Table: Foundation for Research, Science and Technology (FRST) Funded Research
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| Area |
Lead provider |
Title |
Outcomes |
Value |
Timing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sustainability |
Landcare Research Dr Richard Gordon (C09X0310) |
Building Capacity |
This six-year programme focuses on the key issues faced by society embarking on the sustainable development journey, namely the understanding of sustainability, attitudes and behaviours shown by individuals and organisations. Objective 1: Scenarios of urban sustainability - taking the long term view. We will develop and evaluate a range of sustainability scenarios for the next 20-50 years to be used by the groups to support strategic and outcome planning. This will be used to stimulate thinking of the opportunities and risks for government, business, communities and Maori. Objective 2: Sustainability assessment - integrating the sustainable development dimensions. What processes can be used by organisations seeking positive reinforcement, rather than accepting trade-offs, between the dimensions of sustainability? Our research will enable decision and policy makers to assess the impacts of alternative pathways on all dimensions of sustainable development. Objective 3: Social marketing - engaging leaders, consumers, and the next generation. How can the principles of sustainability be disseminated most effectively amongst urban groups to influence leaders, consumption patterns and innovation? Our research will support those developing educational, leadership and social marketing materials around action for sustainable development. |
$930,000 pa |
1 October 2003 - 30 June 2009 |
Objective 4: Improving partnerships - developing influence and win-wins. How can partnerships between government, business, and community achieve effective participation by the players and create effective influence towards more sustainable behaviour? Our research will help develop good-practice models of synergy and innovation within and between groups (eg, design for environment, supply chains). From practical examples in New Zealand and overseas, we will establish guidelines for achieving win-wins. The programme is designed to complement and support a range of end-user activities by central government (Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Ministries for the Environment, for Economic Development, for Social Development, for Labour), Local Government (Councils in Auckland, Christchurch, Nelson, Kaikoura), and the private sector (NZ Business Council for Sustainable Development, Federation of Maori Authorities, Redesigning Resources, etc). Research information will flow to end-users through active engagement of the researchers in those activities (action-based research), regular research workshops, publications and dedicated websites (www.landcareresearch.co.nz). Major environmental benefits will result from application of this research. These include reductions in solid waste, liquid waste, and greenhouse gas emissions; and increases in energy efficiency and material use efficiency. As a consequence, there will be significant economic savings. Greater connectiveness between groups will produce social benefits including fostering the tikanga of sustainability in Maori society. |
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Sustainability |
Massey University Assoc Prof Murray Patterson (MAUX0306) |
Sustainable Pathways |
This research will enable cities and regions to plan for sustainable development, by providing them with authoritative information on alternative future development scenarios. These scenarios will seek to illuminate and link the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. The scenarios will project changes in timeframes ranging up to 30 years, using user-friendly dynamic models. The scenario development process will be evidence based, relying on detailed and well researched empirical data, which is often spatially referenced. This process will also be inclusive and collaborative, building a common understanding of the sustainability options amongst stakeholders. Three linked objectives are designed to aid the decoupling of economic growth and social progress from environmental harm: (1) Urban metabolism: The aim of this objective is to understand the biophysical functioning of cities in New Zealand. This should directly lead to a number of insights into the eco-efficiency and sustainability of urban systems. Two case studies are planned (Auckland and Christchurch), emphasising issues such as water use and solid wastes. (2) Scenario development: The aim of this objective is to build on the first objective by providing a wider socio-economic framework (extended metabolism model) for developing city and regional scenarios. Special emphasis will be placed on understanding the socio-economic dimensions of change and how these affect the metabolism of cities and environmental impacts. A spatial-dynamic modelling capacity will be developed particularly to assist in detailed planning of sustainable development pathways. |
$740,000 pa |
1 October 2003 - 30 June 2009 |
(3) Indicators of progress to sustainable development: This objective focuses on developing indicator and reporting systems that can guide and monitor progress to sustainable development. Overall measures of sustainability performance will be derived and advocated. This objective will be undertaken in close collaboration with SNZ, MFE and PCE programmes. |
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Sustainability |
Opus International Consultants Peter Thorby OPSX0303 |
Learning Sustainability |
This research recognises the strong relationships between settlement form, liveability and environmental performance, and addresses the polarised debate between those arguing that sustainable cities and settlements are best achieved through the compact form, and those who argue for dispersed forms of human settlement. There are environmental as well as social and economic risks if inappropriate settlement models are imposed on our cities, towns and rural areas. The research will assist communities to improve the environmental performance of settlements by contributing to the knowledge necessary to assess the sustainability of settlements, identify appropriate spatial models for the future development, and establish tools for the on-going sustainable management of settlement form. This will be achieved through three research objectives: Objective 1: To enhance the environmental management of cities and settlements by establishing the extent to which the form and spatial characteristics of New Zealand cities and settlements determine environmental performance. Objective 2: To enhance the active management of the form and spatial characteristics of our cities and settlements to optimise their social, cultural, economic and environmental performance. Objective 3: To enhance the ability of communities to respond to, and maintain sustainable management practices. The results will enable generation of sustainable practices among the key stakeholders and participants who determine the shape of the city and other settlements. This interdisciplinary, inter-organisational research team brings together expertise in biophysical dynamics; the built environment and infrastructural systems; the behaviours of individuals; governance; and social and economic dynamics. |
