The year 7 class had two weeks to research and design their sustainable houses and present them to the class, resulting in fabulous dioramas and sketches of homes of the future.

Science teacher Mel Hunt said the students embraced the topic and it was amazing to see their young minds work on an issue that was relevant to their generation.

“It’s an important environmental issue for the students to engage in,” Mrs Hunt said. 

“Sustainable energy will continue to be an issue throughout their lives and most of the way energies we use today are non-renewable energies so it was a great way for them to engage in the issue. 

“They embraced the ideas of solar energy, grey water usage and insulation.” 

The students had been studying renewable and sustainable energies in class and the project was a way for them to take the study and engage the idea into everyday use. 

Student Stella Cross said the project was a great challenge and she enjoyed the construction of the building. 

“I enjoyed making the building and putting everything we learnt into practice,” Stella said. 

“My favourite part of the house is the overflow drain that allows grey water to collect and can be used for watering plants or in case there is a fire.” 

Mrs Hunt said she was surprised by how creative the students in her class had been when creating homes of the future. 

“Elijah in particular thought of an innovative idea to design his building in the ground and that way he could insulate that house in a natural way and it wouldn’t take much to heat the house,” she said.

“I was impressed by all of these students’ creativity that has come about because of the project.”