How Wakatipu residents can earn qualifications for their efforts in building sustainable practice in the workplace will be revealed at the community update on the Queenstown Lakes Sustainable Business Programme today.
The programme is run by the Otago Polytechnic Centre for Sustainable Practice and has more than 40 business participants completing a range of actions from implementing biodiesel and energy efficiency to integrated planning.
The initiative, set up in March this year, provided New Zealand's first community biodiesel refuelling facility.
A total of 15 Queenstown businesses have signed up for the 12-month pilot programme and are now running a total of 48 vehicles on 20% biodiesel mixed with diesel (B20).
The companies include Kiwi Discovery and Queenstown Rafting, with 25 buses, Nomad Safaris Ziptrek Ecotours, Dart River Jet Safaris, Shotover Jet and Appellation Wine Tours.
Kiwi Discovery and Queenstown Rafting general manager Tim Barke said in a statement his company was one of the first to sign up to the programme.
"Initially, we were concerned about how the biodiesel could handle winter temperatures, so we started with just two vehicles.
"We now run 25 vehicles with no significant changes in performance, fuel usage or maintenance. Biodiesel has been severely tested on some extremely cold, subzero days without any issue."
The Queenstown Sustainable Business update takes place at the Queenstown Lakes District Council Chambers from 3pm to 4.30pm.
