Monday 22 December 2008

Transport 2020


It seems appropriate that, at the same time as the US oil dependent car industry faces a new future, a new interview with George Monbiot and the International Energy Agency (IEA) also indicates the urgent need for change. George interviews Fatih Birot of the IEA whose agency has just completed an extensive study of the 800 largest oil fields, a study which indicates a decline rate of 6.7% (previously the IEA estimated this at 3.7%).

The punch line is (and hopefully the car companies will begin to think creatively about this, not just their executive bonuses) - production of conventional oil will peak on or about 2020, and that's a rather short time, for us for rejig our global economy and especially our transport systems.

Any innovative entrepreneur who loves to tinker with electric motors, biofuels, fuels from algae, or trained mice on steroids inside your new car engine, watch this video to help you define your business opportunity. And start soon, otherwise, we may all move back to walking everywhere, and that would shake up the whole industrial era somewhat.

pic of George Monbiot from Monbiot.com

Saturday 20 December 2008

2009 - one for the history books

All years are part of history but some stand out more than others - the years when countries announced independence, and the years when some great achievement happened. In a family, we remember the special years when life changed and we look back on our personal achievements at those times. My wish and personal New Years Resolution is that we, as a planet, will look back on 2009 as the turning point in the struggle for the health of our planet.

My hope is that we make the tough decisions to love our global home and that we each resolve to do everything we can to ensure that this planet is functional when we hand it to the next generations. I am heartened by the new global politics the land of the United, and about the people that are being chosen by soon to be President Obama, people like Obama's new science adviser John Holdren, and Nobel Prize-winning physicist Steven Chu. And hopeful that we in Australia are also making what seems like small steps in the same direction.

In this next year, I intend to focus more on entrepreneurship in Cleantech in Australia, to support and promote those who will drive the changes that we need, and my revamped GoBizGreen site now reflects this.
Thanks for reading this blog in 2008, and for 2009 I wish Health and Happiness for You and Your Family and for Our Shared Home.

Sunday 14 December 2008

Cork is cool


Cork is really cool environmentally friendly stuff that comes from cork oak trees and it is mainly grown and harvested in Portugal. It takes 25 years before a tree is ready to produce cork. After importing about 550 tonnes of this great stuff to Australia, we only recycle around 5% of it.

So it's not cool to use it only once in your wine or champagne stopper. After you celebrate and pop that cork this Christmas, pass it on - lots of groups now collect these (in Australia see Planet Ark recycling and type in Cork) and then the cork can be re-used as flooring, rather than tip filler, saving energy - that's the other part of the energy equation. And isn't is great to think that your celebration cork will be part of someone's home for many more years!

Friday 12 December 2008

When nature speaks up, who listens?

Today I attended the National Climate Change Monitoring Symposium at Sydney University, which offered a diverse range of speakers, and a glut of powerpoint presentations. There were, however, some highlights that stood out for me, in particular, the opening remarks of Dr Tony Press of the Australian Antarctic Division who spoke about the changes happening in the chemical composition of the Southern Ocean. He added that one of the biggest unknowns in the IPCC reporting is what is happening in Antarctica. Tony spoke about the dynamics of the deep water ocean in this region and the significance of changes in plankton communities.

Several speakers addressed the changes that were happening in this pristine environment and others looked further north, including to Australia's Great Barrier Reef, home to 6 out of 7 of the world's marine turtles according to Janice Lough. The reef also supports 66,000 Australians who provide services to divers, tourists, and to others who are still discovering organisms in its vast and vulnerable systems.

The day was full of snippets, representing years of study and intense work - often undertaken by dedicated professionals to monitor our planet. It was also a day to listen to why we so urgently need to change our way of living and working, so that the "kids and their kids" will have an Antarctic and a Great Barrier Reef, to visit, to enjoy and to study.


Pics ex Flickr Antarctica Gerlache Strait by Rita Willaert and Great Barrier Reef, Cairns, Australia by Leonard Lowe

Saturday 6 December 2008

Transforming wealth to...

On Friday 5th December, I attended a briefing with many other Sydney business people, about opportunities with the Masdar Initiative, which is a multi billion dollar investment in a new renewable energy hub city already under development by Abu Dhabi and key partners. Dr Sultan Al-Jaber, CEO of the Masdar Initiative was the leading speaker for the session and his topic was "Transforming Oil Wealth into Renewable Energy Leadership".

Dr Sultan shared his vision of this impressive venture and its goals, and the mind shift to use the oil and gas wealth to become a provider of future energy for the planet. He also saw the financial downturn as a chance to step back and re-visit our view of the world, and of a future world of sustainable urban management and renewable energy.

Seems to me that a good focus for Australia would be "Transforming COAL wealth into Renewable Energy Leadership". Businesses with innovative ideas should look for partnerships where those ideas will be taken global - and the Masdar initiative is seeking those ideas. And that brings us to the question - will our coal wealth simply evaporate or could this also become a driver of Australia's Renewable Energy Leadership?

Tuesday 2 December 2008

"Time for a Massive Change"


These are not my words, but those of Vinod Khosla, CleanTech entrepreneur who since 2001 has built a huge investment in over 40 start-up companies. These companies are across four areas that he defines as 1. the war on oil 2. the war on coal 3. new materials and 4. efficiency.

Vinod has considerable experience in his work in the IT business in India, and now suggests we get smart about CleanTech. His advice is stop looking at "what is" and focus on "what can be". To drive his ventures, he seeks a mix of great people, new ideas (including some that are from people who don't know what can't be done), and people who really understand the area.

His time frame is 5- 6 years and that is for the new start-ups to be providing fuel and energy at lower costs than oil and coal. And those, such as Vinod, will be in the fore front of this massive change. Bring it on!

To see the full interview, click here

pic ex Flickr Vinod Khosla at Web 2.0 by ptufts

Sunday 30 November 2008

Giving greenfully!!



Christmas is just around the corner and it's that time where we all look for something to give our friends, relatives and, if we are in business, we may like to thank our key clients. When you select a gift, there is a new factor, as well as price and quality. This new factor is how this gift represents you as being someone who cares for the planet.

That does add some complexity - but it is quite simple. For your greetings, use email or cards printed on recycled paper. If you are purchasing sweets, chocolates, cheeses or other edibles, then consider locally produced instead of imported. For wines, consider wine from your own country - that's easy in Australia as we have a wide range of good local wineries. If your gift is one from another part of the world, then think about Fair Trade goods, such as Fair Trade coffee.

