Company to tackle NZ's transport energy dependence

A new company was formed in Mt. Maunganui today (16th of November) to specifically tackle New Zealand's transport energy dependence and transport related carbon dioxide problems. The company, Urban Step - urbanstep.co.nz, plans to work closely with the Opus Tauranga office to deliver specific technical GIS tools and policy advice to local authorities wishing to control the energy intensive suburban and urban development typical of New Zealand cities.

The main GIS tool devoted to the energy reduction task, is called the Transport Energy Specification (TES) which will be described in the second edition of the Ministry for the Environment's "urban design toolkit". This tool was developed by Michael Saunders, founder of Urban Step, during his doctorate studies in bio-fuel friendly Brazil, at the University of Sao Paulo. It is hoped that application of this, or other similar tools, can help New Zealand to progress towards a future less reliant on oil and maintain its image as a green nation, countering food miles and other such environmental arguments.

ENDS

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