$817,000 pa |
1 October 2003 - 30 June 2009 |
Transport |
Industrial Research Ltd (C08X0304) Graeme Finch |
New Technology Rural Bridges |
The research programme will develop techniques for the design and construction of small permanent single span composite bridges initially for application in rural locations throughout New Zealand. The potential of new technology lightweight composite bridges is significant both in New Zealand, but more importantly in countries such as Australia and South East Asia, where access to suitable aggregate materials is often difficult. This programme will bring together structural engineers, materials scientists, computational modelling specialists and industry partners to create a new technology capability for New Zealand. |
$500,000 pa |
1 July 2003 - 30 June 2007 |
The activity is driven by the requirement to replace ageing timber rural bridges in New Zealand and through the civil engineering opportunities identified in infrastructure development programmes in South East Asia. The initial focus will be developing technology relevant to either total bridge replacement or bridge upgrading in rural New Zealand, which would also have application for farm bridges and bridging in situations that have access difficulties such as native conservation areas and disaster recovery situations. The programme has a strong pathway to implementation and involves substantial interaction with a major composite manufacturer (Pultron) and links to consulting engineers and district councils. The project features activities looking at design concepts and optimisation, development of new hybrid composite materials and the economic modelling of bridge construction and through-life support. The key research steps involve development of overall design options including the comparison of full composite construction to hybrid composite construction, modelling and measurement of the performance of new composite materials, and the economic modelling of construction and maintenance costs associated with this new form of bridge construction. |
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Transport |
Opus International Consultants Ltd (OPSX0301) Peter Thorby |
Roading enhanced by Maori knowledge and values |
The Resource Management Act (1991) requires consultation with tangata whenua as part of the resource consent process. This process is highly dependent on personal contact between various sectors of the community, including local government and regional council officers, consultants and local Maori. The programme has a single objective to develop culturally appropriate tools and processes that allow the identification of Maori values and knowledge with respect to roading projects and for this knowledge to be properly incorporated into such projects. The main outcome of the research will be a roading infrastructure that truly reflects the "partnership principle" implied in the Treaty of Waitangi, and one that all New Zealanders will be proud of. A second outcome of this work is intended to be preservation of important sites, and other taonga, that are important to Maori. Two broad outputs are expected from this research: a Maori 'evaluation' of contingent valuation methodology; and the incorporation of Maori knowledge and practices in future roading developments nationwide. The programme is a collaboration between Te Hao o Ngati Whatua, Opus Research, and Landcare Research. Further details can be obtained from peter.thorby@opus.co.nz. |
$150,000 pa |
1 July 2003 - 30 June 2007 |
Transport |
Opus International Consultants Ltd (OPSX0302) Philip Herrington |
High Performance Roading |
The roading network is a key component of New Zealand's infrastructure. An efficient road network underpins all aspects of the economy and is essential in maintaining and enhancing the international competitiveness of our industries. The goal of this programme is to significantly improve the cost-effectiveness of the road network both for road owners and users. The research will result in new products and design methods that will increase the life and load carrying capacity of our roads whilst meeting community expectations with regard to social impacts such as noise generation. Nearly all roads in New Zealand are chip seals built over flexible pavements - a design concept developed in the 1930s. However 70 years later, the inadequacies of this approach are evident in very high maintenance costs and poor performance (short lives, high noise, loose chip), particularly in urban areas and in areas subjected to increased forestry and dairying traffic. This research will develop new types of pavement and surfacing, materials and designs that although being based on traditional low cost construction methods, will be 'purpose built' to meet user, owner and community performance expectations. The finite element modelling tools, new pavement stabilisation and high performance bitumen products developed, will provide a technology platform that will enable design of longer-lived pavements with increased load capacity and surfacings that achieve asphalt like performance but at much reduced cost. Central to the success of the programme are the close relationships established with a number of private sector companies, through which products developed during the research will be commercialised. To facilitate the implementation of new technologies, representatives of key regulatory authorities including Transfund and Transit New Zealand will act in an advisory role to the research team. For further information contact Phil Herrington Phil.Herrington@Opus.co.nz |
$750,000 pa |
1 July 2003 - 30 June 2007 |
Housing-related |
Beacon Pathway Ltd (BCON0401) Russell Burton (FR) |
Housing Advances for Environmental Responsibility and Sustainable Living |
The programme aims to achieve its goal of enhanced sustainability in the residential sector and growth of the new build technologies industry through addressing five key elements. 1. Demand-side issues; ie, homeowners and national and regional governments. By determining the drivers of homeowner behaviour and how sustainability can positively impact on their lives, intervention strategies will be developed to enhance demand for sustainable building outcomes. A National and Regional Equilibrium Model will be developed to aid quantification of impacts that interventions in sustainability will have at a national and regional level. This will improve decision-making around key interventions such as, for example, the impact of the new Building Code. 2. Supply-side issues are addressed through, firstly, determining the key impediments to the introduction of new sustainable products and systems through delivery agencies such as building product developers, suppliers and builders, followed by development of intervention strategies to address these impediments. |
