The Living Building Challenge

Windsor Substation has been designed, built and is operated in line with the philosophy and principles of the Living Building Challenge – the most stringent environmental building design certification in the world.

The Living Building Challenge looks to nature for truly sustainable solutions with its buildings designed to be self-sufficient, enhancing and contributing to the natural environment and communities around them.

Living buildings are:

• regenerative buildings that connect occupants to light, air, food, nature, and community
• self-sufficient and remain within the resource limits of their site
• create a positive impact on the human and natural systems that interact with them.

Completed Living Buildings in New Zealand:

Project Engineering Team Leader, Paul Humphreys, says this small building has potential to not only help meet future demand, but to help build engagement with Unison’s customers and the wider community, and to set a precedent for the wider electricity industry.

“We ultimately hope this small substation can become a showcase of sustainability, and in doing so, continue Unison’s leadership role in this sector. The substation upgrade will provide Unison with a platform to reap the benefits of sustainability for the future of substations, and ultimately the community and the network,” says Paul.