Intro

Building and development are a part of the ever changing landscape of Lincoln. Lincoln is part of Selwyn district, which is one of the fastest growing areas in New Zealand. Poorly planned building and development can have negative impacts on the environment and community, but well designed building and development can have little or no impact and in already degraded landscapes can actually enhance the environment. This is sometimes referred to as ‘Urban sustainability,’ which is achieved through effective management of building, storm-water, waste, energy, transport and the environment. Therefore, building and development are critical to the process of becoming a sustainable town.

What Lincoln Envirotown trust (LET) does:

LET has focused more on development to date as developments have a larger impact initially, and in the long term than individual building projects, but we do provide links to professionals who specialise in sustainable building/retro-fitting and have run tours of energy efficient homes around Selwyn. We also are an interest group who the council consults on development issues, such as the Lincoln Structure Plan.

Development:

• Work with LIUDD experts at Landcare Research and Lincoln University
• Work with Council and regional council
• Work with Developers

An example: LET, in collaboration with the Low Impact Urban Design and Development team, run by Landcare Research worked with a local developer to change their original plans. The design now has extra reserve area to be planted with natives, holding ponds for surface water run off, extra walkways and other sustainable features. Covenants have also been placed on the sections to encourage sustainable buildings.

Building:

• We are working on a ‘Sustainable building guide’
• Efficient Energy home tours (picture from the tour)
• Sustainable home tours
• Energy Blitz – seminars, information and trade show (picture from the energy blitz)

Resources

Low impact urban design and development research

Urban design strategy

Greater Christchurch Urban Development Strategy

Hockerton housing project – sustainable housing and village design

Lincoln structure plan

The Sustainable Sites Initiative is an American interdisciplinary effort to create voluntary national guidelines and performance benchmarks for sustainable land design, construction and maintenance practices.

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council

Green Star NZ, developed by the NZ Green Building Council is New Zealand's first comprehensive environmental rating system for buildings.

BRANZ is an independent and impartial research, testing, consulting and information company providing services and resources for the building industry

VicUrban is the Victorian Government's sustainable urban development agency committed to delivering prosperous and successful communities.

Books:

A Deeper Shade of Green: Sustainable Urban Development, Building and Architecture in New Zealand. Edited by Johann Bernhardt. Published by Balasoglou Books, May 2008 ISBN 978-0-9582878-3-8

The New Autonomous House by Brenda and Robert Vale. Published by Thames and Hudson, paper back 2002. ISBN 0-500-28287-0