New competition set to turn students green

20 July 2011

New competition set to turn students green

Student City is on the hunt for 10 teams of four flatmates eager to save their wallets and the world as competitors in Eco Wars.

Inspired by the success of the University of Canterbury’s Eco-my-flat, Eco Wars is the first competition of its kind to hit the Manawatu and organisers say it’s set to take the place by storm.

Student teams, known as platoons, will participate in a series of five workshops over seven weeks in their quest to live more eco-friendly lives and win an impressive array of prizes.

There’s even an incentive for landlords to get behind their tenants, with the best landlord receiving an insulation retrofit and heat pump package to the value of $5,000.

Event coordinator Ryley McGougan of Vision Manawatu described the competition as, “a fun way to raise awareness and educate Manawatu students about the benefits of sustainable living.”

“Students make up a large portion of our region’s population. This exciting Student City initiative encourages those students to live more eco-friendly lifestyles with the added bonus of great prizes”, she said.

Environmental educator Pip Chrystall will run the Eco Wars workshops and, once one workshop is complete, platoons will receive a clue that must be solved to reveal the topic and location of the next.

Each platoon will be provided with a video camera to document their eco adventures and showcase what they have learnt each week on an online blog.

Spot prizes will be handed out along the way and judges will award prizes for People’s Choice, Most Entertaining, Most Innovative and Most Improved during an awards evening, Wednesday October 12.

The overall winner will enjoy a mystery weekend and win an eco energy whiteware package including a fridge-freezer, dishwasher, washing machine and dryer.

Students interested in participating in the competition may enlist online via www.studentcity.net.nz/ecowars. A launch event will be held in The Square, Wednesday August 10, with the first workshop to take place August 17.

ENDS