What is it all about? It’s no secret that students have a bad rep when it comes to clean, green living. The reality is that eco-living can often cost a lot less and requires creative, innovative approaches to everyday household issues. Tertiary students are an ideal group to lead that creativity, while saving a few bucks for their back pockets as well. 

Lincoln University, LUSA and Christchurch City Council, together with a bunch of other sponsors, have all teamed up to ensure that Christchurch is setting the standard for the rest of New Zealand’s student-living practices. 

How the Competition Works Any Lincoln University student can enter, as long as you are flatting. You don’t need to know a lot about sustainable living, just be willing to rise to the challenge.

To sign up, fill in the online registration form from 1 July. Registrations are FREE and close 21 July.

What is it? The competition is a simple, guided programme to help you green up your flat with easy, low-cost living tips. It’s also a battle for great prizes! It will run for a month between 26 July and 20 August 2010.

The competition follows the themes of Energy, Food, Gardening, Preserving and Brewing, Op-shopping, Bulk buying and Waste, Sustainable bodies, Cleaning products, Transport and water saving.

Workshops Participants will attend fun weekly workshops on a number of the above topics, get support from eco-savvy facilitators and receive giveaways to help put their advice into action.

Competitor Blogs All competing flats will be invited to post blog entries documenting their progress during the competition. At the end of the competition there will be a prize for the most innovative eco-improvements posted on the blog site. Check out this years Canterbury Uni bogs for inspiration: http://carboncreditcollector.com/category/eco-my-flat/

Participant flats will also have their beginning eco-status evaluated by our ‘eco inspectors’, which will be compared with their progress at the end of the competition. These evaluations will assist in the awards decisions.

There are heaps of prizes to be won, including:

1.       Best overall eco flat
2.       The most improved flat
3.       Best initiatives and most innovative ideas

Inspiration To get inspired and see all the various ideas and initiatives that you could carry out in your flat during the competition to become Eco check out the booklet released by UC.  Link: http://www.sustain.canterbury.ac.nz/ecomyflat/Eco_My_Flat_booklet.pdf.

More information about the major prize categories can be found on the Judging and Prizes page. Prizegiving will be held and the date for this will be confirmed closer to the time.

Contact: email Emily Kelly Emily.Kelly@lincolnuni.ac.nz

Judging and prizes There are a great range of prizes and giveways to be awarded throughout the competition:

The Best overall eco flat : The winners will get a night away to Hanmer Springs with accommodation, activities and dinner provided. This will be both relaxing and contain some fun and adventure.

The most improved flat: This flat will receive $150 worth of New World gift vouchers for that next grocery bill.

Greatest energy saving hall: This hall will get points towards the annual halls competition ladder.

Most Inventive Flat: Which flat will come up with the most creative eco-solutions, display kiwi ingenuity, and make the student dollar go that bit further with the craftiest innovations?

Spot Prizes and Workshop Giveaways: These prizes are just the beginning. We have tonnes of amazing giveaways and spot prizes as well. Have a look at our sponsors’ page to see what you might be getting just by coming to the workshops!

Internet resources

Tertiary education and sustainability
Transport
Recycling and waste
Energy
Sustainable living
Sustainable business
Gardening
Waterways restoration
About sustainability
Local and national organisations

Tertiary education and sustainability

· “See Change: Learning and education for sustainability” - NZ Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment (PCE) report.
·Also from the PCE: recent background papers written for the 2009 Sustainability Review regarding NZ tertiary education.
· UN Decade for Education for Sustainable Development 2005-2014 - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
· New Zealand Association for Environmental Education

· Australasian Campuses Towards Sustainability - promoting the integration of ecologically sustainable development in the curricula and operations of Australasian tertiary institutions.
· Higher Education Environmental Performance Improvement - Case studies and best practice guides for campus sustainability in the UK.
·University Leaders Towards a Sustainable Future - US-based secretariat for the Talloires Declaration on sustainability in higher education.
· Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education - association of tertiary institutions in the US and Canada focused on promoting sustainability.
· International Institute for Sustainable Development - campus sustainability (Canada) - an interactive toolkit for campus greening.
· Second Nature - US-based organisation promoting sustainability in higher education.