For a more expensive gift, you may like to give an experience, rather than something that may end up in a drawer unused. And think of experiences that are low impact, such as a voucher for a kayak or sailing cruise, rather than a jet boat around the bay. If you give a dinner in a restaurant, always ensure that the venue has a wide range of vegetarian options. Just use some thought so that the gift you give is one that is appreciated for its environmental impact as much as for its thought.

pic ex Flickr Christmas Gift Tags from MyTangerineDreams

Thursday 27 November 2008

Future Makers in Australia

Last night I attended the premiere of the Australian documentary film "The Future Makers", which displayed world leading renewable energy solutions, and was followed by a panel of some of those who were featured in the movie. These included Dr David Mills of Ausra and Dr Robert Dane who designed the Solar Sailor boat.

The movie also showed the hot rocks technology which is being developed in the Cooper Basin, wave power experiments where the waves action was being modelled on nature, and Dr Keith Lovegrove's thermochemical storage systems. It was a great little movie, and one I think that should be mandatory for all those who are trying to band aid the current power generation systems. The message in the movie was about re-thinking our power sources, and working together for this new future.

Saturday 22 November 2008

Speaking of Energy Entrepreneurs....

Last Friday, as part of a joint WADE and CSIRO conference group, I visited the CSIRO Energy Centre in Newcastle, Australia, which is the headquarters for both CSIRO Energy Technology and the Energy Transformed Flagship. The building is experimental with considerable innovation in energy design with creative ways to reduce heat and lighting requirements, as well generating electricity in a variety of ways including integrated solar panels of various types. The Centre also provides a great environment to support thinking and research projects, and foster innovation about energy and local power, ie decentralised energy and power generation.

We were only afforded a brief overview, however it was heartening to see work being done on solar thermal and photovoltaic projects, wind, energy efficiency, and cogeneration. One of the projects is a called the "virtual power station", where a range of renewable energy generators, such as solar panels, could be grouped with a storage device to become a single electricity supplier, able to take advantage of high demand pricing in the network. Not only does this approach make renewable energy more dependable, projects such as the "virtual power station" increase our energy security, acting more like an energy Internet.

It was also heartening to learn that some of the projects, such as the solar thermal tower, are moving to joint venture early stage commercial projects, and that's exactly what we need...more renewable energy entrepreneurs!!

Tuesday 18 November 2008

Its a busy month in Australia

Another major November event for Australia is the Clean Energy Council 2008 Conference and Exhibition to be held at the Gold Coast in Queensland from the 24th to the 26th November. This annual event has an incredibly full program and includes Mr Nobuo Tanaka, Executive Director, International Energy Agency (IEA) as a keynote speaker. According to the overview, this conference will be" industry focused" and "will address major issues surrounding the rapidly changing landscape of clean energy development in Australia as well as provide strategies on how the industry can meet growth demands."

If you are interested in the energy future of Australia, then this is one not to miss!!

Think, Plan and Go Commercial

If anyone wonders whether Australia makes a global impact on emissions then they should consider the following, which I obtained from the International Energy Agency’s web site . While these figures reflect the 2006 situation, it is sufficient to show that we as a nation are a major contributor to the emissions generated from coal.

Global Electricity Production from coal/peat (2006) in Twh
China ................. 2,301
United States ...... 2,128
India .................... 508
Germany .............. 302
Japan .................. 299
South Africa.......... 236
Australia ............ 199
Russia ................. 179
Korea .................. 153
United Kingdom ..... 152
Rest of the world. 1,298


We are definitely up there, at number 7 in terms of using coal, which is the oldest of the fossil fuels, and the one which is the most urgent to replace with low emission alternatives.

Last Saturday, I joined the "Walk Against Warming" in Sydney - but maybe we should have a "Think, Plan and Go Commercial against Warming". So I call upon our new energy entrepreneurs, to come up with your ideas to replace coal fired power generation at all levels, and hopefully more useful (if not more artistic!) than this effort which I found on my wanderings.

Saturday 15 November 2008

Ideas spin from ideas

It's a fast changing world, and with a "soon to be" President Obama taking the lead. With the new direction of energy self sufficiency, there will be a global "new energy" rush to provide products and services to increase supply of new energy and improve efficiency of existing energy use. So where do you fit in? What is your business idea, and how do you make it viable?

One of first places to look for clues is in conferences, where like minded people come together to share progress and to profile successes. In the next two weeks in Sydney, Australia we have the Decentralized Energy Technology, Policy and Opportunities conference and the combined ISES (International Solar Energy Society) and ANZSES conference. Its an information packed two weeks - for new energy scientists that's a feast, but for new energy entrepreneurs, it could be your key to a new business venture.

Sometimes it's about understanding the future, even more than the majority of people. Henry Ford is reputed to have said "If I'd asked my customers what they wanted, they'd have said a faster horse". If you are considering a new venture and need inspiration, find and meet with others who are looking in the same direction. Find where you fit in this new energy future.

Monday 3 November 2008

Home Grown Solar

Last Friday, Solar Systems opened its new Bridgewater R&D facility near Bendigo (Vic) for testing of hi-tech photovoltaic technology. According to Solar Systems chariman, Michael Hamson, Bridgewater is a "a world-class, large scale research and development facility". Together with integrated energy company TRUenergy, it is proposed to develop a 154 MW heliostat concentrator solar PV plant in the Mildura region. It is planned that this project will lead to further expansion of solar plants across Australia and in Asia.

With huge investment happening in large scale solar plants in USA, Spain and Portugal it is timely that in a country overrun with sunshine, we are beginning to make progress in Australia's future energy supply, and even more pleasing to see an Aussie company driving this new direction.

Friday 24 October 2008

Bert's wind

This week I visited Western Australia and stayed in a great B&B (bed and breakfast) in Albany located on the Southern coast. Albany was originally a whaling community at the end of the world, and it now has the greatest little wind farm on its horizon. I booked into Bert's B&B and he proudly showed off his heritage building, the lovely room with the heated towel rail which I soon turned off, thinking that it wasted energy.

Bert was very proud of the wind farm and told me about how the town derives most of its electricity from the turbines, located in the wildflowers on the beautiful coast line. And when I stumbled across this mosaic in the footpath on the way to the local pub, I suspected that there were many others in the region who felt like Bert. And somehow I felt better about Bert's heated towel rail!