$1,125,000 pa |
1 July 2004 - 30 June 2010 |
3. New products and systems that can be applied to both new build and retrofit situations will also be developed. 4. Underpinning these key objectives is the development of a sustainability framework that initially places metrics around key elements of sustainability such as energy demand, water demand, performance, and personal health and how these elements interact when integrated into a building solution. The above elements are all brought together in a demonstration objective, which integrates the above and validates the above outcomes in real-life situations. Although much of the above work is focussed on individual houses, one objective will develop a model strategy for designing and redesigning neighbourhoods to accelerate the opportunity to enhance sustainability in the residential built environment. The consortium partners who will develop and manage the programme include Fletcher Building, who have implementation capability, Waitakere City Council, who have regulatory functions, BRANZ Inc, who have an industry advisory role, and Forest Research, who have substantial background knowledge in this field. The consortium will contract research services from a range of organisations including Forest Research, BRANZ Ltd and others who will help ensure that the new knowledge created is integrated into the housing market. The consortium intends to form partnership or stakeholder relationships with a range of relevant organisations including Housing New Zealand Corporation, Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority, Building Industry Authority, and Climate Change Office (to name a few key ones) to ensure broad application of the knowledge generated. A website, where further information on the consortium and the programme will be available, is under development. |
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Housing-related |
BRANZ (BRAX0302) Mark Bassett |
Weathertight Buildings |
The goal of this research is to improve the ability of buildings to control moisture from rain water leaks and other sources. High profile moisture failures in New Zealand and North America have drawn attention to the need for a scientific basis for building moisture designs. This programme responds to the challenge with a research programme strongly connected to overseas research teams at the Fraunhofer-Institut für Bauphysik Germany, the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the US and the Institute for Research and Construction in Canada. Within New Zealand the programme is supported by a team of experienced building physicists and materials durability specialists. This research programme develops the science of moisture flows by diffusion, wicking and convection as modules in the WUFI (from the German "Waerme und Feuchtetransport Instationaer" (Heat and Moisture transient transfer)) computer programme which will ultimately be the basis for building moisture designs. To reach this point, new models of liquid water movement in walls must be developed along with an understanding of ventilation processes and the way in which wind pressures are distributed across the multiple layers in walls. |
$520,000 pa |
1 July 2003 - 30 June 2009 |
The programme uses experimental and field investigations to answer the more urgent questions connected with the drying potential of generic wall designs. It also sponsors detailed investigations of timber decay, and the effectiveness of treatments, at Forest Research Institute, and of the durability of other materials in wall claddings by BRANZ. Draconian changes to the New Zealand Building Code are likely to be the first response to the leaky buildings problem, but in the longer term, this research will provide design tools that bring flexibility and the opportunity for innovation back into the Code. The Building Code is an important conduit for the outputs from this research but the programme will also connect with the building industry through its involvement with the "Claddings Institute of NZ", the Institute of Building Surveyors, and University Schools of Architecture through a range of training schemes. An educational programme of seminars and publications sponsored by the Building Research Levy will also be promoting the outputs from this research within the building industry. |
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Housing-related |
University of Auckland (UOAX0305) Kepa Morgan |
UKU Sustainable Earth-Fibre Housing |
This research will develop appropriate technology for earth fibre composite wall construction and optimise end-user adoption of the technology and trial results. The research will establish performance characteristics of this new material - strength, heat transmission, durability, constructability, sound transmission - to enable a design guide to be developed which can be used for single storey housing designs, specifically targeting the development of Maori land. The research involves the repetitive testing of building elements for statistical reliability combined with the development of a theoretical model for the fibre composite performance and culminates with the construction of full scale trial buildings which will provide construction and service characteristics for the design guide. The research will also address the legal and financial barriers experienced with the development of Maori land with respect to multiple owner title and inalienable tenure rights. Methods will be assessed for the effective incorporation of sweat equity, and valuing the direct input of materials produced on the land being developed in relation to capital improvement valuation. Effective relationships with Maori organisations and groups from different areas are essential to the successful transfer and uptake of the technology developed. Relationships have been created that provide interaction with iwi and hapu from the Taitokerau (Northland), Waiariki (Bay of Plenty), and Tairawhiti (East Coast) areas. |
$270,000 pa |
1 July 2003 - 30 June 2007 |
Housing-related |
University of Canterbury (UOCX0302) Professor John Mander |
Future Building Systems |
This research will investigate and develop a completely new, modular, seismically damage-resistant, building system constructed from modern high performance concrete materials. The entire structural system will be manufactured off-site in factory-like conditions. The parts will consist of structural precast frames (beams, columns and structural walls) and precast floors. Additionally, the non-structural building envelope will consist of energy-efficient structural concrete panels that are manufactured as precast concrete and can be dismantled and reused in a modular fashion. |