Transport

Cycling

· Season of Cycling events website - cycling events in Christchurch.
· Christchurch City Council's cycling website - information about cycling facilities in Christchurch.
· Cycling Advocates' Network (CAN) - information and advocacy for cyclists in New Zealand.
· Cycling Advocacy - international website which brings together key information and resources on subjects related to cycling advocacy.
· Spokes Canterbury - a local cycling advocacy group dedicated to including cycling as an everyday form of transport in local and regional planning.
· Bikewise NZ - for cycling tips from choosing a bike, through cycling in city traffic, to equipment, maintenance, and more.
· How not to get his by cars - an excellent guide to riding in city traffic (Australian site).
·The Bicycle Tutor - Tutorials and video guides on how to perform basic bike repairs and maintenance.
·Mountain Equipment Co-op - Canadian site with information about choosing a bike and road safety tips

Buses

· Christchurch bus information (Metro-info)

Car

General

· Journey Estimate Calculator - find out the relative times and costs of various transport options in Christchurch (Environment Canterbury)
·Victoria (Canada) Transport Policy Institute, Travel Demand Management Encyclopedia includes a section for universities and transport.

Recycling and Waste

Christchurch City Council

Recycling - recorded information 24-hours. Tel. 941-6872
Refuse Stations - recorded information 24-hours. Tel. 941-6875

· CCC Rubbish, Recycling and Composting homepage
·Other district councils in Canterbury
· Environment Canterbury (regional council) waste pages

Other useful sites

· 'Reduce your rubbish' - developed by the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) and regional councils, this website aims to help New Zealanders reduce the amount of rubbish we produce.
·Terranova waste exhange: a local waste-exchange database.
·Target Waste: a Christchurch City Council initiative that helps businesses to improve resource efficiency and minimise waste.
· Zerowaste New Zealand Trust - a charitable trust that supports the activities of community organisations, councils, businesses, schools and individuals involved in waste minimisation and recycling.
·NZ Ministry for the Environment waste pages
·CompostingNZ - composting research and practice in New Zealand and the South Pacific (successor to UC Composting).
·WasteMINZ - not for profit society for sustainable waste minimisation strategy in NZ.
· Christchurch Freecycle - a local network which is part of the Freecycle Network, an international movement of people interested in keeping good stuff out of landfills.

Energy

· Environment Canterbury (ECan) energy pages - for information on home energy efficiency and subsidies relevant to Christchurch and Canterbury residents.
·Christchurch City Council Energy Efficiency Show Home - A house showing a variety of energy-efficient solutions for home heating. 10 Leander St, Papanui.
· Community Energy Action - practical and low-cost home energy solutions.
· NZ Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment - Recent reports on energy and climate.
· Ebex 21 - Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research: carbon dioxide emissions calculators.
·Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) - Government authority charged with encouraging and supporting energy .effienciency and conservation measures in NZ.
·Meridian Energy Savings Calculator - find out how much power you could save in your home.

Sustainable Living

·Sustainable Living - Sustainable living tips and information on courses.
·5 Clicks - Links to 5 websites combatting climate change, created by The Sustainability Trust
·sustainability.govt.nz - Government site on sustainable living.
·WA$TED - Companion site to the TV3 series. Includes an eco-calculator and sustainable living tips.
·The Story of Stuff - 20-minute video examining the hidden effects of our production and consumption patterns (also a new video The Story of Cap and Trade and coming soon The Story of Bottled Water and The Story of Electronics).
· Ecological Footprint calculator - how many planets would we need if everyone in the world lived like you?
·Dumb Eco-Questions you were Afraid to Ask - New Scientist answers your questions.
· Love Food Hate Waste - a UK site with helpful tips, recipes, meal planners to encourage people to cut down on food waste and save money in the process.
·Locavore365.org - a site where you can get in touch with your local food community by buying, selling, swapping or giving away locally grown food in your area
· See also links for Energy and Waste

Sustainable Business

· Target Sustainability - a Christchurch City Council programme to help local businesses improve resource efficiency and save money.
· NZ Sustainable Business Network - Provides advice and support to businesses about sustainability.
·New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development - Promotes business leadership as a catalyst for change toward sustainable development.

