  
tiritiri lodge tel: +64 3443 2433
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environmental
Tiritiri Lodge is proud to announce that it has been awarded a Qualmark Enviro Gold Award for its environmental practices - December 2009. CONCEPT:Wanaka is a unique area of high visual amenity and natural beauty with a low density of human habitation adjacent to the country’s largest National Parks and the unique biosystems they protect. We came to the area drawn by those qualities and committed to their continuing preservation. With this in mind Tiritiri Lodge was designed to minimise the carbon footprint, be energy efficient, operate using best practice, and contribute to the broader local sustainability. Project sustainability fell into four areas of focus: 1. Design and Construction 2. Active aids to energy conservation 3. Environmental operational sustainability 4. Interaction with a sustainable community. DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION:Choice of materials was dictated by the requirement for high thermal mass and high insulation values; floors are concrete slabs over compressed polystyrene, walls aerated concrete block 200 mm thick or 200 mm reinforced concrete block with external 50mm compressed polystyrene additional insulation. Windows double glazed commercial section, Roof long run colorbond steel on foil & double depth rock wool insulation. The exterior block or polystyrene was finished with a multi layered plaster application over a fibre glass mesh which minimised cracking and increased the insulation value. Timber used in the project either as framing or a finished surface was plantation sourced. The project design utilises these materials in a way that maximises their thermal performance. Where insulation values are poor as in the roofing supplementary insulation was installed in excess of code requirements. Glazed areas were kept to a minimum consistent with the magnificent views and larger windows provided with double drapes to increase the insulation value of the double glazing. Careful orientation of the windows to the north west allows sun penetration of all the major rooms in winter. The winter orientation of the glazing plus the overhangs to reduce summer sun maintains comfort levels thru the seasonal changes. We are following developments in photovoltaics, micro – generation and fuel cells to utilise the large roof areas oriented towards the sun with a view to further increasing energy self sufficiency for the lodge and its operation. ACTIVE ENERGY CONSERVATION.A solar powered under floor heating system was installed using vacuum black glass tubes to heat water which is held in a large capacity tank from which heat is exchanged through a heating coil to hot water piped through the floors of all the rooms in the lodge. Thermostatic switches control the pumps which deliver the water to the rooms to maintain an ambient temperature of 18 to 20deg C throughout the buildings. A separate heat coil in the tank provides hot water to the bathrooms and service areas. Supplementary heat is provided at night or mid winter from an oil fired boiler activated by a thermostat in the holding tank. Provision has been left for electrical additional heating at a later date when photo voltaic film or cell performance becomes commercially viable. ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY:
Standard operating procedures to minimise waste and conserve energy at the Lodge include: THE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY:Wanaka is an internal and overseas tourist destination and tourism is the primary economic activity. Where possible the Lodge uses local services, produce, and labour and sees this as an important element in reducing transportation energy costs and increasing the local economy. We support the activities of Sustainable Wanaka and through membership of locally based organisations encourage the adoption of eco-friendly standards and activities. The micro climate is alpine desert on the edge of the West Coast extreme rainfall zone and suits solar energy utilisation and micro hydro-electric generation from the plentiful fast flowing streams and waterfalls. An obstacle to the exploitation of the readily available solar and hydraulic energy is the lack of capacity to sell back surplus energy to the national grid. Given this ability and using a variation on the German model of subsidised buy back rates locals would have the security to invest in the available and developing technology for micro generation making the area more energy self sufficient. Our guests are literate and informed and their obvious enjoyment of the lodge and the beauty that surrounds it makes for a growing group with a love of this special place and a similar attitude to our own in regard to its sustainable enjoyment. Good news on our conservation project -August 2010Just had a report back from the Department of Conservation who advise that they have now sighted 17 of the total of the 22 South Island robins translocated to the Matukituki Valley. Evidently the offspring from the original birds are now pairing up and producing chicks so there are now 3 generations of robins. Very exciting! Can't wait to go for a walk and see them again. Our conservation project -helping protect the South Island Robins 2009 We are helping pay for the cost of eggs that are used each month for the stoat traps.
Tiritiri Lodge has been awarded a Bronze Enviro Logo by Qualmark Our Responsible Tourism Statement which details a number of our initiatives can be viewed here: Click here |
Last summer Tiff and I did an overnight walk to Mt Aspiring Hut and encountered some beautiful inquisitive South Island robins. They are the most delightful bird to encounter on a walk so we have decided to help the Department of Conservation who have successfully relocated a number of pairs of South Island robins from the Routeburn area as they had disappeared from the Matukituki Valley. They have been relocated to Rob Roy Glacier and between Mt Aspiring hut and Pearl Flat.