GSNZAP - Say it three times, quick!

Today I got to experience an outsider's perspective of the Green Star NZ world, New Zealand's green building rating tool (not to be confused with Green Star period, Australia's green building tool - on which the NZ tool was based) and I must say, it was quite unexpected.

This morning about 40 people (including myself) gathered on the top floor of the Hyatt Hotel in downtown Auckland, overlooking the beautiful and green (thank you evergreens!) University of Auckland campus, to take part in a full day training course on the Green Star NZ tool. Our lovely presenters were Liz Root, Green Star Technical Manager at the NZGBC, and Quinton, a NZGBC Green Star assessor and assistant creator of the tool itself. The room was packed with would-be Green Star New Zealand Accredited Professionals (refer to the above acronym), from Energy Analysts, to contractors and engineers to property valuers and building services managers, all keen to be initiated into the world of green building and supportive of the steps to get there.

Or so that's what I assumed.

In reality, our presenters were met with what could politely be described as distrust but in fact sometimes seemed to simply be outright hostility. I am told this is specific to the Auckland crowd.

My perspective going into this day of training, which is a precursor to sitting the Green Star NZ Accredited Professional exam (NZ's counterpart to the LEED AP exam), was that everyone was a convert and saw the intrinsic value of creating a more sustainable and less harmful built environment. However, a few (too many) of the participants seemed completely jaded and mistrusting of the tool apparently only seeking a soap-box platform for venting their frustrations instead.

I completely understand cynicism, but not the (misdirected) hostility. Take the case of the waste contractor who explained the dichotomy of waste managers in NZ:

In one camp there are those who DO own landfills and thereby make their money collecting waste and then chucking it into the landfill

On the other side are those who DON'T own landfills and make money collecting waste but must spend more to dump it (thereby giving money to their competitors).

The latter group clearly have a much larger incentive to divert waste (in fact they would be bad business men - let's face it, they're all men here - if they didn't) whereas the former do not. This creates problems, as the gentleman pointed out, when the former are the ones contracted to remove waste from a Green Star building site under the presumption that they will be diverting the waste when in fact they are not. This is a legitimate and extremely troubling concept, unfortunately one that has now been added to my already-too-large repertoire of examples of how hard it will be to get everyone to sign up to join the Green Train (i just made that up, want to hop aboard?).

What was completely inappropriate was the way it was broached. His tirade went on for perhaps 10 minutes, his voice was loud and his tone accusatory. This type of interaction has no place in a constructive space like this training sessions. Our presenters support their tool 100% and believe in its efficacy while still being very aware and realistic of its limitations. Green Star NZ has been developed to the best that it can be at this point and of course will continue to grow and improve as time goes by. Obviously there are things that could be better, this will always be the case as the world's standards on green building keep rising. But as a non-profit organisation with very limited staff, not that any excuses need to be made as it is an excellent tool, the NZGBC cannot take the role of a third party auditor as well. We can only rely on the integrity of those who sign the reports stating that waste has been diverted. It is what it is and NZ is the better for it since 2007 (when the first version of the tool was released).

So to those who criticise so loudly and readily, I say give your time, give your energy and help us make it a truly strong and all-encompassing tool. It's the job of many and the only way we can ever get there.

And my utmost thanks to Liz and Quinton for responding to the "attacks" with such tact and respect!

a bit of introspection

So I've come to a realisation, it is time I came to terms with my blog!

In the past I have always considered blogs to be somewhat presumptuous and vain in nature. I am not typically a blog reader as I find they are often simply well designed (and well illustrated) calls for attention populated with inane commentary on mundane activities. I admit that when it was recommended I (and my fellow IGBers) start one I was a bit nervous about putting myself on display in such a way. I suppose it is completely hypocritical to have reservations about blogging when I am so quick to prance and preen on facebook for all my "friends" to see. (Though admittedly I am becoming increasingly uncomfortable with that forum as well). Previous posts on this site have not come easily. Before each I wrestled with questions dealing with who the blog was actually directed to and why. Similarly, I was hesitant to make it too personal but at the same time aware that it should not be too formal either. It seemed a delicate dance indeed.

Thankfully, I have come across many very interesting and intelligent sites which prove that blogs are whatever you want them to be. Dawn Bazely's blog on the IRIS forum is a great example of an articulate, timely and important blog (http://www.irisyorku.ca/category/blog-posts/) as it demands readers to step back and ponder the insightful questions posed (such as waste, climate change and climate justice). I also very much enjoy reading my fellow IGBers blogs as I've loved hearing all about the experiences and opportunities awarded them in their respective countries through the GBCs. Basically I've learned that a blog can be many things: an opinion piece, an autobiography or simply just musings on random thoughts. Mostly what i've learned is that above all, a blog is somewhere that is comfortable to the author; a private (and yet oh-so-public) place to think out loud, muse or simply to vent.

