Te Kōpua has been chosen as the preferred team in a C40 Reinventing Cities competition. TLC, along with the rest of the Te Kōpua team worked to develop environmentally ambitious, low carbon solutions that were both innovative, feasible and economically fiscal. 

Designed in alignment with the principles of the ILFI Living Community Challenge and Living Building Challenge, Te Kōpua housing development used the world’s most rigorous performance standard for buildings to assess delivery against the 10 C40 Challenges.

The team vision for this project was an urban development to deliver an environmentally and socially resilient and sustainable community, designed in partnership with local iwi, with inter-generational outcomes that increase the health, wellbeing and housing opportunities for people connected to the area.

Te Kōpua is a net positive energy, zero carbon project that promotes sustainable consumption and lifestyle. A large amount of occupants water is provided through rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling, and waste water is treated on site through a "Living Machine" based on phytoremediation, using living plants to clean water. In addition, the site recovers wastewater heat from the adjacent utility sewer for heating and has a total surface of 1,300 sqm of photovoltaic panels to provide energy to the occupants.

The site also offers potential for energy innovation due to the close proximity of the Westwave Pool. This Council-owned facility is a large consumer of natural gas, and its wastewater pipe runs nearby. Auckland Council, Panuku Development Auckland and Watercare are undertaking feasibility research to investigate the potential to capture and re-use waste heat to meet energy demand in adjacent sites. This may provide an innovative opportunity for future carbon zero development.

C40 Winning Entry