Hamilton eco-classroom a finalist in Green Ribbon

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Hamilton eco-classroom a finalist in Green Ribbon Awards

A Hamilton primary school’s eco-friendly classroom has reached the finals of the Green Ribbon Awards, sponsored by the Ministry of the Environment.

Hukanui School’s ‘Living Room’ is entered in the category Community Action for the Environment: Young People, one of 12 categories in this year’s awards. The winners will be announced on Thursday [June 3] at a ceremony in Wellington which all finalists will attend.

The Living Room was opened at the end of last year and has an ecological footprint half the size of a normal classroom.

Researched, designed and built with input from the students at every stage of the way, the classroom utilises sustainably-harvested timber, and has unique underfloor insulation made from old wine bottles.

The classroom makes full use of natural light and ventilation, and has double-glazing and pergolas on the west and north sides. There’s also a wall of mud bricks made by the students themselves using local materials.

“It's an honour to be a finalist,” said Year 6 student Nina Paripovich. “Everyone will see that this is a student-led project for environmental change. I like how I'm involved in all these fun environmental activities.”

Hukanui’s enviro teacher and Living Room champion Michelle White says credit should go to the school and its community which over the past five years has willingly taken on the challenge of developing learning opportunities in a real life context.

“We’re thrilled to be selected for the prestigious Green Ribbon Award for innovative teaching, learning and community partnerships resulting in environmental change,” she said.

“It provides us and our students with valued recognition of their research, problems solving, creativity and determination to see the project through. We hope that this student-led project will encourage and inspire other schools to explore their own sustainable journey.”

http://www.mfe.govt.nz/withyou/awards/green-ribbon.html
http://www.wwf.org.nz/what_we_do/education/inspiring_schools/hukanui_primary_school/

ENDS

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