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

Picture this: you log into your energy provider’s app, answer a few simple questions, and instantly get a personalised energy upgrade plan that shows you how to save thousands off your annual energy bill. You see that adding solar and a heat pump will pay for itself in seven years. In the click of a button, you’re offered a deal from a local supplier with verified reviews and a finance option that fits your budget. 

You don’t need to spend hours doing your own research, you don’t need to find and compare five different quotes, you simply verify some basic information about your home and vehicle and Cogo takes care of the rest. 

Now, multiply that by 100,000 households across the same region, and you’ve got real impact. Healthier homes. Increased economic activity. And lower emissions, too.

The era of passive support is over; customers want real help, and they want it now. This is the kind of future Cogo is building with partners like ASB, who are ready to lead the way. 

We recently partnered with ASB to launch the Better Energy Calculator, an easy-to-use online tool that helps households estimate how much they could save by switching to electric appliances, heating, or vehicles. The calculator is available to all Kiwi via the ASB website and is already helping users understand and act on their energy opportunities.

“We’re thrilled to be leading the way by providing this tool to our customers and to all Kiwi," says David Jackson, ASB’s Lend and Protect Tribe Lead.

ASB customers can also access exclusive installer discounts and borrow up to $80,000 at 1% interest for three years through the Better Homes Top Up. It’s a powerful combination of personalised advice and accessible finance, and it's already creating real momentum.

Wallet and planet are finally aligned 

There’s been a fundamental shift from climate action being the ‘right thing to do’ to it being the smartest economic decision you can make as a corporation, an SME or a homeowner. This is because efficiency has levelled up. New electric appliances and systems are now three to five times more efficient than their fossil-fuel equivalents. We’re no longer talking about marginal gains from turning off lights or taking fewer showers; we’re talking about meaningful, measurable savings. 

Cogo’s Home & Vehicle Electrification solution combines user inputs, house data and a country-specific energy consumption model to generate tailored insights, recommendations and upgrade options for each household. No jargon. No guesswork. Just actionable, personalised steps, backed by data and connected to suppliers and financing options. 

This guided experience turns confusion into clarity within minutes, including:

• A dynamic snapshot of your home’s potential energy savings
  
• Personalised upgrade scenarios that show cost vs. savings over time, i.e. the payback on investing in upgrades now
  
• Specific suggestions like solar panels, heat pump installation, EVs, insulation upgrades or hot water system changes
  
• Clear cost breakdowns and energy savings estimates
  
• Embedded connections to local suppliers, verified installers and financing options

This is the kind of digital infrastructure that makes electrification accessible, trusted and scalable.

Why it matters for banks, councils, providers and insurers

This solution isn’t just a win for households; it’s a strategic lever for organisations that want to stay relevant, deliver value and meet evolving mandates.

• Energy retailers can deepen engagement and move from billers to trusted energy advisors at a time when differentiation against competition matters more than ever.
  
• Councils can support residents struggling with costs while also meeting climate targets without building new internal tools.
  
• Insurers can enhance customer stickiness and gain new visibility into home risk profiles while supporting safer, future-ready properties.

All of this can be achieved without a massive investment in new infrastructure or long development cycles. Cogo’s electrification solution is ready to implement, off-the-shelf and can be custom-branded and integrated into an existing digital experience.

The bottom line is the bottom line

We’re no longer talking about theoretical savings or abstract climate targets. This is real money, real change and real help delivered with speed and scalability. 

With Cogo’s electrification solution, the equation is simple:

Lower bills + empowered customers = a stronger, smarter business

If you're a bank, an energy retailer, a council supporting local resilience or an insurer looking to stay ahead of customer needs, now’s the time to act because in today’s world, helping people make smart energy choices isn’t just good ethics. It’s good economics.