We’re excited to be recognised for the work we’re doing by the Sustainable Business Network. The recognition is a huge tribute to the collective effort of millions of people who trust Cogo to help them make meaningful changes to their everyday lives for a better tomorrow.

25.11.21
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3
 min read.
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