gobizgreen

To believe climate change or not to believe

2011-12-31T11:36:00.000+11:00

At a recent family festive gathering, I was inclined, over a glass of red, to engage with some of those gathered about the issues of limits to growth and climate change.

As a passionate reader of the climate science literature and a concerned advocate in my normal circles, I was surprised at the lack of understanding and was faced with the challenge that I was a “climate believer”, which is the alternate term used when one is not a “climate denier”.

Now this term sits very uncomfortably on my head, as I no longer believe in the cultural myths from my childhood, including those of red chubby men or bunnies in hats or virgin births. As an adult, I choose not to wear this tag of “believer” of any unknown, rather to define my level of understanding or, in the case of the stock market, open heart surgery, or wine making, my lack of understanding. Pondering on this dilemma, I came across the term “Climate Literate” which I now assume.

Certainly, I am literate in several areas, although not always a specialist. I am literate in the English language, and literate in skills to run a small business, and somewhat literate in aspects of the solar industry. Over the past five years, I also have read extensively about climate changes on the planet, both the writings of climate scientists as well as those who deny the climate science.

In the future, in such social situations, I will refer to myself as “climate literate” and offer to pass information to those who do not yet have such literacy. It is not now a matter of belief, urban myth, or fairy story that we are influencing the climate - although I do accept that science should always be updating the information and revising as new data comes to hand.

Knowledge is knowledge at that time, and facts are the best available based on peer reviewed research done under controlled situations. At this time, in 2012, the most accepted knowledge derived from an overwhelming majority of scientists is that the climate is changing rapidly as a result of our actions, and that this carries significant risks.

It is about time that we stopped “believing in fairy stories” and that we all seek to become climate literate, learners not believers, planet carers not climate deniers.

Image Decorations taken by Author

Australia's Fair Share of Carbon Reduction

2011-06-21T19:33:00.005+10:00

Today I attended a City of Sydney Business Forum Lunch where Prof Ross Garnaut of the Garnaut Climate Change Review was the guest speaker.

Prof Garnaut spoke about his most recent report and commented that with our resources boom, we have “the best of times” economically to bring in a price on carbon. He commented that inaction would be counterproductive and that Australia needs to do a fair share on a global basis.

While some areas will have a small negative effect, Prof Garnaut also added that some areas of manufacturing could see a positive effect from the introduction of a carbon tax. Innovation, particularly in the energy generation areas, would benefit directly.

He commented that, “the story of carbon pricing will in future be the story of innovation”.

As I see it, any business planning to be part of the future of Australia, should be thinking about this new carbon economy and the important steps to help achieve our “fair share” of the reduction in global emissions.

My pic 21 June 2011

Act Now and Spread the Word

2011-05-21T15:05:00.006+10:00

This week, I attended some of the Sydney Writers festival events, including an evening session in Sydney Town Hall called "You've Been Warned" which was a joint presentation and Q&A by three Authors, Paul Gilding, Naomi Oreskes, and Curt Stager who discussed the issues around climate change and the current political climate where delay and denial are given place.

After the excellent discussions, one of the questions related to what the individual could do to play their part in the changes that are essential and urgent, to at least minimise the impact of a warming planet. The answer that came was good, and pointed to the role that we all have to play in our own communities, but there was no time to elaborate on how.

We all consider these issues when we vote, in choosing what to read, and we listen to others, but that's only part of what we can do. Action is important and that can start anywhere.

We each have a talent, and so that's the first place to start with change. Look at your work, and how that can change. Does you office recycle, or could you suggest lighting improvements? If you are in a trade, how could that change, eg use sustainable paints, or think of your next vehicle in terms of reducing fossil fuel use? Could your factory fit solar panels, or change the hot water system? If you work with others, such as a teacher, or health worker, set an example of how you travel and how you consume.

But most of all, tell others what you are doing and why! Act now, and spread the word. Actions can start small, like turning off devices at night, or taking the bus, or eating less meat. But actions only begin to impact when you tell others, and share what you are doing. A friend recently told me that she only buys wine from her local area, because she knows that it takes so much energy to transport heavy bottles. Each of us can find personal ways to change, and to make a point through individual actions. And speaking about our actions is empowering, and an important part of the process to change the perspective of others in the society.

Global Thinking, Global Citizens

2011-04-24T17:44:00.007+10:00

Earlier this month, I presented a talk on Global Thinking, and why Unlearning is the starting point.

