What is sustainability?

Sustainability is most commonly defined as "Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."

Sustainability recognises that for humanity to continue to prosper it must do so within the ecological limits of the earth, while maintaining social stability and economic activity.

Another way to think of sustainability is "if everyone in the world lived like a New Zealander we would need three planets".

The realisation that we must begin to live within sustainable limits prompted us to begin to alter the way we live in order to achieve sustainability.

Further information on sustainability can be found at www.sustainability.govt.nz.

Sustainability in Manukau

Manukau City Council has a number of initiatives in place to operate in a more sustainable way and promote sustainable living.

Sustainable features of the recent Civic building refit
Sustainable living programme
Recycling
Create your own eden
Housing for the elderly refurbishment
Move Me travel plan
Snug homes programme

Civic building refit

A number of sustainability and energy reducing features have been included in the recent Civic building refit. These are:

• Daylight sensors that detect when there is enough natural light to work without artificial lighting
• 'Smart' motion sensors in meeting rooms that allow lights to automatically turn on and off as people exit the room
• Lower partitions in offices to allow more natural light into the room and reduce the need for artificial lighting
• A more efficient centralised air conditioning system that results in both energy and cost savings.

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Sustainable living programme

Manukau City Council is a partner in the Sustainable Living Programme. The programme has been developed across New Zealand and provides education and support to help residents live more sustainably.

Courses available include:

• Eco-gardening
• Water
• Energy
• Waste
• Shopping
• Sustainable building
• Building materials
• Composting
• Water-use
• Recycling
• Transport.

The next courses available are:

Highland Park Community House

FREE COURSE AT HIGHLAND PARK COMMUNITY HOUSE

Fridays commencing 16 October 12.30 – 3.00pm. Course runs for 8 Weeks
Enrolment is essential

Phone: 09 5345584

A Certificate of Completion will be presented to participants who complete the whole programme.

Anchorage Park Community House

FREE COURSE

Tuesdays commencing 13 October  2009. 7.00 - 9.30pm

16 Swan Cres, Pakuranga
Tuesdays commencing 13 October 2009. 7.00-9.30pm.
Phone: 09 576 5381

Enrolment is essential

Facilitator: Terri Merchant

Mangere Community House

FREE GARDENING COURSE - HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW?

Running for 5 weeks on Saturdays 2pm-4pm

Dates:

17 October
31 October
7 November
14 November
21 November

141 Robertson Road, Mangere
Phone: 09 275 4920

Additional information and courses can be found at www.sustainableliving.org.nz.

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Recycling

Since the start of council's new recycling service Manukau residents have increased recycling by 32 per cent and reduced what goes to landfill by 14 per cent.

You can find out more about our recycling service here.

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Create your own eden

Our Create Your Own Eden programme encourages householders to put organic waste to work in the garden through composting, worm farms or bokashi. For more information and to sign up for a free course click here or visit or www.createyourowneden.org.nz

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Housing for the elderly refurbishment

The six year refurbishment programme for council's housing for the elderly units is also including a number of sustainability features:

• Installation of ceiling insulation
• Low energy light bulbs
• Water efficient shower heads
• Insulated hot water cylinders

This programme will provide residents with a reduction in their energy bills, as well as increasing the warmth of their homes which will help them stay healthy.

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'Move Me' travel plan

'Move Me' is the council's travel plan, which aims to improve the range of choices we have for travelling to and from work.

The plan looks to reduce single-person car driving and increase walking, cycling, public transport use and carpooling.

Further information on carpooling and sustainble travel can be found at www.travelwise.org.nz.

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Snug homes programme

Council contributes $25,000 annually to the Regional Snug Homes project to help fund insulation in low income households.

The project helps to make homes drier by:

• Iinstalling insulation in the ceiling and floors to reduce heat loss
• Draught-proofing doors
• Providing low flow shower heads
• Providing insulating wraps for hot water cylinders.

For more information click here. You can also contact an independent energy advisor through the Ecomatters Trust.

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