Ausra powers up - but not Australia

Ausra Inc powered up the Kimberlina Solar Thermal Energy Plant in California yesterday at a small site (5Mw) to supply clean and green electricity to Californian homes. Ausra was founded by Dr David Mills , and the technology was developed by him at Sydney University and first tested in Australia, but is now set to expand to much larger sites in the USA. This solar thermal power plant uses a Compact Linear Fresnel Reflector (CLFR) solar collector and steam generation system to provide cost effective and market dependable electricity.

The technology now is set to bring jobs and climate friendly power to regional California - good for the planet, but an opportunity missed by Australia. Innovation is the key to a new economy, one of entrepreneurship and low emission energy. Australia is the "lucky country" - to keep it that way, we also need to become the "country of new energy entrepreneurs".

Wednesday 8 October 2008

The New Economy RE (<)C

All eyes turned this last few weeks to volatile stock markets, and the loss not just of the paper value of assets, but of confidence in the traditional systems that had lulled investors into a false sense of security. Change brings winners and losers, and among the winners will be those who seek the new and potentially profitable new directions.

One company who has already made its fortune by this strategic thinking is Google, and again it plots a course for those who can see ahead. Last year, Google launched its RE(<)C campaign which defines strategies for the US to develop renewable energy cheaper than electricity produced from coal. On the 1 October this year, Google announced Its Clean Energy 2030 plan, a concise but well thought out approach to a new energy future for the US. The site invites comments and debate, and it is presented as a "KNOL" - a unit of knowledge.

And the plan is for 0 (zero) use of coal by 2030!! Coal exporters be mindful of this plan. For the entrepreneurs - bottom line savings were estimated to be $US944 over 22 years, and much more if carbon credits are included. Other benefits outlined in the plan are huge reduction in CO2 emissions and large increases in new industry employment.

This plan offers a new direction. What is doesn't offer is a quick fix, or instant greed gratification for short term thinking. This is about our future - and about the new economy that will define that future.

Sunday 28 September 2008

The clever country chooses coal

Last week I did a talk at Sydney University for some students during their Environment week. The topic was Future Energy Options and Opportunities, and it was about Australia, what we have done to date in changing to a future of renewable and clean energy, and what we can do in the future. And I must say, that in terms of innovation, we are among the global leaders in areas such as Solar PV and Solar Concentrating Thermal, Wave power and Geothermal. But despite our wealth as a nation, we do not support this innovation and choose to spend more on assuring our global place as a sporting nation.

Projects such as the Solar Concentrating Thermal system now being made commercial in California by Ausra, were developed in Australia - this one was, and still is the passion of Dr David Mills, originally from Sydney University. Other major solar innovation in PV has also gone overseas. In wave power, it happens again. Oceanlinx, previously called Energetech Australia P/L, developed and tested their wave power system in Australia, but now are focusing on building a Wave Hub at Cornwall, UK.

Despite being endowed with a full deck of renewable energy options, we as a nation have chosen to follow the path of coal. We are the world's largest coal exporter and this means dollars for us. But I ask this question - who will buy our coal once the world has changed away from coal to renewable energy using the very considerable Aussie ingenuity?

Pic ex Wikipedia (Ausra media department, with GFDL license) shows Ausra Fresnel reflectors

Wednesday 24 September 2008

Big Green Picture


I have been contemplating various views and debates that are circulating around Australia at the moment, mainly those about Emissions Trading and the disappointing targets set by Prof Garnaut. There is considerable pressure from some sectors of our economy to resist the structural change that is being put forward, and from the many who believe that there should be more change. And it seems to me that this debate has clouded the "big picture".

Our strategic direction as a prosperous nation is to lead, and set an example of how a nation, and one with abundant fossil fuel reserves, can choose the path of new energy sources, of energy efficiency, of rebuild, retrofit and rethink. In 10 years, it would make me very proud to say that Australia turned away from its coal and oil addiction and built a new economy. And emissions trading is only one aspect of that. The main issue is renewable power generation and innovation in that direction. We as a nation need to re-focus on that challenge, and demonstrate the new economy. Recently, Al Gore set the challenge of "producing 100 percent of our electricity from renewable energy and truly clean carbon-free sources within 10 years". This is the big picture - let's use our personal energy reserves to achieve that one!

Pleasing Hill by Tricky ex Flickr

Monday 15 September 2008

Sydney Shows Green

While we have much to do in Sydney to keep up with our C40 global partner cities, we do have a long list of profile events in the next few months to help position your business or develop your new idea.

One of the main events is the GreenTech Show, on the 7th and 8th of November. It's promoted as the "green build, design and technology show" for ideas and innovations. And join me at my presentation on the Saturday to discuss Future Energy Options and Opportunities for Australia. The GreenTech show will be located at Darling Harbour, right in the hub of Sydney and will attract a broad range of visitors.

So put this event in your diary - its the third year for this show and I expect this year will outdo all previous!

Sunday 31 August 2008

Power from the Earth

Over the past century, we have built our lifestyle on power and a main source of this is derived from burning coal from the Earth. Consistent power generation such as this provides baseload power, to supply power when it is needed. There are other ways to generate baseload, but one that is economic, easily available, less disruptive, and has extremely low carbon emissions is Geothermal, deriving power from the heat located at depths in the Earth. This power has also been used over the last century, but mainly where the heat was close to the surface, however there are many parts of the planet, including Australia, which have good heat resources at easy reach.

Using our significant expertise in mining technology, Australia has many major projects underway to utilise this heat for power in SA, TAS and QLD. However, an American company called RASER has developed a Geothermal process which can be built as small scale power plants within a few months. They claim that their proprietary technology will improve power generation efficiencies by up to 30%. Their first power plant is scheduled to open later this year in Utah and plans to produce power for 9,000 USA homes (translate that to about 8,500 Australian homes hehe).

One of the keys arguments from the mining industry, is that moving from coal production would cost jobs. It seems to me, with our considerable pool of talented people, a transition to geothermal makes sense, for us as a nation, for those who work in the mining industry, and for stewardship of our quite sizeable patch of Earth.

Friday 29 August 2008

Think Nano

As part of the Ultimo Science Festival in August, Prof. Geoff Smith of UTS gave an easy to understand talk about Functional Future Homes and how to make the average house more energy efficient using nanotechnology. And as these products develop, nanotechnology offers businesses in the building industry significant new niche markets.

We were told about a paint which, if painted on roofs in hot climates, could save up to 50% of the air-conditioning load, new additives that improve the thermal mass of walls, and processes that change the properties of glass and improve insulation. And the bonus for these changes, is to produce environments that have "natural dynamics" - where there there is more natural variation of temperature and light. So that we save energy plus live and work in more pleasant environments. So for businesses in the building industry looking for a new opportunity -it could be -think small, think nano.