The talk referenced the book by Mark Gerzon, Global Citizens, who agues that "our vision of the world is outdated".

We all like to view ourselves as global thinkers, travelling around the planet Earth, aware of other cultures, keeping up to date on what happens in various regions across the world. But no-one has a passport saying “global citizen”. We are all nationals of defined countries, travelling with views of those nations, and thinking in ways that we have learned from our families, our education and faith systems and influenced by our particular domestic politics.

All of us have worldviews that we have created in our minds. These are “simplified narratives” that help us make sense of the world. Our circumstances and education systems teach us to live and think within various borders, such as those defined by Mark Gerzon as “Individual, Tribal, Religious, National, and Corporate”. Mark Gerzon argues that we all live within “a combination of these borders”, and that they prevent us from thinking globally.

Our economic wealth, minerals, food, and water derive from the environment. New economic models that understand that the economy depends on the environment must evolve globally. But first, we will need to pass through an uncomfortable time, an uncertain time, a time of unlearning.

Unlearning opens options. As Jedi Master, Yoda said to Luke Skywalker, who was faced with a task that seemed impossible, “only different in your mind! You must unlearn what you have learned”.

So are you really a global thinker, or are you one who wishes to share their comfortable and non sustainable reality and values, with others?

pic The World ex Flickr by Homies in Heaven

Coal Power revisited

2010-12-21T10:42:00.005+11:00

It's easy to dismiss coal fired power production, and to wave a verbal wand to remove it entirely from the planet - but it's not going to happen soon. And "soon" is what we need, so all solutions, including interim and transitional ones, must be on the table.

While we are refining and exploring new ways to power the world, there also needs to be fast and effective solutions for the existing coal fired power industry. Australia has coal - we use it, export it, and profit from it. So it is heartening to see that we also are exploring ways to reduce emissions, and leading this field is the work done by the CO2CRC team in Melbourne who recently reported a breakthrough in CO2 capture.

In late November, I also attended a talk on Capturing Carbon Emissions by USYD Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Dr Deanna D'Alessandro, who is pioneering a method to "sponge" carbon emissions, and this, and other initiatives need to be fast tracked.

Another Australian company, MBD Energy are also working on Carbon Capture, using algae for production of algae oil and algae meal.

We may reach a point one day, when the techniques being developed by researchers in the non-trendy areas are essential to removing the excess greenhouse gases STILL being emitted. I am not a fan of putting all eggs in one basket, so we need to encourage our talented people into a variety of areas - wind, solar, geothermal, marine, cogeneration, energy storage, and also into bioengineering and solutions for managing what we continue to do, and have done with coal.

At the same time, I would advocate for a level playing field, where subsidies on sunset industries are replaced by research grants to help them transition, and provide the continuity of supply that is essential for our societies.

Peak What?

2010-12-11T09:45:00.007+11:00

The concept of Peak Oil is now well into mainstream communities, or so I thought. Last night I found myself at a function seated next to a well educated, newly retired IT professional, who seemed to be totally unaware of Peak Oil and its implications.

We are in the era of information, and we debate about how much we are told. Certainly, everyone in the group knew about Wiki-Leaks! But not Peak Oil? The media loves sensation, what's happening day by day, and that fills the news.

So how do we focus the important stuff, like Peak Oil, and how can this topic attract attention and compete with the daily dramas?

The end of the era of low cost oil is changing our way of life. Individually and globally, we need to be aware of this massive social transformation and the impact on us all. Understanding Peak Oil is the first step in adapting, by developing new options for travel and transport, and by re -shaping our many other oil dependant areas such as food production. Important issues are on the horizon but they are not on the front page of most newspapers nor on the evening TV news.

It seems, that many of us are just like the eyes in the rock, locked into seeing only what is put in front of us - with no interest in what is the reality.

PIc by Mary /Sculptures by the Sea 2009 Sydney

Sustainably Mobile in Style

2010-11-17T07:50:00.006+11:00

At the Clean Energy Expo Asia, a fair chunk of the exhibition floorspace was dedicated to a "Sustainable Mobility Showcase" - very understated name for some rather interesting vehicles including the Tesla Roadster, which would be a very cool way to be "sustainably mobile".