$520,000 pa |
1 July 2003 - 30 June 2009 |
It is expected that the research will benefit New Zealand in a variety of ways:
There are three objectives in this six-year contract: (1) to develop a damage avoidance design (DAD) approach to the seismic performance of the structure as a whole and the precast frames in particular (2) to develop new precast flooring systems that do not require any site casting of concrete (as is presently the norm), but are functional under gravity loading, fire resistant, and can transfer diaphragm forces in an earthquake (3) to develop a new energy-efficient wall system formed by a stratified concrete mix that, when cast, will have three main components (internal thermal storage layer, insulation layer and external weather-tight façade) in a single layer. Following the initial concept development, the scientific approach to the research will be a combination of analytical/design procedures and validation by large-scale experiments. The observed experimental performance will be checked against advanced computational modelling simulations. Adjustments will then be made, if needed, to the design theories and further parametric analysis and probabilistic risk models will be developed for the final design recommendations. Further design examples can then be run and pre-standard (design code) recommendations made. The research team will unite academia, the structural engineering design profession and the building-manufacturing industry, that is, the University of Canterbury, Holmes Consulting Group Ltd, and Fletcher Building. The programme will be led by Prof John Mander of the University of Canterbury who has considerable recent experience leading large research projects in the United States. Much of the computational and experimental research will be conducted at Canterbury under his direction. The energy efficiency analysis, design and experimental investigation will in-part be sub-contracted to Dr Larry Bellamy of Ensys Ltd. Holmes Consulting Group, led by Adjunct Prof. Des Bull will develop and ratify the proposed design strategies. This is considered crucial in obtaining buy-in from the structural design profession. Manufacturing and construction issues will be led by Mr Len McSaveney of Fletcher Building. |
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Further details may be found on the UoC Department of Civil Engineering web page at: www.civil.canterbury.ac.nz |
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Health |
NIWA (C01X0216) Gavin Fisher |
Urban Air Quality Processes |
Outcome: More effective understanding and management of New Zealand's air resource to ensure good air quality, and healthy and safe living environments, in urban cities and settlements. The programme aims to improve knowledge of all aspects of air quality within settlements throughout New Zealand, including the causes of air pollution and visibility degradation and how air quality affects health and amenity values. It will develop models to predict future air quality and deliver a series of practical tools to help end-users formulate effective policies for mitigating air quality issues. This programme contributes principally to the Government Target Outcome People Living in Safe and Healthy Environments and to the Development of Ecosystem Integrity within Settlements, Enhanced Liveability, and Healthy Ecosystems for People Strategic Objectives in the Planning for Sustainable Cities and Settlements SPO. In addition, to meet the needs of the strategic portfolio outline (SPO) better the programme will assist end-users and the community make decisions and take actions that will improve the living environment in cities and settlements, and encourage the integration of social issues (such as health) into the decision-making processes. It also aims to provide tools for end-users that will enable them to plan better and mitigate air quality issues before they happen. An important feature of this programme is the high level of integration with user groups, with results and plans presented at every six-monthly meeting of the National Air Quality Working Group, representing all regional councils and all relevant government departments. Also important is the high level of collaboration - substantial portions of the programme being initiated, led and conducted by senior scientists at the University of Auckland and the University of Canterbury. The greenhouse gas work will be co-ordinated with current and planned projects from the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry for the Environment, the Ministry of Economic Development and the New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development. |
Completed |
Completed 30 September 2004 |
Health |
Canesis (WROX0302) Mr Simon Causer |
Functional, Safe Built Environments |
Exposure to allergens such as those found in house-dust (derived from mites, companion animals, bacteria and xerophilic moulds/fungi) is one of the primary causes of asthma, and has also been linked to other conditions such as rhinitis and eczema. This programme will quantify exposure to major particulate indoor air pollutants and come up with a range of methods to reduce exposure to these substances. This programme will also extend on previous work to incorporate new additives in interior products that will enhance removal and breakdown of indoor air pollutants, as well as carrying out a systematic investigation into the causes of, and mechanisms for reducing, emissions of VOCs and smells from soft floor coverings. The final objective of this programme will involve the development of products that prevent ignition and involvement of upholstery foam in domestic house fires. This programme is focussed, and highly leveraged by industry bodies and private companies. Canesis has in place a well established team and a network of linkages with key provider and end user groups that will ensure delivery of these outcomes. For further information on the research provider please visit www.canesis.com |
$280,000 pa |
1 July 2003 - 30 June 2007 |
Low Impact Urban Design |
Landcare Research Dr Charles Eason (C09X0309) |
Low Impact Urban Design |
