We use cookies to improve your experience on our site and to show you personalised advertising. To find out more, read our privacy policy and cookie policy

Skip to Content
University of Wollongong Australia. Logo. University of Wollongong Australia. Logo. University of Wollongong Australia. Logo.
  • Search
  • Library
  • Current Students
  • Staff
  • UOW Global
    • Our global presence
    • UOW in Dubai
    • UOW in Hong Kong
    • UOW in Malaysia
  • Menu
  • Study at UOW

    • Courses
    • Apply
    • Scholarships & grants
    • Accommodation
    • High-school students
    • Non-school leavers
    • Postgraduate students
    • International students
    • Moving to Wollongong
    • Study abroad & exchange
    • Global sports programs
    • Campuses
    Study at UOW
  • Engage

    • Future student
    • Alumni
    • Visit UOW
    • Jobs
    • Volunteer
    • The Stand Magazine
    • Community Members
    • Grants and funding
    • Give to UOW
    • Visit the Library
    • Key contacts
    • Educators & school teachers
    Engage with us
  • About UOW

    • Welcome
    • Our people
    • Services
    • Contacts
    • What's on
    • Global presence
    • Media Centre
    • Faculties & schools
    • Our vision & strategy
    • Our Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Strategy
    • Our reputation & experience
    • Locations, campuses & partners
    See more about UOW
  • Research

    • Our research
    • Researcher support
    • Research impact
    • Partnership & collaboration
    • Graduate Research School
    • Commercial research
    • Global Challenges
    • Media, news & events
    • Find an expert
    • Our people
    See more about research
  • Industry

    • Generator Lab
    • Advantage SME
    • Success stories
    • Industry research engagement
    • Equipment & Labs
    • Funding opportunities
    • Intellectual property
    • Collaboration for business
    • Collaboration for researchers
    See more about Industry
  • Alumni

    • Benefits
    • Outlook Magazine
    • Events & webinars
    • Volunteer
    • Awards
    • Honorary alumni
    • Testamurs & transcripts
    • Update your details
    • Your career journey
    • Contact us & FAQ
    See more about alumni
  • Quick links

    • Contact directory
    • Staff Intranet
    • Campus maps
    • Transport & parking
    • Key dates
    • Events
    • Password management
    • Jobs
    • Accommodation
    • Policy directory
  • Library
You are here More Pages
  • Home
  • About UOW
  • Media Centre
  • 2021
  • Sustainable Homes Challenge winners announced

Media Quick Links

  • Contact UOW Media
  • Visiting campus
  • Image library
  • UOW key facts
  • Find an expert
  • News Corp subscription
  • Sign up for the latest news from UOW Media

December 7, 2021


  • Story By
  • William Verity
Share
Type
Media Release
Category
Environment and Energy
Tags
Innovation CampusUndergraduatePollutionSustainabilitySDG 11: Sustainable cities and CommunitiesSDG 12: Responsible consumption and Production

UOW in the News

Sustainable Homes Challenge winners announced

High quality entries despite a challenging first year


The winners of the University of Wollongong’s Sustainable Homes Challenge have been announced.

The Sustainable Homes Challenge involves students from across Australia working in multi- disciplinary teams to design a sustainable, affordable and liveable home from waste-derived building products.

A total of 25 students both at undergraduate and master’s degree level and from six universities, including UOW, completed the challenge.

Participants were placed into teams and challenged, over five months, to create a design proposal for the construction of a home that included innovative components made from available waste-derived materials.

The winning team was iDesign with the Lego House which can be seen here.

Team members were Georgia O'Neill, Nicole Ellingburg, Evie Parrish-Gibbons and Parimal Salunkhe.

At the end of the challenge the teams were brought together virtually for a special finale week.

2021 Sustainable Homes Challenge winners 'iDesign': Parimal Salunkhe, Georgia O’Neill, Evie Parrish-Gibbons and Nicole Ellingburg.

2021 Sustainable Homes Challenge winners 'iDesign': Parimal Salunkhe, Georgia O’Neill, Evie Parrish-Gibbons and Nicole Ellingburg.

Project manager Dr Leela Kempton said humans were expected to generate an estimated 2.2 billion tonnes of waste annually by 2025.

This year’s challenge was focused on the world’s waste problem, in particular, using waste to build sustainable and liveable homes.

“One of the biggest things has been seeing students come from so many academic backgrounds. Many have never thought about constructing houses,” Dr Kempton said.

“They have learned about the circular economy but also the need for sustainable housing. 

“Solving problems such as waste, affordable housing and climate change are complex problems. We need to approach them from many different angles.” 

“This is the first year we have run the challenge – after it was postponed from last year – and the students have overcome a challenging year to deliver entries of high quality.”

Michele Adair, from the Housing Trust, which sponsored the challenge, said she hoped the students would continue to challenge the industry. 

“They’ve already done that in many and varied ways,” she said.

“We hope to share some of these innovations with our industry partners in planning, design and construction to inform future projects. A forum early in the new year would be an excellent start".

The Sustainable Homes Challenge is powered by UOW’s Sustainable Buildings Research Centre and funded by McKinnon Walker Trust.

 

Media Contacts for this article

UOW Media Office

You may also be interested in

Environmental trailblazer awarded Honorary Doctorate
Partnership to explore low emissions steel production technologies at Port Kembla
Listen to the Albert’s lyrebird: the best performer you’ve never heard of
Services & Help
  • Current students
  • Library
  • Information technology
  • Accommodation
  • Security & safety
  • Pool, gym & retail
News, Media & Events
  • Media Centre
  • The Stand
  • Alumni Magazine
  • Research news
  • Events
  • Find an expert
Faculties
  • Arts, Social Sciences & Humanities
  • Business & Law
  • Engineering & Information Sciences
  • Science, Medicine & Health
Administration
  • Graduation
  • Environment
  • Policy directory
  • Learning and teaching
  • Financial Services
  • Access to information
  • Jobs
UOW Entities
  • Innovation Campus
  • UOW College Australia
  • UOW College Hong Kong
  • UOW in Dubai
  • UOW Global Enterprises
  • UOW Malaysia KDU
  • UOW Pulse
Connect with us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Conversation
  • Contact us
  • Feedback
  • Give to UOW

Northfields Ave Wollongong,  NSW 2522  Australia 
Phone: 1300 367 869 
International: +61 2 4221 3218 
Switchboard: +61 2 4221 3555

  • NUW Alliance: Smarter Solutions for NSW
  • University Global Partnership Network (UGPN)
  • Reconciliation Australia

Aboriginal flag Torres Strait Islander flag

On the lands that we study, we walk, and we live, we acknowledge and respect the traditional custodians and cultural knowledge holders of these lands.

Copyright © 2022 University of Wollongong
CRICOS Provider No: 00102E | TEQSA Provider ID: PRV12062 | ABN: 61 060 567 686
Privacy & cookie usage | Copyright & disclaimer

Close