Wednesday 20 August 2008

Intelligent Grid = Opportunities


Yesterday, I attended the launch of the Intelligent Grid Research Program (iGrid) at UTS in Sydney. This is a 3 year series of research projects and a collaboration between the CSIRO and several Australian Universities to investigate "smaller, greeener energy generators and advanced control systems".

The launch was a smorgasbord of ideas from industry, Energy providers, Universities, and CSIRO, and included two video conference keynotes - one from Nancy Ryan, California Public Utilities Commission, and the other from Associate Prof. Ho Hiang Kwee, Director A*Star Sinergy Centre, Singapore. While there was obviously a huge amount of expertise (virtual and in real time time space) in one room, it also became clear that no one person or entity had all the answers. And that the ideas would come out of initiatives such as these. But ideas must be turned into practical solutions, and that's the opportunity for business and industry.

Intelligent grid's of the future will provide the flexibility that we need to integrate local power generation and help us manage peak loads. Smart metering is a key to engaging users and to help modify energy patterns, and will provide important data for planning. Some of the seven identified projects will also address the regulatory barriers to the Intelligent grid -and this will underpin the next steps - a Grid that meets our needs in a world where smarter and smaller are an integral part of the solution. I see this as a hopeful and necessary part of future intelligent grids, where businesses, or individual homeowners are able to make intelligent choices about sourcing power from a range of suppliers of all levels and sizes.

Sunday 17 August 2008

Go Meet Online

Change in society always brings new business opportunities - and I have been working on one of these opportunites over the past few weeks. I was contracted to help develop a case study for small businesses to connect online with other small business owners, with suppliers and with clients. There are a flurry of new online meeting products now available to allow users to see each other, share desktops, and work on documents together at different offices. Our parameters meant that we wanted a program that would work on both Mac and PC environments, offer voice over IP, and be fairly simple to use.

We used an online meeting program called Megameeting, which allowed ten or so business owners to meet online in a virtual meeting room where we could chat, share tips, and discuss business challenges. While there definitely are improvements still to come in this emerging area, I have been amazed how everyone liked (even enjoyed!) this form of communication. It was great to conduct a meeting without having to catch public transport or fight through traffic and hunt for parking places. And with high petrol prices and airfares on the rise, it makes huge sense for business owners to consider using online tools where possible.

So "going green" may be as simple as changing the way you connect with those you need to meet regularly - and that could be just one more way to put you ahead of your competitors.

Wednesday 13 August 2008

Business Expansion in Renewables

If business expansion can be measured by jobs, then Germany, Spain, the USA, China and even Kenya are on this expansion path. According to WorldWatch Institute, Germany’s indirect and direct jobs in the renewables sector is set to reach 400-500,000 in 2020, well up from the 259,000 in 2006. Spain has 89,000 people employed mainly in wind power and PV, as well as another 99,000 indirect jobs. Despite a patchwork of initiatives, the USA had about 446,000 direct and indirect renewable jobs in 2006, and this is likely to increase significantly in 2009. In China, it is estimated that 1 million people already have jobs as a result of the renewable industry, with about 600,000 in the solar thermal industries. And countries such as India, Bangladesh and Kenya are all increasing their employment in wind and solar PV industries.

So it’s timely that we have just released our Opportunities section of AussieRenewables, where you can list your contract, full or part-time time renewable positions, or offer a business opportunity within Australia and NewZealand. Over the next few years, securing the best staff in a growing market will be one of the keys to success – so use creative ways to promote your opportunity and consider this site.

Wednesday 23 July 2008

London Leads the way


Allan Jones, CEO of the London Climate Change agency spoke in Sydney on revolutionising energy generation. He is well qualified to do this as he was the key person who enabled Woking, UK, to reduce its CO2 emissions by 77% in 14 years and to produce 80% of its own power by 2004. He did this by installing gas trigeneration systems supplemented by using fuel cells and solar PV panels. He spoke to a packed audience in Sydney about the initiatives now being undertaken in London and the vision of a more distributed energy grid.

Much can be learned by linking in to what has been already achieved - not just about the technological challenges, but also about the power of a focussed political and business vision for a region. Businesses, both small and large, can benefit themselves and the future by becoming involved and by collaboratively working on new energy systems to power greener cities, and isn't that where most of us live!

picture (just because I liked it!) called computer light 1 from Yanglong7 ex Flickr

Wednesday 16 July 2008

Our common future

Yesterday I attended a talk in Sydney by Prof. Jeffrey D. Sachs, Director of The Earth Institute at Columbia University, and author of Common Wealth, Economics for a crowded planet. Prof. Sachs spoke passionately about what needs to be done and about caring mindfully about the planet, poverty, and our collective future. We no longer have the luxury of nations thinking independently, and for their own gain - thinking in the next few decades must be global. By increasing our common understanding and by sharing technology and knowledge, the challenges can be met, and he emphasised the importance of Australia, despite its size, as a role model for other nations such as the USA.

Recently, there has been a lot of talk about why we as a nation should act in areas such as Emissions Trading - what's in it for us as a small nation in terms of population? Google the work of Jeffrey Sachs - his work clearly shows that one person, one community and certainly one nation can make a difference, and that may be just the difference this planet needs!

Wednesday 9 July 2008

Growing Your Green Business

If you are located in Sydney (Australia) and would like to join a group sharing business ideas about green and renewable businesses, then join us at our new GreenBizCafe group, Monday 14th July at 6pm, at The Fair Trade Cafe 33 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe. Our guest panel for the first meeting will be Alistair Duncan (Eco Living Centre) and Don Pyke (EcoLimo Australia Pty Ltd) and myself. Our topic is "How to start up a Green Business" and not just one that claims to be green!!

As long as we all buy a coffee/tea or hot chocolate, entry is free, so join us there to build and promote your green idea. See Sydney Talks

Sunday 6 July 2008

Inaction or Bravery in Action?


Australia is changing direction, and a leader in that change is Professor Garnaut who has outlined that direction, and he warned about "taking small actions that create an appearance of action, but which do not solve the problem." It reminded me of the second World War - if those who opposed Hitler had not painted the "worst case" scenario, of a future Europe being ruled by a cruel dictator, then who would have bothered to rise to the challenge.

