British engineer Dr Malcolm McCulloch, University of
Otago's William Evans Fellow, works on marrying technology
with the way people live to save energy. Photo by Peter
McIntosh.
He is an engineer visiting a university with no
engineering department. While it might surprise and perplex his
colleagues, Dr Malcolm McCulloch is finding the experience
invaluable in his understanding of how technical, social and
economic issues can be brought together to find effective
energy solutions.
"It has sowed the seeds of a richer understanding."
Dr McCulloch, Oxford University's engineering and science
department's Electrical Power Group head, is visiting Dunedin
on a six-week William Evans Fellowship based at University of
Otago's Centre for Sustainability.
He describes his interests as learning how technology could
be used effectively, taking people into account by "playing
to their strengths and supporting their weaknesses".
"For me, technology on its own is never going to solve the
problem. You've got to have people involved."
He had met the Dunedin City Council to discuss energy issues
and believed it was quite "progressive" in its thinking
compared with other councils he had spoken to
internationally.
"My concern is that they don't make rash decisions to sell
off assets ... they may regret it long-term and they could
deliver a lot of value to the council and the whole community
... if utilised effectively."
New Zealand and "in particular here" faced two big
challenges, home insulation levels and transport, he said.
"You have to work with people to find low-cost, easier
solutions for everybody."
The country had a "blind spot" when it came to transport. The
average age of the New Zealand vehicle fleet was 12 years,
compared with the United Kingdom's six, but on the "flip
side" the country had good energy supplies from hydro and
geothermal, he said.
At both a local and national level, it was important to look
for long-term "resilient solutions" which would protect
capital, social and environmental assets for future
generations.
"We need to make sure we do not completely screw it up for
them."
Dr McCulloch, who was also helping the Maldives work towards
becoming carbon-neutral, will speak about the challenges of a
low-carbon society at the St David Lecture Theatre at 5.15pm
today.
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