Solar-panelled winter gardens, reclaimed rubber tyres stuffed with straw for insulation, an out of town saw mill and a smart grid to encourage responsible energy use were just some of the innovative ideas from students who took part in a recent eco-homes challenge, judged by local MP, Sarah Newton.
Studying for the University of Exeter’s MSc in Energy Policy at the University Campus at Tremough, the students were provided with materials taken from recycling bins around the campus and asked to design, build and present one of three scenarios.
Scenario 1 was to renovate a Victorian terrace to make it as sustainable as possible, Scenario 2 was to build a brand new eco-home and Scenario 3 was to design an entire eco-town.
“As well as providing an opportunity for the students to get to know each other and to work in teams, this exercise also provided them with the opportunity to practice presenting in advance of their first formal assignment of the academic year,” said Dr Bridget Woodman, Programme Director and Lecturer in Geography, who arranged the event. “We asked the students to think about issues such as energy management, user behaviour, technologies and innovation, as well as broader issues of sustainability.”
Sarah Newton selected the eco-town that was designed by Jess Whiting, James Higgins and Ben Roberts, as the winner because it was so detailed in its execution, so innovative in its design, and so considered in terms of how its population would dwell in it.
The University of Exeter’s MSc in Energy Policy is the only Masters programme in the UK with energy policy as its specific focus. For those with an interest in general energy policy issues or climate change mitigation strategies, the programme teaches energy policy through a ‘whole’ system perspective: that is, while energy technologies and their economics are important, so are other factors such as human consumption and behaviour as well as institutional, innovation, social, political and cultural issues. Since 95% of UK climate change emissions derive from energy use, energy policy is very closely linked to climate change policy.
The programme provides students with a grounding that is ideal for a career in the following sectors: the energy industry (whether major energy supply companies, network companies, generators or industry groups); consultancies; local authorities, regional development agencies, the civil service, the armed forces; non-governmental organisations, think-tanks; and the City (banks, financiers, insurance).
Sarah Newton has agreed to work in partnership with the programme to provide its students with the opportunity to gain insight into national government policy making and as a vehicle for showcasing the innovative research that takes place in Cornwall.