We too, in Australia, and across the world, also need to rise to our challenge and we need to know that there are many possible futures ahead. Our actions today will create those futures. We need to move out of our comfort zones, care for those who will be the most affected, and move with defiant steps to create a future of much lower emissions - and if this means a whole new set of values and way of life, then so be it! The world of 1945 was not the same as that pre-war, and our world too will change. The pain of the challenge will be our badge of honour - let's rise and follow the lead of men like Garnaut.

Picture Garnaut at ANU-1 by davesag ex Flickr

Monday 23 June 2008

Green Tipping Point



Promotion of your green business is a challenge – how to convey your green credentials, without appearing to be “green washing” your business just to tap into the mood of the modern consumer? And how do you avoid using more paper, more resources in getting your green message across?

I think we all need to take a good look at our current advertising methods. I have for some years run workshops on Marketing and Sales, and over that time, have adapted these to include extensive use of the internet, of blogs, of providing information and of inviting comment. But is that enough? What is the tipping point, and how to bring clients to your product or service with minimal impact on the planet?

Now this is where we need to reject all the ideas about marketing that large companies throw at you – and also reject the notion that it takes a lot of money and paper products to run a good campaign. I think it comes back to a very simple strategy, - always improve the product or service, design a great image around that product or service, look for key people to use what you offer, make alliances with key partners in promotion, engage discussion about your product or service, and use blogs, online forums, websites, and information evenings. Sounds more like a social event –and that’s what it is, developing and using social networks (offline and online) to make using your product or service an enjoyable experience, and one to share with others.

For one of our online information experiences, see GreenBiz cafe and for more tips on social networking, check out the great site of Matt Freedman click here

Picture Advertising by jamesmellor ex Flickr

Saturday 14 June 2008

Symptoms of Success

Affluenza – it’s something we can catch anytime of year, and it’s easy to see someone who has the disease. Symptoms are an oversized or overpowered car, a home that could you could get lost in, a waistline that displays too many dinners out, clothes and accessories worn only to impress, a mindboggling entertainment schedule, and constant chatter about the latest travel destinations. The other main sign is stress, and a booking in the local Happiness Seminar, as if happiness were something to be added to the list of purchases.

Affluenza is a direct result of our value system, of what we as a society promote as “success” - success being one or all of the above symptoms. I am not by any way rejecting a well thought out moderately comfortable lifestyle, but we all need to think about our values, individually and as a society. How can we aspire to living well and not to excess, how can we each meet our needs and then contribute in a meaningful way?

For everyone, the mix is different, but as a society, we are beginning to hold up new values – those of community, of sharing resources, of moderate consumption, and of entertainment that is based around connection with others. And the major spin off of this mind-shift is happiness, not a few hours of temporary joy, followed by a crashing emptiness, a happiness that is an inner comfort, a feeling good with the world.

Business is about achieving through transactions to supply what others need. If you are thinking about going into business, think about the new values that are emerging in our society. Think about a business that connects people, and helps them re-connect with the world of the future. We stand at the door of a new energy era, one where affluenza will no longer be the driving force in our economy, and small business owners that understand this will position themselves for real success in the next few decade.

Friday 6 June 2008

Location Location

Real Estate agents have always spruiked the mantra of "location location" when advising you where to buy premises or where to locate your business.  And one of the benefits of a particular location over another used to be the number of available parking places.  But as petrol prices make driving a much more expensive activity, location is going to be important for a different reason and that's access to good public transport.  Check out this video Australia Pumping Empty by ddrinkal

Sunday 25 May 2008

Oil prices - going up -going down - and up again!

Our economy depends on oil, and the recent price hikes in crude oil are sending shock waves around the planet.  Personally, I think the excessively high prices at this time are driven by market speculation, very akin to the tulip frenzy in Holland some centuries ago. But even if there is a correction, over the next few years, the price of crude oil will rise, prompted by the clear evidence that cheap oil is becoming harder to access.  And, although we still have huge supplies of the stuff -  it now often costs more than the market will reasonably pay, to extract oil  from areas that have peaked, and from new dangerous, remote or deep offshore areas.  

At the same time, the increasing use of vehicles adds to the pressure - in 2007, globally we had about 622 million passenger vehicles, well up from about 53 million in 1950 (according to WorldWatch).  Add emerging China and India to that equation and we have a situation of more demand, and this will seriously impact prices. 
 
There is really only one way out of this - and that is to move, with a degree of urgency, to a non-oil based way of personal and business transportation.  I doubt if the local plumber can turn up to your house, with your new toilet and pipes,  using a push bike or via public transport, so there will have to be an alternative for him and for all those who need to move goods and sell services.  

It's time to review your transport - look at optimising your driving and review your next vehicle purchases.  For short distance driving, consider fully electric, and for longer distances, hybrid cars, or converting your existing vehicles to LPG.  In some areas, biodiesel may be the answer.  Look at whether you could change some your business processes, eg quoting or training,  to online. Rethink your location, combine deliveries and find creative ways to share journeys with others in and around your business.  Take time to plan - work out your dependence on the oil habit and find creative ways to kick your oil addiction. 

Picture ex Flickr World of Oil by Unity.Project

Thursday 22 May 2008

Dirty coal goes clean in the budget

It's just over a week since the first budget for the new Australian Government was announced and I must say that the reaction of many small business owners is one of disappointment.  In terms of the renewable industry, we took several steps back with an introduction of an industry crippling means test for eligibility for the Solar PV rebate.  Programs such as the Building Entrepreneurship in Small Business will not be funded in the short term and there appears to be little to encourage entrepreneurship which will drive the changes our society desperately needs.  

There was, however, big dollars for the development of "clean coal technology", and certainly we need to look for this as part of the mix of solutions.  But like oil and gas, coal is an industry in it's sunset era - these energy sources use technologies that served us well, but now belong to the industrial era, not the new energy era that is emerging.  And we could use the high export  profits from these  industries to position Australia for the future.  In my opinion,  the development of sustainable and renewable energy sources and production systems that undercut fossil fuel energy, are this future.  The same amount of money spent instead on new emerging industries such as Geothermal or Wave energy development or Carbon Capture using the Agrichar processes would position our country as a leader in CleanTech  industries, not one hanging on to old habits with band-aid solutions.   

In pre-industrial societies, there was a huge debate about slavery and the feudal system, which provided the energy sources  at that time.  We now view these as totally unacceptable for modern society, and I believe that in 100 years, we will view fossil fuel use with equal disdain.  We will also be proud of those leaders who took the initiative and were the ones who set the course (albeit it painful) for a future using renewable energy sources.

