Builders & Contractors Magazine, Issue #124

Page 23

News “It promotes practices that would lower the new base’s contribution to climate change and enhances the health and wellbeing of the people living and working at Scott Base, some for up to 13 months before returning to New Zealand.” In what ways did the Green Star tool have to be customised for this project and how do you see this benefitting builds outside of Antarctica? “Many of the changes reflect the unique environment of Antarctica. The Green Star tool contains, criteria that cannot apply here; for instance public transport and proximity to key amenities, stormwater management, and greenfield development. “New criteria include emergency planning, biosecurity, and environmental protection in the context of the Protocol for Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty. This development can benefit builds outside of Antarctica through the use of innovative construction methods and contributing to market exposure of sustainable products and methodologies.”

clean workspaces and an external deck for testing equipment or preparing samples for shipments, as well as laboratories for onbase analysis.”

sustainable manner throughout all out activities by measuring, managing and reducing our energy consumption and carbon emissions’.

Why is it important to minimise emissions in Antarctica? Would the emissions significantly affect the surrounding environment?

“Antarctica New Zealand, together with the New Zealand Green Building Council, has developed a custom Green Star tool to measure the sustainability of the new Scott Base. The new Green Star custom tool encourages the use of more sustainable materials, reduced waste, and more efficient systems designed to lower energy use.

“Antarctica New Zealand’s environmental policy is ‘Leadership and Sustainability’, with an objective to: ‘Minimise our energy demands and operate in an environmentally

According to Antarctica New Zealand, over 99 percent of Antarctica is covered in ice. That’s why Pram Point, the location of Scott Base, is so important – it’s one of the few places in Antarctica that isn’t covered in ice. There’s a little Sir Edmund Hillary in all of us, and if you want to work on the Scott Base Redevelopment, you can register your interest on the jobs page of the Antarctica New Zealand website.

What considerations are being made that usually wouldn’t have to be made when building in New Zealand? “The main logistical challenges are the limited shipping window and the limited, expensive shipping options – meaning all the materials need to be shipped in one annual shipment. “Due to the nature of the voyage to Antarctica and the polar environment, containers need to be packed to avoid damage to building materials while in transit and during storage on site. Antarctica is the coldest, driest, and windiest place on Earth, so this includes being able to withstand the Antarctic winter.”

Archgola shade solutions - keeping you covered From small beginnings in 1998 the Archgola™ brand has grown to become the leading supplier of shade solutions in New Zealand. We were the first company to develop shade solutions strictly for New Zealand conditions, and believe we have set the industry standard in design and construction. As the business expanded, we sought more suitable premises culminating in moving into a purpose-built facility in October 2015. This included an in-house state of the art powder coating operation, and a dedicated highly skilled welding team. Meaning we have full control over production and quality of the product. With as much New Zealand sourced materials as possible we confidently offer a top quality ‘New Zealand made’ product. Our team of highly experienced licensed installers are strategically positioned throughout the country, and can provide comprehensive guidance on every aspect of the process, from enquiry to installation and ongoing maintenance advice. Archgola™ outdoor shelters are a stylish and permanent option for creating all season outdoor living spaces. An ideal shad solution, providing 99.9 percent UV protection from the sun and year-round shelter from the elements. Archgola™ canopies can be used to provide protection from the elements for cars,

campervans, caravans, or spa pools. It can be stand-alone or attached to an adjourning building. The roofline will depend of your setting, protection requirements and personal taste.

advice around which shape will provide the best option.

Certain house styles tend to suit certain shapes, but it’s also up to personal preference and taste.

Meccano in nature, our canopies can be easily extended. Their modular nature allows quick installation with minimal disruption and mess. For extra protection from the elements add Ezi Guide™ Café Curtains

We offer a range of designs including straight, arches, bull nose or cantilevered canopies our local licensed Installer can offer

Archgolas are engineered to withstand high to very high wind zones and varying climates.

We use the highest quality New Zealand sourced steel, so you can be assured that the structure is built to last. We pride ourselves in providing great customer service, with a team of expert licensed installers nationwide to answer any questions, provide on-site quoting and when you’re ready to proceed, ensure the installation process is quick and easy from start to finish.

www.buildersandcontractors.co.nz

Issue #124 - B&C | 23


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