New Education Programme Designed to Transform Construction

New Education Programme Designed to Transform Construction Sector

The creation of buildings that are net zero (energy, water and waste), built from non-toxic, locally sourced materials and that are beautiful and inspiring is the goal of a new education programme for all construction professionals.

Living Built Environments is provided through the Centre for Sustainable Practice in partnership
with the International Living Future Institute, New Zealand Green Building Council and the Natural Step. Specifically designed to dramatically raise the bar for New Zealand construction practice, the course is also supported by AUT and UNITEC.

Presenter Jerome Partington is well qualified to lead the programme. He has trained & worked in sustainable architecture and education for twenty five years, building a strong practical construction and eco technology expertise. Partington was recently awarded the Living Building Challenge Hero award by the International Living Futures Institute for Inspiring Leadership in NZ at its recent Seattle conference: Living Futures 13.

The course addresses the stretch goals of the Living Building Challenge international standard.  It considers the practical integrated design & procurement processes that deliver these goals.  Students will practice implementation from their own professional experience as well as learn the theory.

“The Living Building Challenge is an award winning internationally recognised philosophy, advocacy and performance certification tool,” says Partington. “The Challenge has been effective world-wide with commercial, civic and educational projects now complete. Building codes have been changed as a result of the Challenge standards and manufacturers products reformulated to remove toxic ingredients.”

The Centre for Sustainable Practice’s vision is to kick start this restorative transformation in New Zealand. Centre for Sustainable Practice programme director Steve Henry expects the course to attract the country’s best.

“People will soon demand built environments of this quality and associated level of social, sustainable and environmental responsibility. The green building movement is a critical partner in the global effort towards high quality, restorative lifestyles.  “This programme views building through a wide lens that considers the people who will inhabit the built environment as well as the short and long term impacts of construction,” said Henry.

ENDS

© Scoop Media