Monday 28 April 2008

Mining the mobiles

According to Yohohama Metal Co Ltd (Reuters News Service) an average tonne of ore from a gold mine yields about 5 gms of gold, but a tonne of mobile phones being recycled could produce as much as 150 gms.  Add in the silver, copper and tin, and the current high metal prices, then that's a potential metals recovery business.  And it keeps the hazardous phone batteries out of landfill.  So when you update your mobile phone for the next model, think about how the component metals could become part of your next phone, and find a way to turn your junk into treasure.  You may not benefit directly, but in the long term, we all win with this approach. 
See http://recyclingnearyou.com.au or donate it to one of the charities that collect phones, see http://www.arp.net.au/donate.php  
   
Photo ex Flickr Mobile phone evolution by TrueBlueTitan

Monday 21 April 2008

Market disrupting - and the solar Google?

Google is a smart company and it has invested in what is described as "market disrupting solar thermal power plant technology" from esolar.  Generation is based on smaller 25 MW "power modules" and takes advantage of mass manufacture.  This and other options under development have potential to  create the new economic empires of the next decade, and in the process, to bring the changes that we seek and need to meet future energy demand in sustainable ways.  So where is your money invested?  If your retirement plan is funding industries that are now in sunset mode, then enjoy the last warm rays. - the future lies in new renewable endeavours and I for one will be watching eSolar for their "market disrupting" impact.

Saturday 19 April 2008

The new Gold


What's assets do we throw away every day?   What is the new Gold?  China has just taken steps to increase duties on fertilizer and to discourage it's export.  At the same time, it is paying significant prices to import the stuff.   So there is looming price hike and possible shortage what is needed to grow our food crops, and the world is already paying more for its food, mainly due to the increase in fuel costs of production and transport.  

So where is the opportunity in this?   In the not too distant future, we are going to need a whole new suite of fertilizer type products, and some creative ways to source these.  I can remember that in country areas, people used to sell bags of "chook poo".  Maybe there is a new opportunity for small city gardens to  collect kitchen waste?   Will we, in the future, also be putting out the scraps along with the paper and the plastics?    Our rubbish tips are full or organic matter and yet are headed for a shortage of ways to boost our food production.

pic ex Flickr Liqui Grow by Goatopolis

Saturday 12 April 2008

The Hybrids are coming!

Have we reached Peak Oil and does it really matter?  The world has to reduce its serious  oil addiction and we have only a short space of time or  business people will all be using  push-bikes with trailers to do deliveries. Toyota has led the way and  is committed to moving its fleet to hybrids and other lower petrol use vehicles - and it seems to be working for them, sales of hybrids are increasing world wide.  This year it was announced that China will soon  produce several models of hybrid cars, and that will really boost the switch to more fuel efficient vehicles  (green car congress)

From the point of view of  your next purchase for your business vehicle, there are several good reasons to think about a hybrid.  Firstly, if the petrol price increases at (say) 30% per year, then you will have savings on your operational costs.  And if this trend accelerates, the resale value of your car in three or five years, is likely to be higher than similar sized  fuel guzzler.  Also, think of the perception of your clients as they notice your lower noise and reduced environmental impact.  And last, but not least, you will know that driving  your new hybrid car will produce less emissions than the equivalent sized petrol car.  And those already driving a Prius will add one more to this list - they have a car with style, and that makes them feel pretty good!

Pic Ex Flickr  New Prius by Kasel


Saturday 5 April 2008

Green at Work can be FUN!

And to help your team enjoy "Going Green" the ABC has developed a cool quiz game (with some irritating sounds!) at www.abc.net.au/greenatwork 
See who wins the green challenge at your office.  The site also has lots of useful tips, success stories and DIY guides.

Friday 4 April 2008

Green is the colour of the new workplace

This week's theme in the workshops was about hiring good people - how to find them, how to entice them to your workplace so that you can deliver your products and services.  And I came across this poster from a local University.  

For your business to secure the most creative, the most talented and the most enthusiastic people then you need to think about why they would work for your business.  What is it that makes you stand out from the others who may offer them more in financial terms?   What would make someone compete for your position?   I think this poster says it all!     Get your values in shape, have a "green overhaul",  and set your sights on how you can make a difference.  It's not about a "green wash", that won't keep those new people with you once they work it out.  It's about  genuine steps into a greener future, no matter how small those steps are.  Get your green action plan out to the workforce,  and you should find that hiring those skilled and talented people is just a bit easier.

Saturday 29 March 2008

The Future of Business

My workshops this week  included stuff about the future and how to be "at the right place at the right time".  Looking at the self made millionaires (excluding those from the entertainment and sporting industries) , we reviewed what were the factors of success.  The list of fifteen  included entrepreneurs such as  Dick Smith, Lindsay Fox, Richard Branson, Mark Zuckerberg and Zhengrong Shi.  We looked several aspects of success, and found only one that they all  had in common, which is - the ability to identify and meet a future need.  

So what are the future needs that stand out as business opportunities?   The trends indicate increasing global population,  increasing cost of  oil and increasing energy costs as the defining parameters of business of the next decade.  To stay ahead of your competition, or to become a leader in an emerging industry, then consider the future, identify a need, and work out how your business can meet that need.   For some, it will be to become  the most energy efficient and creative business  compared to the competition.  For others, their business will develop a  new niche opportunity that offers  businesses a way to reduce, re-use or recycle.  None of us have that magic crystal ball with all the answers, but  what I do know for sure is that the world of business will look very different in the future.  If you are in a business, my tip of the day is to consider the future.   We have two options ahead, one is the fossil fuel world of today and one is the renewable world of tomorrow. and each of us is headed in one of these directions.  So where are you and your business  headed?
Picture Future or Bust! by Vermin inc ex Flickr

Friday 14 March 2008

Solar PV - does it come in Pink?

This week I facilitated a public meeting in Sydney where the owner of a local solar pv business (Australia Wide Solar) presented a talk about the options available for solar PV systems.  He gave a great talk and showed a collection of images relating to installing and maintaining solar PV systems.  It was full house, with over 54 people from a wide range of backgrounds coming to listen, comment and ask questions. However, I did notice  that out of the 50+ attendees, there were just nine women, including myself.

In Bangladesh, many women in the local communities are taking ownership and becoming the technical support for their PV panels which are their precious energy  source.  If they can do it in Bangladesh, then we too can take it on. So  ladies, let's follow their example and take an active interest in our solar future, and how we can make a difference.  Check out this video from YouTube..

