Proudly Local For 30 Years 1995 – 2025
Proudly Local for 30 Years 1995 to 2025
2025 marks 30 years since Gavin Lowe Energy first opened its doors to the people of Christchurch. From humble beginnings to a thriving multi-branch, multi-discipline operation, the company remains a true local success story – one built on honest advice, technical excellence, and a strong team culture.
Where It All Began
The story began when Gavin Lowe retired from a long career in refrigeration and air conditioning at the age of 60, then the official retirement age. That didn’t last long. “As it turned out, retirement didn’t really suit Gavin; he was bored.” says his daughter Karen.
Gavin was quickly sought after by many of his clients, to continue to provide advice and design work for them and so he decided he had better make it official and in 1995 the business Gavin Lowe Air Conditioning Ltd was born.
Over the next few years the business grew and grew, this was a time when heat pumps were becoming popular for residential use and Gavin’s business philosophy of ‘good honest advice first’ in a market that didn’t really know much about heat pumps at that time, transformed the one time post-retirement consultancy business into the thriving and trusted complete solution business it is now.
Karen Lowe and Gavin Lowe (middle) with Australasia director, Bob Woodhouse (right), opening of Gavin Lowe Energy’s new premises post earthquakes in 2014
Around the time after the Canterbury earthquakes, as Gavin was looking to retire for a second time at age 80, daughter Karen was passed the baton. Broadening the scope of the business now known as Gavin Lowe Energy, providing full service and maintenance support, ventilation, hydronic underfloor hot water and complex air conditioning solutions, significantly expanding into commercial and architectural markets as well as being faithful to residential customers where it all started, this local business now serves the wider South Island and employs a team of 40.
Looking Ahead To The Future
Today, a strong leadership team is helping shape the next 30 years. Operations Manager Mike Lock, Commercial Manager Lee Todd, and Design Manager Aaron Hawes are now company shareholders, bringing their own expertise and vision to the business. Ongoing training, mentorship, and a commitment to at least five apprentices at any time ensure Gavin’s legacy of growing talent remains at the company’s core. “This is part of Gavin’s ethos, too” says Karen.
Mike Lock (Operations Manager), Lee Todd (Commercial Manager) and James Grainger (Timaru Branch Manager)
“We talk about his values, his work ethic right back in the 1950s, and it’s still the same today, it’s a simple code – provide honest advice, do good work, and care about people. And we are mindful of this, not just because it makes good business sense, but also because they are Gavin Lowe’s values, and we respect and honour him.”
Expansion
Gavin Lowe Electrical was launched five years ago, recognising the need for integrated electrical services that complemented the company’s energy-efficient solutions. From EV chargers to solar power and LED lighting, the electrical division now operates as a successful business in its own right.
Expansion also saw the company establish a permanent presence in South Canterbury. After working in the region around Timaru for years, a decision was made to go local. In April 2023, Gavin Lowe Energy Timaru opened its doors, led by long-time team member James Grainger, who also became a part-owner. A new Timaru showroom followed in early 2024. The Christchurch showroom has just been redeveloped, giving customers a hands-on experience with new solutions they may have not even known about.
Aaron Hawes (Design Manager) in the Showroom
Ongoing Legacy
Gavin was a highly respected mentor in the refrigeration and air conditioning industry for many aspiring ‘fridgees’, having himself been mentored in the early stages of his career by industry legend Wallie Askew, followed by 4 years at Alice Hardy Simonton before settling into 30 years at Piersons Refrigeration where Gavin provided a diaspora of talent to the wider industry, including a number of our friendly competitors who can owe their own careers to Gavins knowledge and support in those early days. Gavin was well known for his high standards but also for his encouragement to learn and excel.
The legacy continues in the business which bears his name. “He was so proud of the company it is today, built on his own personal values of honest advice and quality work which we continue to uphold.” says Karen
Karen spoke of her father’s impact on the industry at his funeral when he passed in October 2024. “Dad was a living legend up until last Sunday, and now he is simply a legend. If there were a Hall of Fame for the refrigeration and Air Conditioning industry, he would definitely have been in it.”
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