Conventional development practices lead to a range of adverse environmental and social impacts and contribute to escalating infrastructure costs. Low impact urban design and development (LIUDD) provides an alternative approach, the potential of which is under-exploited. The constraints preventing the uptake of low impact urban design and development have been identified. These include consumer and practitioner behaviour, inadequate technical and financial analyses, conflicts between stakeholder groups and variable planning instruments. A newly formed programme, commencing in October 2003, will be an underpinning tool for LIUDD. The programme is designed to radically improve urban sustainability by making LIUDD mainstream practice. We will implement a four pronged approach: (i) identifying ways of overcoming social and institutional barriers to LIUDD; (ii) integrating natural features and technologies and improved catchment management processes in urban development; (iii) comparing cost-benefits of different approaches to underpin rational choices; and (iv) improving the interactions between governance and land use including better guidelines for council plans, engineering codes and incentives for LIUDD. The programme will develop a committed partnership between developers and engineers, regional and city council practitioners, national task force groups, Maori and the community to ensure there is a significant improvement in the adoption of low impact urban design development practices and principles. We anticipate greater satisfaction for all stakeholders involved in urban development including householders. |
$1,500,000 pa |
1 October 2003 - 30 June 2009 |
Energy Efficiency |
NIWA (C01X0201) Charlotte Severne |
Improving Rural Maori Communities through New Energy Technologies |
Many small, rural Maori communities across the country are faced with a number of significant energy supply, efficiency and conservation problems, as highlighted by the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy (2002). For Maori communities that are not connected to the national grid, connection is costly, and distributed energy systems present the most realistic solutions to their energy needs. Nevertheless, ways of assessing potential energy generation resources and facilitating the implementation of renewable energy systems are lacking. In conjunction with two rural communities and our energy industry partners, the programme will review and implement a number of trial distributed energy technologies (eg, small-scale wind generation units, and micro-hydro systems) that are consistent with the resource and energy-use assessments undertaken in the previous two years. The programme will assess the implementation process and the operation and performance of the trial technologies, in terms of energy delivery and accrued benefits (health and social). Through this process and using community surveys, the research will determine the barriers (eg,, technical, environmental, cultural etc) to the establishment and operation of selected energy options, and ways of facilitating their implementation. From this, a model of renewable energy choices and implementation will be developed that can be applied to other off-grid rural communities. |
$230,000 pa |
1 July 2002 - 30 June 2006 |
Energy |
Industrial Research Ltd Alistair Gardiner (C08X0203) |
Renewable Distributed Energy |
The programme aims to show that it is possible in many regions to deliver a positive economic result for distribution network management by combining novel control and metering techniques with emerging demand side micro-scale distributed energy technologies. It focuses on the issue of delivering renewable electricity at a community level in the most cost effective manner to the many regions where the distribution system is currently uneconomic or under constraints. Under Objective 1, the research will quantify, for a range of locations, the options for new distributed energy investments in comparison with traditional supply side infrastructure. This will span from support of the existing network infrastructure, offering alternatives to network expansion or downsizing, through to the implementation of isolated microgrids. In Objective 2, specific new technology solutions using wind and solar generation and fuel cells will be developed that can offer future alternatives to traditional supply side delivery. In Objective 3, pilot scale demonstrations of integrated distributed energy solutions will be undertaken. These will match supply from renewable resources to variable demand, and interface the local renewable resources with the existing energy supply infrastructure. The pilot demonstration site will involve the supply industry, customers, and university student projects that will broadly increase applications knowledge in sustainable energy options for small-scale consumers. |
$310,000 pa |
1 July 2002 - 30 June 2008 |
Energy |
Industrial Research Ltd Alistair Gardiner (C08X0301) |
Power to the Coast |
The goal of this programme is to address the inhibiting effect that the lack of network capacity has on local energy supply options and to improve the availability of cost effective energy services to the community. The focus of the research is to create technologies, methodologies and solutions that make use of available resources and integrate with community demand patterns, to improve the efficiency of the local energy supply infrastructure. These local technologies will release capacity in the existing electricity distribution infrastructure and allow it to be directed towards supplying electricity for wealth creation business activities. Research to introduce DG-based systems has been motivated by the promise of more efficient energy utilization, and the opportunity for capturing local energy resources with minimal use of additional infrastructure. This research will gain knowledge of how to develop and implement these complex systems and through co-funding of viable projects, will demonstrate suitability for wider application in similar communities. The programme is user-led and motivated by the energy supply barriers that limit economic development in the Poverty Bay region. The Ngati Porou Organization (NPO) and Eastland Network Limited (ENL) have identified the issues that need to be addressed. They will continue to play a critical role throughout the research programme. Initial applications of the technologies and control techniques will be demonstrated at pilot sites. If these alternatives to existing network electricity supply are shown to be cost effective, it will be replicated at different sites within the region, with funding provided through NPH, ENL and other community organisations. |
$250,000 pa |
1 July 2003 - 30 June 2007 |
Energy Efficiency |
University of Otago Assoc Prof Bob Lloyd (UOOX0206) |
Mitigating CO2 emissions through enhanced uptake of energy efficiency |
The issue to be addressed is the low level of energy efficiency in the residential housing sector in New Zealand and the lack of market mechanisms to improve the stock. The residential sector is a difficult sector in which to increase energy efficiency via conventional market mechanisms due to the high capital cost of upgrading dwellings and the lack of existing financial incentives. To this end the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy (NEECS), provides for an investment of approximately $40 million of government and third party money over the initial five-year life of the Strategy in subsidies for a residential upgrade assistance programme targeted at the public housing sector. The research programme will investigate energy efficiency gains in this public housing as Housing New Zealand implements the Government sponsored residential assistance programme. Energy use and thermal comfort will be measured both before and after the upgrade. The target areas will be in Otago and Southland. The research will undertake thermal modelling of the housing stock to identify areas where further efficiency savings can be made. |
