Expanded Article - Stephenson & Turner

Expanded Article
NZ FIRSTLIGHT HOUSE
TO COMPETE IN USA
Frank Kitts Park in Wellington was the place
to head in May to see solar power and
energy-efficient technologies in action. An
“eco-bach” constructed by a student team
from Victoria University was on display as
a practice run for the US Department of
Energy Solar Decathlon 2011. The team
is one of twenty teams competing in this
prestigious, worldwide event. The house
will be packed up and shipped to the
United States for the final competition taking
place in Washington, D.C. later this year.
Stephenson&Turner is a proud sponsor of
FirstLight. Our engineers have provided
assistance with electrical engineering
and have advised the students on lighting
design, environmentally sustainable
design and BMS integration. Specific challenges
included designing a house which
is compatible in both New Zealand and the
United States with their differing electrical
systems, codes and voltage.
The team has met these challenges with
outstanding results. Watch this space for
news!
“The Meridian First Light eco-house project
is an opportunity to see what is possible
to achieve in sustainable housing, using
the latest technology and design. This prototype
should inspire New Zealanders to
think about the kinds of energy efficiency
investments they can make when building
or renovating that will make a difference to
their on-going energy bills, and their impact
on the environment.” – Mike Underhill, CE
of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation
Authority (EECA)
For more information on FirstLight or how
you can make use of similar energy-efficient
design, please contact Michael Warwick at
04 894 4711.