Windsor Substation is an electrical substation switchroom located in Hawke's Bay and is the first landscape & infrastructure typology in the world to achieve Living Building Challenge vs4.0 Petal Certification. The team dubbed this 53 sqm project 'a small building with a big heart,' reflecting the potential of this project to inspire local community and the wider electrical distribution industry.

As Sustainability and LBC Consultant to Unison Networks, TLC was responsible for all sustainable outcomes. A rainwater harvesting system supplies all of the building's water, and net positive energy was achieved through a photovoltaic system. The modular CLT design, which is relocatable and easily replicable, uses red-list free and salvaged materials. LCA modelling showed a 208% embodied carbon reduction compared to reference building.

Unison decided to share Windsor's award winning blueprints publicly in order to facilitate an Industry Wide transition towards decarbonisation. To download the blueprints or learn more about this little Switchroom with a Big Heart, visit https://www.unison.co.nz/tell-me-about/electricity/major-projects/windsor-substation/#living-building-challenge

New Zealand Energy Excellence Awards 2022 Low Carbon Future Award