How trades professionals are responding to emerging energy-efficient technology

Research shows New Zealand’s electricians and plumbers perceive the rate of change in their industry to be increasing steadily, driven in part by customer demand for emerging technologies that improve energy efficiency.

Most are finding it difficult to upskill at the rate required, though they see this as an important part of the job, however long they’ve been doing it.  

Plumbers and electricians see themselves as having most influence over their customers’ choice in appliances when existing appliances require repair or replacement – but they’d love to be involved in the earlier stages of new builds and renovations, as they know they’re trusted advisors. 

Findings 

Electricians and plumbers want to give their customers the best information 

New electric technologies are coming to market more frequently, requiring electricians and plumbers to stay abreast of the latest information. Almost three-quarters of respondents (72%) said business decisions were primarily driven by delivering a great customer experience to secure repeat business. Saving their businesses money was the least important driver of business decision-making (7%).  

Electricians and plumbers know they’re trusted advisors on appliance decisions  

Homeowners are the end-customer in about half of these professionals' jobs. Electricians and plumbers note they tend to have more influence over a product’s brand and model rather than its type, and on upgrades and like-for-like replacements rather than new installations. 

Some professionals (1 in 10) prefer not to offer recommendations, worrying that getting it wrong may result in a damaged reputation. Those who are comfortable with offering recommendations tend to stick to products and brands they’re familiar with (83%).

Evidence of running costs and savings over time was key for more than half of electricians and plumbers (58%) to make recommendations confidently. Plumbers/gasfitters placed even more importance on evidence of appliances’ expected lifespan (62% and 65%, respectively). 

Electricians and plumbers are familiar with induction cooktops, not so much with HEMS.  

Propensity to recommend was fairly evenly balanced across key appliances, with the exception of home energy management systems (HEMS), which only a minority would recommend. Appetite for installation training was highest for solar.    

A HEMS enables centralised control within the home, and allows your smart appliances to work together to maximise overall household efficiency. 

Learn more: Smart homes – the future of home energy management | Gen Less(external link)