 


Saturday 8 March 2008

Too Hot = Bonus Heating

According to a recent New Scientist Magazine (8/03/08), data centres worldwide consume 120 billion kwatt hrs of electricity and produce 2% global CO2 and rising.  About half of this is used to keep the servers cool.  
So IBM engineers in Switzerland have designed a new way of cooling the microchip surface using water piped into slabs positioned above the heat generating chip surface.  In theory, about 75% of this heat could be recovered.  The article suggested that a future medium sized data centre (around 1 Megawatt consumption) would be able to heat about 70 homes, in areas such as Europe where heating is an essential. 
  
On a more basic level, I also heard of a Pizza Restaurant redirecting excess heat from the ovens to provide a really cosy environment in winter.  That's got to be good for reducing the overall electricity bill as well as for the planet.  So, how much waste heat is your business generating each day, and where else could this excess heat be used?   

picture  called data centre floor by alexmuse ex flickr


Saturday 1 March 2008

What's in it for my business?

Yesterday, I presented a short talk on "Peak Oil and the Future of Your Business" for a Sydney Business Club.  I talked about the limited supply of cheap oil,  about change to more fuel efficient vehicles, non-oil based packaging and our dependence on plastics. At the end of the talk, I was asked the question -"what's in it for my business, why should I change?".  
Actually, it was a very good question and I thought about it overnight.  What would motivate a business owner to make an investment when they are primarily concerned about the day to day financial stresses and profitability of their business?

After a good night's sleep the answer was obvious - it's all about direction.  If  we are all going in one direction - the direction of a fossil fuel future, then some will change and veer off towards the renewable future.  The cost of this change increases the longer you postpone this change. By investing in your business in the next few years, the direction of your business has changed. You know where you are going and you are less likely to be disrupted by increasing oil prices.  For those who postpone this investment, the costs are very likely to be much higher. A renewable future is what lies ahead - is your business heading in that direction?
  

Tuesday 19 February 2008

Pack it Green

Packaging is "going green" and this provides a new opportunity for you to revitalise your business - maybe even sell your packaging idea to one of the many new green packaging companies. In Canada and the UK, some supermarkets are providing milk in plastic pouches which go into a specially designed and re-useable jug.  This uses 75% less packaging and this style of packaging has the potential make a huge saving in landfill sites.  

Consider what packaging you are currently using and receiving.  If your products arrive in masses of bubble wrap, is there a business in your local area that could take this and re-use it? Do your homework carefully, especially where food is concerned, and investigate the shelf life of some of the new plastics, so that your packaging does not start to break down in transit or leak on shelves after extreme weather fluctuations.  Once this is sorted, green packaging has got to be one of the business opportunities of this next decade.

Thursday 14 February 2008

Be a GreenBiz Hero


At first glance, Going Green in business may seem expensive, but in fact, many businesses are finding that the rewards are tangible and often surprising. With power costs increasing each year, a good look at what you use and some changes will soon show up on your bottom line. Any business using premises, whether owned or leased, will benefit by a common sense approach.

Lighting should be one of the first areas to investigate, so consider using compact fluoro bulbs, task lighting and timing switches to turn off lights when the area is not used. Space heating is a big user, so look at where hot or cool air escapes. Is your business air conditioning working overtime to heat or cool the entry to your business? If you offer outside seating at a street cafe, could you provide some cosy blankets instead of gas heating - and maybe a funky message about "sharing a coffee and a blanket".

Does your business need instant hot water all day long? One business renting premises discovered that the domestic sized water heater at the premises was set to provide hot water each day seven days per week. As most of the work only required cold water, hot water could be provided by a fast boil electric kettle, and the hot water system was deactivated (with the agreement of the landlord), saving a significant amount in the annual electricity account plus greenhouse gases.

Be a GreenBiz Hero - turn an energy challenge into a positive statement about your business!

(Pic VJNET ex Flickr) 

Sunday 3 February 2008

Green-It-Yourself


So you want to make some renewable changes – but not sure where and how to start? Doing it alone is not easy, and just reading the literature may not be enough. One organisation, the Alternative Technology Association (ATA), has a long reputation in Australia and New Zealand for promoting sustainable technology and practice. Groups meet in most of the capital cities and in New Zealand and share what worked, and what didn’t!. The wealth of experiences is also shared in the ATA flagship magazine, RENEW, with practical articles on solar, wind, micro-hydro, and sustainable transport for the home and small business user, focusing on real-life applications.

As a fairly non-technical unit dweller, I was somewhat unsure when I joined ATA last year. I soon found the welcome mat was out, and everyone’s knowledge and experience is valued. Now I’m on the committee of Central Sydney group, helping to organise speakers. To find out about the group in your area, see www.ata.org.au, or contact me at this blog for the Central Sydney group details.

Friday 1 February 2008

Simply Solar

Solar is the flavour of the month in Australia with the 3rd International Solar Cities congress being held in Adelaide from the 17th to the 21st February. This is a major international conference and it’s being held in one of the five designated Australian solar cities, which are trialling solar energy options, smart metering and energy efficiency. The other areas are Townsville (in Queensland), Blacktown (NSW), Alice Springs and Central Victoria. These projects are partnerships with the local communities, industry, electricity companies and the Australian government.

Considering how much sunshine Australia receives, we use an extraordinarily small amount of thermal and photovoltaic solar systems. Germany, on the other side of the world and with much cloudier skies, is a global leader in producing electricity from the sun, with 15 photovoltaic plants employing about 40,000 people. Certainly, one motive for this investment is energy generation, but the other is technical know-how, and Germany has developed an industry already exporting solar panels to supply the growing demand around the world.

Australia has ridden on the “back of the coal train” for too long now, and we need to make concerted efforts to reclaim our position as a world leader in developing and using solar technology. The Solar cities project and the conference are to be congratulated, as well as Solar Systems plant planned for Mildura. Let’s look forward to the time when most cities and towns in Australia derive heat and power from a very warm and very abundant Aussie sun.

picture UpMarket Pelican Town (actually Stockton) by Yewenyi ex Flickr

Monday 28 January 2008

Ten oil filled bottles sitting on the wall..

When most people make a prediction about the future of oil, then it's usually, at best, an educated guess. When the chief executive of Shell, the world's second largest oil company makes a statement, then we should all listen VERY carefully. Jeroen van der Veer, Shell’s chief executive, is reported to have said in an e-mail to the company’s staff this week that demand for oil and gas would outstrip conventional supplies within seven years. 