Gardening

Community Garden sites

·American Community Gardening Association
·Australian Community Gardens Network

Permaculture sites

·Permaculture in NZ
·Australian Permaculture Research Institute
·Permaculture Activist (US)

Organics in New Zealand

·Soil and Health NZ Assn
·Organic Pathways
·The Dirt Doctor - Jim O'Gorman

Biodynamic gardening in New Zealand

· NZ Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Assn

Waterways Restoration

·Recent Publications
·Fresh Water Ecology Research Group, School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury
·Natural Resources Engineering programme, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Canterbury
·Environment and Ecology, Christchurch City Council
·Clean waterways - promoting urban waterway health in Christchurch (Environment Canterbury and others)
· New Zealand Ecological Restoration Network (NZERN) - Other restoration projects around Christchurch and New Zealand.

About Sustainability

· The Natural Step - provides a framework for companies, organisations, individuals and communities to move to an ecologically, socially and economically sustainable way of operating.
· Sustainable Future - New Zealand website with a large library of information on many aspects of sustainability.
·Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) - UN organisation which collates and synthesises scientific research on climate change. See also a popularised version of the fourth assessment report.
·Grist - Environmental news and commentary site with a sense of humour.
·Climate Debate Daily - website edited by UC academics Doug Campbell and Denis Dutton which collects news and research relating to climate change, which both reflects the scientific consensus and the sceptic viewpoint.
·Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Reports - Large-scale research programme involving over 1300 researchers in 95 nations, which assessed the consequences of ecosystem change for human well-being. Also available in a popularised version.
·How Our Economy is Killing the Earth - New Scientist feature on the relationship between our economic system and the environment.

Local and National Organisations

· Kakariki - University of Canterbury student environment club.
·LincolnEnvirotown – (http://www.lincolnenvirotown.org.nz/) Local community eco activities happening in the Lincoln Township.
·GreenPages - directory of non-profit organisations active in the areas of conservation and environmental protection, education, and restoration.
·350.org - Global grassroots movement for political action on climate change.
· 350.org.nz - New Zealand's 350 site.
·Sustainable Aotearoa New Zealand (SANZ) - a network of practitioners who share a common goal of driving Aotearoa New Zealand towards achieving long term sustainability.
·Sustainable Otautahi Christchurch (SOC) - local organisation which works towards the bold vision of Christchurch people "practicing, living and demonstrating sustainability in all that they do."
·Environment and Conservation Organisations of Aotearoa New Zealand (ECO) - an umbrella group of environment and conservation organisations in New Zealand.
·New Zealand Ecological Restoration Network (NZERN) - a non-profit, community-driven organisation dedicated to sharing knowledge and experiences about native habitat protection, management and ecological restoration.

‘Eco My Flat’ - Registration form

Steps:

1.      Find out all about this competition visit www.lusa.org.nz/ecomyflat.
2.      Get your flat on side to becoming Eco for a month to win some cool prizes.
3.      Fill out this form and deliver to LUSA reception in the Students Union Building or email to Emily.Kelly@lincolnuni.ac.nz

Flat name: _____________________________________________________

Flat occupants:

(Contact person) 1. _______________________ email: __________________________________

                             2. _______________________                           

                             3. _______________________                          

                             4. _______________________                           

                             5. _______________________                           

                             6. _______________________                           

Address: _______________________________________________________
              

                _____________________________

Home phone: ________________________             Cellphone: ____________________________