What are the course? |
Where are the courses?
Sustainable Living Courses
What is involved?
The eight Sustainable Living study topics have been designed to work if necessary as self-contained content, so some venues (especially in rural areas) offer each topic separately promoted. A typical course covers most of these topics on consecutive weeks:
- energy efficiency
- eco-building design and insulation
- water use and protection
- gardening with nature
- organic veges
- waste reduction, including composting
- shopping with the planet in mind
- travel options and carbon impacts
- community resilience (new in mid 2010)
Typical courses are a one term series of two-hour evening sessions (7 to 9 sessions in all) held weekly, led by a skilled tutor.The new study group option will not require a tutor and thus be low cost.
The course makes use of facilitated discussion, fun group activities, film clips and slide talks; some sessions may have visiting guest experts or council staff. They provide informative printed handouts (which can be emailed if preferred) and suggest activities to try at home between sessions. Website information sources and calculators are used in support, for example to work out your household carbon footprint at www.carbonzero.co.nz
Course participants often arrange a tea break with home made refreshments within each session and a shared meal at the end. Some have field trips and a few continue as an informal study group in members' homes after the course ends, or link with existing Transition Town groups for follow up learning.
Our participants are more frequently women than men, but otherwise a real mixture of ages, backgrounds and income levels.They are a great place to meet people with similar interests. We have run courses to meet the needs of different cultural groups including Maori and for Mandarin Chinese speakers.
Our independent
practical information and
short courses show how you can
cut 10% off your carbon emissions, save money and create a healthier lifestyle. If you're ready to reduce your footprint, here's information is designed for you. Sustainable Living has ten years experience running relevant
evening classes, study groups and single-topic workshops across New Zealand, backed by independent research, local councils, educators and environmental NGOs. Start making a difference for future generations now. Register now to join mailing list.
Comments from course participants
"Excellent down-to-earth course."
"Very practical, realistic information."