If we accept that this man has the best available information to make this statement, then we have several options. At one extreme, we can do very little, and after seven more "fat" years, there will be seven very lean years. Or we make a plan to be off our oil addiction within the next seven years. And that means a total rethink of transport, not just a substitution with a fuel made from trees and plants. That would mean a choice between driving and eating - only some get to drive and only some get to eat!

How and why do we move ourselves and goods around? How can we achieve a similar, or even better result, without traditional transport? Prince Charles appeared at a conference recently as a hologram - removing the need for transport not just for him but for his entourage. Being there in person is great, but we can achieve quite a lot with technology. Quotes are now done by viewing the site from a phone video, video conferencing is used for meetings, on-line training provides services to suit varying time frames, and job interviews can be held by phone and by Skype. And let's get creative with travel - In Japan, there is a mock-up of a working Dutch village, so people can experience the culture, without actually going to Europe. This is just the start. We still want to go out, have fun and new experiences. Being packed like sardines into an aircraft and standing in security queues at airports is an experience, but very few people consider this as having fun.

And if we do travel, then consider what actually needs to be taken with you. If you are relocating, then prune your possessions to what can not be replaced in the new location (give them away or sell them before you go). Why does the fridge need to go? It's often the best one for that particular home. Think ahead to a time when the cost of transporting anything could be seven times what it is today. How much would you transport if the removal cost was seven times higher?

Imagine a world where transport is much much much more expensive and rethink your pattern of moving around. Are you in easy reach of shops and services? Can you easily reach those who definitely need a hug at regular intervals? It's all about to change and the seven year clock is ticking away....

Friday 25 January 2008

A Celtic Philosopher completes the circle of his life


I learned this week of the sudden death of John O'Donohue, author of the best selling book Anam Cara, which is an exploration of the way we live. It's a special work and resonates with those who question our modern way of life.    John delves into our understanding of life and our emotions as we face difficult times. For me, a pragmatic person from a business background, the book was an about turn.  While John talks about our spiritual nature, he very much aligns with Celtic understanding, of a universe where our natural rhythm forms our spiritual connection, where logic is only one aspect of our being. 
I have been in small business ventures most of my working life and now use my experience to mentor others in growing their businesses.  I have a small team who teach skills such as marketing and business planning. What we also teach is that business is a circle, and not linear.  The relationships with clients are best when they repeated and when there is interaction.  The best team is one that is engaged and involved, the best products are those that are sustainable, and can be re-used, re-made or re-cycled.  The linear economy was about - take, make and use, then throw away.  We now talk about the cyclic economy, and I believe that we need this new approach to all aspects of our modern living and working.  

“The Celtic Imagination” loved the circle. John’s work in Anam Cara is a reflection, rather than an analysis.  It is not a linear, logical thought process, but a circular exploration of what it means to live, to work, to experience external life, to find our interior selves, to age and to die.  Anam Cara means soul friend, which is not the “soul friend” or soul mate that we understand from romantic novels, but a transfiguration of our own deeper self, and an awareness of a deeper connection with others.  John O’Donohue uses the Celtic traditional stories, not to convert us to believing in fairies, or other magical forms, but to release in us a new sense of our own depth, an expanded sense of time, and powerful ways to re-connect with the natural world. 

In this modern time that we now find ourselves, living and working in cities, disengaged from the land and with scarcity of time for friendships, the message of Anam Cara is most significant.  We live in a linear world, where we take from the planet what we need, use it, and throw away the waste.  John O’Donohue has used the Celtic tradition of Anam Cara, to show us how to be a soul friend to ourselves and to our world, and how to transfigure our way of life from a disconnected line to a connected circle of belonging.    

John's legacy and his reflective presence endures.

Power to the people

Just like the early days of the computer industry, when we had to learn a whole new language, terms like CHP and CCHP will soon become part of our vocabulary.

CHP (combined heat and power), also called cogeneration, is the production of electricity and the use of the heat produced in that process.

CCHP (Combined cooling heat an power), also called trigeneration, is the production of electricity and the use of heat and cooling from the same process.

The main advantage of distributed CHP systems is that the waste heat, normally uneconomic to use in centralised power plants, can be used for heating, thus increasing the total efficiency of the primary energy source - which is mainly natural gas. And this results in significant savings over conventional energy production in energy use and in greenhouse gas emissions.

Unless the primary energy source is renewable, the CHP systems are not renewable energy, but they may, in some cases, be the most energy efficient option, especially for cold climates to heat houses and apartment buildings.

CHP and CCHP may be done in very large systems, however, the real interest in Europe is the micro CHP and Micro CCHP systems for domestic use which are undergoing field trials in Europe and the UK, where there is existing infrastructure for supply of gas. But investors are wary, mainly due to uncertainties around the price of carbon, which could change the dynamic and make the investments uneconomic.

So the UK looks like going nuclear, when a simple and well tested option already exists, and could be implemented for a smaller investment.

Tuesday 8 January 2008

ICT – the bad and the quite surprising steps!

Until recently, the PC and electronics industry was heavily based on the “throw away” mindset, in a continuous loop of updated models and sleek new gadgets. And as such, according to recent articles, the ICT industry was outpacing the aviation industry in carbon pollution.

The bad is the growing need for power for high capacity servers and data centres, the inefficiency of equipment on permanent standby, the endless waste of old mobile phones and computer components, and the lack of safe ways to recycle source metals from this waste material. But there are good signs of change on the horizon as some major companies are now taking new initiatives – some surprising steps!

New products to optimise data storage and to manage standby are now becoming available, with obvious cost saving benefits for those who take this path. An IBM study showed that power consumption savings of up to 44% could be derived from server consolidation. Cooling efficiency and the green grid are the other buz words to google.

In terms of e-waste in Australia, there is no national approach, but you may find the site http://recyclingnearyou.com.au/computers helpful. Some computer companies are now taking back older models, and leading this in both the US and Australia is Dell computers. According to their Australian web site, Dell will take back any old computer for a small fee of $36 in Metro areas. Their website says to Contact Dell Recycling on 1800 465 890 or email recycling_dell_au@dell.com or for more information.www.dell.com/recycle.

Most of us work with ICT equipment every day and we take all the advantages for granted -well that is – when the stuff works! Being mindful of the long term consequences is not just a surprising step by companies, it's one we can take every day. Just think - the carbon you release is your bad karma, the carbon re-used builds our future.