In early 2008, SHAC teams were issued a challenge \u2013 to create a home that requires fewer resources, produces less waste, represents value for money and supports a sustainable community. They were asked to design, fund and construct their project, and complete their work by November 2009.

It was an ambitious proposal \u2013 embraced with vision and passion across the country. Teams worked together creating buildings, retrofits and new products to support desirable, more sustainable living. Teams included a tertiary institution and included students, professionals, tradespeople, educators, iwi, local authorities, community housing representatives, and others.

Altogether, ten teams entered, resulting in eight new builds and retrofits. Their work reflects a range of approaches to sustainability \u2013 from a bolt-on plant room for high-rise apartments through to a mud and flax earth home designed for a rural M\u0101ori community. Values such as resourcefulness, practicality, beauty and social wellbeing were celebrated. Some projects focused on making the most of conventional building techniques to make sustainability a natural part of everyday life.

And while the features of the buildings and the philosophies of sustainability are highlights of the challenge, they are by no means the full story. Behind each project is a team, some of whose participants had never met prior to embarking on their work. They not only found common ground through their interests, but were able to turn their thinking into action \u2013 creating real, physical examples of options for more sustainable living.

We now all have the benefit of this work. The social benefits have, in some instances, been striking \u2013 they include healthier homes for Housing New Zealand residents, and buildings auctioned for charity. Meanwhile, all teams have documented their ideas and allowed these to be available to both the public and the industry for the future.

SHAC 09 is a project of the Otago Polytechnic. Significant
funding has been supplied by the Minister for the Environment's
Sustainable Management Fund.