How the Competition Works
Who can enter?
ALL University of Canterbury students (and their flats!) can enter, as long as you're flatting. This year the competition is also open to people staying at Ilam Village. You don't need to know a lot about sustainable living, just be willing to rise to the challenge.
To sign up, fill in the online registration form from Monday 25 January. Registrations are FREE, and now close end of Sunday 28 February 2010.
What is it?
The eco-my-flat competition is a simple, guided, programme to help you green up your flat with easy, low-cost living tips. It’s also a battle for great prizes! It runs over the whole first semester in 2010.
The competition follows the themes of Energy, Food, Gardening, Preserving and Brewing, Op-Shopping, Bulk-buying and Waste, Sustainable Bodies, Cleaning Products, Transport and Water-saving. Participants will attend a fun workshop on each of these topics, get support from eco-savvy facilitators and receive giveaways to help them put their advice into action.
All competing flats will be invited to post blog entries documenting their progress during the competition. At the end of the competition, there will be a prize for the most innovative eco-improvements posted on the blog site.
Participant flats will also have their beginning eco-status evaluated by our 'eco inspectors', which will be compared with their progress at the end of the competition. These evaluations will assist in prize-giving.
There are heaps of prizes to be won, including for the most improved flat, best initiatives and the most innovative ideas. This year for the first time there is also a special prize for students at Ilam Village, and we hope to have a prize for most supportive landlord. More information about the major prize categories can be found on the Judging and Prizes page.
Don’t forget the prize-giving on the evening of 5 June 2010. Why not put it in your diary now and bring the whole flat along! Keep looking here to find out where it'll be held!
Why is it happening?
It’s no secret that students have a bad rep when it comes to clean, green living. The reality is that eco-living can often cost a lot less, and requires creative, innovative approaches to everyday household issues. Tertiary students are an ideal group to lead that creativity, while saving a few bucks for their back pockets as well.
The University of Canterbury, UCSA and Christchurch City Council, together with a bunch of other sponsors, have all teamed up to ensure that Christchurch is setting the standard for the rest of New Zealand’s student-living practices.
What is involved?
All flatmates need to agree to participate in greening their flat and winning prizes!
Registration and Auditing
Once all the flatties are on board, register online with our registration form. When the competition begins, each flat will fill in our simple audit. Your flat’s initial eco-status will also be evaluated during a visit by our friendly eco-inspectors. At the end of the competition you’ll fill out a 'what's changed' audit, and the eco-inspectors will pop back around to witness first hand all your developments!
Blogs
Your flat should post at least weekly blog entries about your flat's cool and creative eco-improvements! Have a look at last year’s blogs for inspiration!
Workshops
At least one of your flatmates needs to attend each of the fun workshops, but why don’t you all come along? Our workshops are facilitated by fun and knowledgeable people, there’s lots of giveaways and spot prizes, and you’re guaranteed to be inspired to put your learning into action. Pick a workshop stream that suits you and stick with it for the three weeks if you can - that way you’ll get to know some other flats.
Contact
If you have any questions about the competition, please email competition coordinator Matt at matthew.morris@canterbury.ac.nz.