Sustainable Building Cluster Launched

8 July 2005

Sustainable Building Cluster Launched

Let the collaboration begin! The 80 something guests from property developers, top architect firms, product suppliers, building experts, local and regional government were welcomed in style to the Matisse showrooms in Parnell by the Minister for Building & Housing – Hon Chris Carter and His Worship the Mayor of Auckland, Mr Dick Hubbard.

The Sustainable Building Cluster (SBC) is a new initiative from the Sustainable Business Network. Its aim is to drive change and create the demand for more sustainable design and products within the New Zealand Building Sector.

Minister Chris Cater emphasised the importance of industry initiatives like the SBC to lead the way in enabling sectors to look at the benefit and advantages of a more sustainable approach.

Jane Henley, Manager of the SBC said “The drivers for change range from NZ’s commitment to Kyoto, introduction of sustainability to the Building Code, corporate social responsibility agendas and the introduction of a Building Rating Tool to NZ in the next 12 months”. Henley mentions that this is a business driven initiative and that many key industry representatives are starting to see that looking at reducing environmental impacts and increasing efficiencies in the building process is not just a good thing to do but makes economic sense.

His Worship the Mayor of Auckland, Mr Dick Hubbard, and founding chairman of the Sustainable Business Network said “it is great to see so many business here looking at the solutions for sustainable development; we have come a long way over the past 10 years not having to discuss the WHY but focusing on the how.

The Sustainable Building Cluster will be providing a range of educational opportunities and will act as a central point for information about sustainable building activity in New Zealand.

Henley states “We take a very collaborative approach and are working in partnership with the Interim Green Building Council of NZ. We encourage people to get involved for a number of different reasons. Many of the businesses involved in this innovative cluster want to be leading the way in providing sustainable building solutions to the NZ market”

For more information see www.sustainable.org.nz/building

ENDS

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