$167,000 pa |
1 July 2002 - 30 June 2006 |
Additional measures will then be trialled in existing housing, where possible, to confirm the savings identified from the thermal modelling exercise. Hot water usage has been identified by BRANZ as the most important single demand for household energy use after space heating. This sector will be investigated in detail both from an energy efficiency perspective and from a New Zealand market sector perspective. Manufacturers of energy efficient hot water systems will be approached to participate in the research. The research will be expanded to include a benefit-cost-risk model to provide policy agents, property owners and managers with better information on which to base energy efficiency investment decisions. Inclusion of a risk component in the model acknowledges that the benefit-cost relationships for energy efficiency projects are subject to a number of uncertainties such as weather patterns, fuel prices and occupant behaviour differentiates this programme from traditional cost benefit analyses using deterministic models. The model will be applicable to individual dwellings or collectively to a range of similar dwellings in a particular location, as occurs with rental accommodation. The research was developed in discussion with an end-user partner, Fulton Hogan Ltd, which originally provided property management services to Housing NZ Corporation. The project has strong links to research initiated by the University of Otago Wellington School of Medicine and Health Sciences. This research involves investigating the relationship between house insulation and occupant heath. This link will be expanded during the course of the project. The research is also pertinent to the aims and objectives of the Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority of New Zealand (EECA). EECA's strategy is to promote energy efficiency, energy conservation and renewable energy and move New Zealand towards a sustainable energy future. The cost-benefit-risk model to be developed from the research will provide information for central and local government organisations, private landlords, individual dwelling owners and energy supply authorities, when considering allocation of resources to residential energy upgrades in order to maximise benefits for New Zealand, environmentally and socially. The research will also inform government policy on residential upgrades - specifically future priorities for allocation of the Energy Saver Fund. This is expected to lead to wider adoption of energy efficiency measures in the built sector in situations that would normally be considered too difficult or risky, and thus improved alignment with energy efficiency and GHG emission targets set out for this sector in the NEECS. |
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Energy efficiency |
BRANZ (BRAX0201) Albrecht Stoecklein |
Towards the Zero Energy House |
The programme seeks to establish a framework to allow the evaluation of new technologies related to energy efficiency in the building fabric, understanding the effects on matching the energy supply and demand. The programme further aims at a more comprehensive understanding of human values, perceptions and behaviours with respect to energy use and efficiency, and greater understanding of how the gap between awareness of the need for action and taking action can be bridged. The programme addresses the refinement of national energy scenarios and the household system performance. To assist the technologies evaluation process the programme seeks to developa more holistic set of evaluation criteria including energy, sustainability, comfort, health and others. The programme consists of two objectives. Objective 1 focuses on new energy technology evaluation and non-energy benefits to homeowners. This objective is completed within the 2002/2004 funding cycle. Objective 2 concentrates on quantifying non-energy benefits from energy programmes to industry and society as a whole. This objective is completed within the 2004/2006 funding cycle. When successful, this programme will complement the results of the current partly FRST funded Household Energy End-use Project "HEEP" (FRST contract BRAX0203), which is establishing the understanding of the current New Zealand household energy consumption. Whereas HEEP aims at understanding the current system of household energy end uses, this proposed research addresses the 'what might be' from this foundation. |
$200,000 pa |
1 July 2002 - 30 June 2006 |
Energy |
BRANZ (BRAX0301) Nigel Isaacs |
An energy demand model of New Zealand residential buildings |
New Zealand's residential sector uses 13% of the nation's energy, and is responsible for about 10% of the CO2 emissions (including those due to electricity generation). Each 1% improvement in the efficiency of energy use in New Zealand homes would result in a benefit of $17 million and reduce CO2 emissions by 0.1%. The initial goal of this research is to understand how, where, when and why energy is used in New Zealand homes. This knowledge will be used to develop a model of the residential energy sector with a goal of improving the overall energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and identify new energy opportunities in the residential sector. Early results of the research have been used to identify previously unforeseen market opportunities - such as standby power, hot water energy losses and house heat loss. The research to date is also providing a baseline for a wide range of other research, including health impacts studies. The programme supports the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy (NEECS). The first objective supports the collection of data from 400 houses throughout New Zealand, and the processing to enable the HEEP Model to be developed and trialled under Objective 2. Objective 3 communicates the results of the analysis and model to a wide range of stakeholders throughout the economy. For further information go to www.branz.co.nz, and search for 'HEEP' |
$700,000 pa |
1 July 2003 - 30 June 2007 |
Other (biodiversity) |
Landcare Research Dr Charles Eason (C09X0208) |
Living Urban Environments |
This programme aims to enhance the indigenous biodiversity of urban environments and increase their resilience to human activities. We will do this by describing the natural history, ecological processes and trends in urban environments and developing knowledge systems and restoration tool kits to increase public awareness and support innovative developers, landscape architects, planners and territorial authorities with strategies that manage and reverse the impacts on urban environments. |
