ild Energy Green Design Challenge Attracts New Zealand’s Energy Experts as Judges.
Have you got a half finished green design project in your back yard? Perhaps you have a fully functioning power saving
invention already supplying your household with sustainable power? Maybe there’s a green design on your mind, waiting to
be constructed. Wild Energy – the green power design challenge – may be just the incentive you need to help your take
your ideas from dreams into an exciting reality and organisers are encouraging you to enter as soon as possible.
The Kiwi good news website www.happyzine.co.nz launched Wild Energy in October 2010, and it will run through summer until January 31st, 2011. The purpose of Wild
Energy is to highlight the creative and highly viable power generation and conservation ideas that already exist, though
may not be so widely known about. In showcasing these options, organisers Editor Charlotte Squire and Sustainability
Consultant David Laing hope to inspire officials and communities to leave New Zealand’s ancient, wild rivers intact,
rather than damming them to generate power.
Says Squire:
“While hydro-power has its benefits, I would rather see our beautiful wild rivers and valleys (and the internationally
significant species living within them) remain as they are. It can be fun dreaming up fresh, green ways to do this!
Every day I see new sustainable design ideas online that amaze me. Wild Energy is an invitation to the designers and
inventors of this world to share their ideas about green energy, so that we in New Zealand, and others facing similar
energy demand issues world-wide can face this challenge from a fresh, inspired perspective.”
Wild Energy has the backing of several of New Zealand’s most respected sustainable energy experts including Jeanette
Fitzsimons (who has recently retired from her long held position as co-Leader of the NZ Green Party), Tim Wigmore (a
Wellington based designer), Steve Goldthorpe (a Waipu based energy analyst), Chris Heaslip (an Invercargill based
engineer) and Geoff Henderson (CEO of Windflow Technology Ltd and recognised global wind energy expert). Each of these
people have agreed to be Wild Energy judges.
Says Steve Goldthorpe: “I will be looking for ideas that help us to meet our needs and inspire us to change the way we
value energy, whilst learning to live within physical limits – with the financing looking after itself as a secondary
issue.”
Participants will have the chance to share their work with some of New Zealand’s political leaders too. A panel of
politicians have agreed to choose and comment upon their favorite three designs. They are: National MP Nicky Wagner,
Labour MP Charles Chauvel and Green Party MP Kevin Hague.
The winner of Wild Energy will receive the inaugural Wild Energy trophy and spot prizes, such as an eco-friendly holiday
in Golden Bay at the Sandcastle, clothes from Mariposa, and products from Ecostore, will be handed out to participants.
“We’ve already received one inspiring entry from a company called Power House Wind. They told us about the benefits of
running personal wind turbines. So who’s next? We want your green design ideas now!”
For more information about Wild Energy check out: http://happyzine.co.nz/2010/10/18/happyzine-announces-the-launch-of-wild-energy-the-green-energy-design-competition/
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Sustained Consulting – for organisations that are serious about sustainability
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ENDS