And so, I raise my glass of cheap (but still so tasty because it was 6$ off for the bottle!) wine to this realisation. Here's to prancing and preening with the best of them!

Touring in Auckland

The hard life on the front balcony

Daily walking route

Mount Rangitoto and cold, cold water

Mount Rangitoto and dedicated surfers

Auckland from Mount Victoria (Davenport)

Homes of New Zealand

Changing NZ one house at a time

What an exciting time to be in New Zealand!

A country plagued by an inefficient building stock is a place where exciting opportunities may emerge for one involved with the Green Building Council. Indeed, the NZGBC is in the thick of it. We’re transforming the very definition of a NZ home!

A study put together by Branz and Beacon Pathway, two kiwi research institutions, have highlighted the extent of the housing problem: over 1 million homes (in a country of 4 million inhabitants) cannot provide sufficient thermal comfort to its residents. Not only that, but over 45% have rampant mould issues. New Zealand is no tropical paradise, though it may certainly feel that way when you’re thick in the lush green bush during the summer months. Winter comes by every year making its inhabitants feel the wrath of -5 degree weather. Of course this sounds ridiculously temperate to anyone coming from a country that experiences -30 degree spells, but please do trust me when I say that cold outside cannot compare to cold inside. I’m not trying to belittle or ridicule when I say that standard heating methods in this country include hot water bottles and electric blankets. Not to mention the trusty extra jumper (aka hoodie).

Quick anecdote: In the (Southern Hemisphere) winter of 2007 I lived in Wanaka in the South Island and worked at the local ski field. I have repeatedly said that I believe I have never been as cold as I was then. I effectively lost my body heat sometime in mid-June and didn’t recover it before the end of August. Just like all my friends’ places, our rented house had ONE heated room in the house: the living room thanks to the wood burning stove. The complete lack of insulation, particle board-like walls and extremely draughty windows meant that bedroom temperatures hovered around 2 degrees. I am very comfortable throwing on extra layers to go outside in -30 degree weather, but I am not as prepared to wake up to a frosted bathroom. Maybe I’m just being a baby. Whenever I repeated this story to kiwi friends, their response was inevitably: “Harden up!”

Thankfully for warmth-conscious people everywhere, the NZGBC is no longer prepared to accept this as a solution. Not only is heating in NZ more expensive than anywhere else in the world, but such draughty conditions lead to a very unproductive and unhealthy population. Insulation wasn’t even mandatory until 1992! “Leaky homes” syndrome caught the attention of all homeowners in recent years and finally, there seems to be a shift in the populations’ global consciousness as well as a demand for adequate housing standards.

So there it is, the groundwork is set for an exciting adventure with the goal to change the very way people experience their homes. And this will not only concern new buildings, like the many standards that already exist, but those existing homes which make up the vast majority of the housing stock.

This month, the NZGBC in partnership with Branz and Beacon Pathway will be launching a new, never before seen, residential rating tool. This tool will be independent, reliable, and easy-to-use. It will be accessible for free online and will allow homeowners to rate the performance of their homes. This tool is seeking to create a common language around the issue of home performance as well as to provide homeowners with the information they need to undertake renovations. Partnerships are being created with select commercial distributors who will assist homeowners in selecting “solutions” relevant to their needs. This will be a one stop shop where individuals will be able to rate their homes, learn where the issues lie, and then, if desired, find out what products exist out there to improve comfort (including a super cool google feature mapping out the nearest retailer). These will range from renewable energy suppliers to no-VOC paint suppliers.

The goal is modest but the difference will be gigantic. Making central heating, insulation and double glazing standard in homes will have a tremendous impact on reducing this country’s demands on energy as well as simply making life more pleasant for New Zealanders, and those travelers crazy enough to come during the winter months.

My role amongst this is still being defined but nevertheless my days are filled attending numerous executive meetings devising business models, partner relationships and public documents. I can’t believe how fortunate I am to have come at such an exciting time and be able to meet those whom I know will be of tremendous assistance during my own studies. It’s all coming together and it’s only just starting!

Soon winter will set in and I’m told that my office gets extremely cold (surprise surprise) to the point where my colleagues don’t even remove their outerwear for the work day (including gloves). In fact consensus has just been reached on Friday that NZGBC vests will be made for all. The poncho lost by a narrow margin.