Otago Polytechnic and five other metropolitan institutions
have established a sustainable housing network building on
last year's national sustainable housing competition.
The institutions - Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of
Technology, Manukau Institute of Technology (Auckland),
Unitec (Auckland), Wintec (Hamilton), WelTec (Wellington) and
Otago Polytechnic - already operate a collaborative metro
sector group and have put in funds to start the network.
Otago Polytechnic staff member Tim Bishop, who co-ordinated
the Shac '09 competition, will run it.
Otago received Ministry for the Environment funding to run
Shac '09, which encouraged tertiary institutions, architects,
engineers, designers and researchers to design and build
environmentally friendly homes.
The grant was a one-off, but the institutions had decided to
establish the network to continue the relationships and
information-sharing which had begun during the competition,
Mr Bishop said.
"People enjoyed the collaboration across the disciplines and
wanted that to continue."
The only criteria for membership was an interest in "living
well with less reliance on resources", and being prepared to
share ideas with young people, he said.
"Collaboration with young people is a key aim. Polytechnics
are taking the lead in establishing the network because we
train many young builders, engineers and designers. They are
literally [the people] building our future."
It was hoped to hold another sustainable housing competition
which would begin next year.
- allison.rudd@odt.co.nz
A name, residential address, and (preferably residential) telephone number is required from readers who comment on ODT Online. These details will not be visible to site visitors.