$140,000 pa |
1 July 2002 - 30 June 2005 |
Other (planning) |
University of Waikato Prof Neil Ericksen |
Planning Under Co-operative Mandates (RMA & Local Government Act) |
After 10 years of planning under the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) it is still not known if district plans are achieving their anticipated environmental results. Determining the effectiveness of plans is increasingly important because councils are beginning to consider not only their next generation of RMA plans, but also long term council community plans (LTCCPs) under an amended Local Government Act 2002 (LGA). Councils are hindered in their ability to determine plan effectiveness by a lack of evaluation methods. Without them, councils and communities, including Maori, are unable to determine if actions taken through planning processes are achieving environmental and other community goals intended by the plan. Having spent over $1 billion developing district plans, it is important for the nation to know if they achieve their intended outcomes, and what lessons there may be for LTCCPs. This ongoing research programme on Planning Under Co-operative Mandates (PUCM) focuses on Government's goal of sustainable development through local government. Phase 3 (2003-06) proposes to complete the development and application of methods for councils (Objective 1) and Maori (Objective 3) to link district plan policies to environmental outcomes under RMA. PUCM began with evaluating Plan Quality (Phase 1 1995-98) and then progressed to evaluate Plan Implementation Quality (Phase 2 1999-02). Completing the final link between plans, implementation and environmental outcomes enables councils to determine plan effectiveness, and therefore makes this research internationally unique. Extensive consultation and peer review in 2002, involving central and local government agencies, Maori/iwi/hapu organisations, planning professionals and other end-users, led to the inclusion of a new research objective on the LGA (Objective 2). This Phase 4 (2003-09) proposes capitalising on transferable lessons from PUCM's research on RMA by applying them to the preparation and implementation of the new LTCCPs required by the LGA, recognising the legislative differences in processes and the tools required. |
$718,000 pa |
1 October 2003 - 30 June 2009 |
Research on the role of Maori/iwi/hapu in planning and governance under RMA (Objective 3) will also be extended to LTCCPs, using a kaupapa Maori for determining environmental outcomes for Maori. This objective is to be led by Maori researchers who joined planning under co-operative mandates (PUCM) in 2002, thus ensuring two-way strengthening of provider capacity. PUCM has used many means, including its webpage, conferences, and reports to councils and Government for informing providers and end-users about its research results, methods, and recommendations. Objective 4 changes the approach by creating a Practice Development Programme that integrates tools, methods, and principles developed by the research to build capacity through training programmes for key providers and end-users, including tertiary institutions. This is enhanced by partnership building with MfE, DIA, TPK, LGNZ, councils, Landcare, and Maori/iwi/hapu, with in-kind support and some co-funding. |
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Other (planning for natural hazards) |
Institute of Geological & Nuclear Sciences (C05X0301) Dr Jim Cousins |
Post-Earthquake Functioning of Cities |
New Zealand is a known earthquake-risk country and as a result its building codes are amongst the world's best. Its modern (post-1980) buildings are unlikely to collapse in even the strongest earthquake shaking and so are expected to cause relatively few casualties. However, there is need for improvement. Although modern building designs have largely achieved the legislated aim of ensuring life safety they, contrary to public expectation, are not required to control damage, and hence ensure neither the suitability of buildings for continued occupancy nor economical repair cost. Many buildings, along with essential services, will be so badly damaged in a large earthquake as to be unusable. For this reason New Zealand's cities could be rendered non-functional by earthquake damage to buildings, their contents, and to infrastructure. Wellington is particularly vulnerable. Damage to contents of commercial and industrial buildings could put large numbers of people out of work for days to weeks, and loss of services, especially water, could make large areas uninhabitable for weeks to months. Our aim is to minimise post-earthquake trauma and economic impact for people in urban areas by minimising damage to buildings, contents and infrastructure. We have three objectives that together could greatly reduce the trauma of, for example, a Wellington fault earthquake, through reductions of $100s of millions in losses and many 1000s fewer people requiring evacuation. Our objectives are: 1. to establish and verify levels of performance, design methods and regulations that will minimise earthquake damage to building components, contents, and services 2. to develop and verify new low-cost seismic-isolation technologies that will deliver the required levels of performance for buildings, their contents, and equipment 3. to model the functioning of infrastructure networks damaged by earthquakes and use the model to reduce the restoration times. |
$635,000 pa |
1 July 2003 - 30 June 2009 |
Our research will lead to improved economic performance of the built environment through improvements to regulations, construction methods, protective technologies, and infrastructure management. Our primary focus is design for reduced damage in large earthquakes, leading to economic benefits (minimised losses) and reduced social disruption. Increased trade and exports will be achieved by commercialisation of our new isolation technologies. Although the Wellington area is clearly a critical target for our work the results will have application throughout New Zealand and abroad. Implementation will be assured because our research team includes members with a history of achievement in innovation, at high levels in regulatory systems for construction, and in the commercialisation of New Zealand's expertise in the design and manufacture of seismic protection systems. Our team is drawn from staff of the Institute of Geological & Nuclear Sciences Ltd (GNS), the Building Research Association of New Zealand Inc (BRANZ) and Robinson Seismic Ltd (RSL). For further information visit our websites www.gns.cri.nz, www.robinsonseismic.com, www.branz.co.nz. |
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Other (planning for natural hazards) |
University of Auckland (UOAX0411) Dr Jason Ingham |
Retrofit Solutions for New Zealand |
