$250,000 for a Sustainable Future

Otago Polytechnic Media Release
For immediate release: 24 May 2007

$250,000 for a Sustainable Future

The $250,000 awarded to Otago Polytechnic by the Ministry of the Environment for the development of a national tertiary challenge will go a long way towards raising awareness of sustainable lifestyle choices in New Zealand, according to Alistair Regan, the Polytechnic’s Group Manager for Creative Technologies, Science and Technology.

The Polytechnic has committted to initiating and running a Sustainable Habitat Challenge which will task universities and polytechnics with the design and build of self-sustaining houses (and their interiors, content) powered by renewable energy sources.

Cross-discipline student teams will be required to design practical and innovative solutions that address the challenges of sustainable living including waste minimisation, energy efficiency and low carbon emmissions.

They will then have to disseminate their designs through public awareness campaigns culminating in a symposium in Dunedin where all groups will present their projects and awards will be made.

“New Zealand is trailing the world in taking affirmative action to adress our needs for sustainable ways of living and working,” explains Regan. “The aim of this challenge is to get tertiary students to work together in a real world scenario and engage our communities in the need to make market choices and lifestyle changes that reduce our carbon footprint”

“Although competitive in nature, the aim of the challenge is to discover and share ideas and information about the sustainable lifestyle choices available to us as a nation.”

The $250,000, awarded through the MoE’s 2007 Sustainable Management Fund, is intended to develop the Challenge for launch.

A project manager will be hired and working party assembled to oversee the development of the initial project including entry criteria and forging partnerships within the building and sustainability management sectors.

Otago Polytechnic has initiated the Generation-Energy Challenge’ as part of their commitment to developing themselves as a sustainable organisation and providing leadership in sustainable education and training in New Zealand into the future.

ENDS

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