This research programme provides solutions addressing the comparative absence of a national platform of knowledge and expertise associated with seismic retrofit or rehabilitation of the nation's multi-storey buildings. This will be achieved through research that will define retrofit solutions for building classes differentiated by their age and construction materials. The created knowledge will be embodied in a Seismic Retrofit Manual to be a partner to the current document titled "Assessment and Improvement of the Structural Performance of Buildings". Dissemination of research findings will be achieved through practitioner workshops on "Seismic Retrofit Strategies and Solutions for Existing Buildings: Implementation for New Zealand", plus use of the retrofit manual within undergraduate and post-graduate structural engineering programmes. Economic benefit will primarily accrue through prevention of damage to multi-storey buildings and social benefit will result from lives saved. This programme has two objectives; to provide retrofit solutions for post-1970 reinforced concrete (RC) multi-storey buildings and to provide retrofit solutions for pre-1970 multi-storey buildings. Within these two objectives there are four major aims. These are:
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$600,000 pa |
1 July 2004 - 30 June 2010 |
This research is aligned with the goals of the Building Industry Authority (BIA), the Structural Engineering Society of New Zealand (SESOC), and the New Zealand Society of Earthquake Engineering (NZSEE) and addresses the value chain between research providers, research users (structural designers), building owners, and the public, plus the need to stimulate increased investment from owners of New Zealand's multi-storey earthquake risk buildings. Programme information is available at: www.auckland.ac.nz/cee/retrofitsolutions |
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Other (planning for natural hazards) |
University of Canterbury (UOCX0401) Dr Erica Dalziell |
Organisational Systems |
Assist New Zealand organisations to recover economic competitiveness after hazard events by improving their organisational systems. This research addresses the investment signals and priorities relating to Natural Physical Hazards. Organisations manage, maintain and operate our infrastructure, create our economy and contribute to our society. This research aims to improve the ability of New Zealand organisations to respond effectively following a natural hazard event, minimising the time that essential services are unavailable, and therefore improving New Zealand's ability to retain economic competitiveness in the aftermath of a hazard event. For further information on how the research programme is progressing see: www.civil.canterbury.ac.nz/hazards. |
$300,000 pa |
1 July 2004 - 30 June 2010 |
Other (planning for natural hazards) |
Opus International Consultants Ltd (OPSX0401) Vincent Dravitzki |
Community Resilience |
The civil defence and emergency management strategy seeks to build resilient individuals and communities so as to strengthen recovery after a natural disaster. The hypotheses associated with this programme are developed in a new Response/ Recovery Transition Model. The model recognises the process of individual and community response coordination and transitions. Resilience is defined in connection with transitions from individual to community to civil response/management. Periods of transition between types of response management are either efficient and effective or inefficient and ineffective. To understand efficient and effective recovery we propose four objectives:
The team has strong links to local government, policy agencies (MCDEM, EQC), lifeline operators (Transit NZ, Telecom) and community groups. The programmes outcomes will be realised by the knowledge and tools found by this programme being incorporated into the disaster management planning of these stakeholders and in guiding their initiatives to build community resilience. |
$420,000 pa |
1 July 2004 - 30 June 2008 |
Other (siting and effects of facilities |
Taylor Baines and Associates (TBAX0203) Mr James Baines |
Host Communities: Siting and Effects of Facilities |
Development of new paradigms for infrastructure/ host community relationships, within the context of existing and evolving regulatory frameworks. This programme will contribute to the target outcomes infrastructure for a knowledge society and people living in safe and healthy environments. The programme will contribute to the strategic objectives enhanced governance, empowered vibrant communities and sustainable infra-structural systems within the sustainable cities and settlements strategic portfolio outline (SPO), and improving harmonisation between stakeholder needs and regulatory frameworks in the built environments and construction SPO. Investigations into actual community experience of the social and environmental effects of various types of facilities will produce New Zealand case material. This will facilitate better informed participation by host communities and other stakeholders in assessing effects of future infrastructure proposals, improved assessment of the likely social and environmental risks, and improved levels of ongoing infrastructure management. In this way, the research will contribute directly to meeting the needs for New Zealand empirical information and for integrated impact assessment that is critical to the operation of the effects-based approach to land-use planning embodied in the Resource Management Act. The social assessment methods underpinning this research programme provide for extensive stakeholder participation. The main groups of stakeholders include present and future host communities involved in public planning procedures, consultation and the assessment of social impacts; territorial local authorities or private operators involved in land use planning applications and facilities management; regional councils and territorial local authorities responsible for granting environmental and land use consents; judges and commissioners of the Environment Court; and the many professionals who service these planning and comparative assessment activities, including those involved in public consultation activities. Technology transfer will include feedback workshops, final case study reports, articles in publications aimed at planning and RMA practitioners, conference papers for relevant sectors within New Zealand and also for impact assessment peers internationally, with research papers available via website. A key indicator of the contribution of this research programme to the target outcomes and the strategic objectives will be the demand for case study results by stakeholder groups in the 2-3 years following completion. Another indicator will be the citing of the research findings in a range of planning forums, including the Environment Court (www.tba.co.nz/). |
Completed |
Completed 30 June 2003 |
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