The Roadster body is a carbon fibre creation and the design sets the bar for other cars to achieve, strength and low weight at the same time. This is a premium fully electric sports vehicle which manages up to about 400km range, depending on how you like to drive - to conserve or impress! But I think it would impress at any speed, and if you need to make a statement, then the Tesla Roadster does that and adds the exclamation mark!

I was delighted to finally see a Roadster in the flesh - and I certainly would like to see more "Sustainably Mobile" Roadsters on our Aussie roads.

Pic by Mary at Clean Energy Expo Asia 2010

Small Door, Opening to Asia Pacific

2010-11-15T07:50:00.006+11:00

At the same time as Australia and the US are both facing internal opposition to supporting legislation for more Clean Energy uptake, countries like Singapore have ambitious plans to take up the challenge.

At the recent Clean Energy Expo Asia conference and exhibition held in Singapore, I was impressed with the level of commitment for Singapore to become a hub city for showcasing and promoting renewable energy - and one that addresses the issues of energy security and dependance on oil. The conference was developed in partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Sustainable Energy Association of Singapore (SEAS) and there was emphasis on collaboration with key groups in the Asia Pacific Region to achieve outcomes not just for Singapore but for the whole region.

Ministerial support was evident with Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for the Environment and Resouces at the opening ceremony. Dr Ibrahim spoke about the projected job creation of 7,000 jobs by 2015 for Singapore, and how Singapore is planning to attract companies to become a "living laboratory" for sustainable urban solutions.

Over past few decades, I have observed that Singapore undertakes projects with a high degree of focus and determination, so I for one will be watching with great interest to see how Singapore develops their Clean Energy hub. One Australian company that I spoke to at the exhibition saw Singapore as a stepping stone to the Asian markets, and for Aussie technology this may well be a very welcome door to the important Asian markets.

My pic at Clean Energy Expo Asia exhibition opening 2 Nov 2010

Building a low carbon Sydney

2010-10-20T22:20:00.003+11:00

Next Monday evening (25 Oct), in Sydney, there will be special update at the Sydney Town Hall with interviewer Tim Flannery and speaker Allan Jones MBE who will report on the progress made in delivering sustainable systems for energy, water and waste for the city.

With a panel of knowledgable and dedicated specialists and business leaders, this is set to be an enlightening evening. To see booking details CLICK HERE.

Nissan Leaf - Emission and Petrol station free!

2010-10-17T07:07:00.011+11:00

Helping with All-Energy Australia 2010, I was delighted that 3,000 industry and business people came to see the show in Melbourne on Oct 6&7, and the exhibition space included over 180 exhibitors of clean energy production and associated services, in the areas of solar, wind, bio-energy, geothermal, marine, energy efficiency, storage and measurement.

This year, All-Energy Australia was fortunate to have a Nissan Leaf electric car on display, and this attracted significant attention from businesses and local government. The Nissan Leaf is a 100% electric vehicle, which should go about 160 km on a single charge, certainly more than sufficient to cover my average 150km per week of city driving. And for the once a year, out of town drive, I would happily borrow, rent, or travel by bus. Of course, that will in the future be remedied by fast charge outlets, hopefully located close by a good coffee shop. And I am unlikely to ever need to drive at the top speed of 140km/hr.

I would like be off fossil fuels, but I do enjoy and need a vehicle, and the Nissan Leaf is definitely on my short-list! In my mind's eye, it ranks as a very stylish and electronically cool car. My only gripe is that it will be 2012 before Australia sees the first available Nissan Leaf vehicles, so, in the meantime, I will have to wait and plan where to put my fully wind offset charging outlet.

No more trips to the Service Station for fuel - priceless !

Pic by Mary at All-Energy Australia 2010

OPPORTUNITY Knocks

2010-09-20T07:48:00.005+10:00

Opportunity knocks once, and if the door isn’t answered, moves on to another door. We all have those moments in our personal histories, where we took on a challenge, or where we sat still, debating whether this opportunity was real, not moving and later regretting.

In 2010, Opportunity is knocking loudly, for the many countries on this planet, that will lead and dominate the future. And we, in Australia (and the US) are still in debate mode.

Thomas L Friedman, quoting Peggy Lui in his New York Times OP-ED, says it all:
“There is really no debate about climate change in China,” said Peggy Liu, chairwoman of the Joint U.S.-China Collaboration on Clean Energy, a nonprofit group working to accelerate the greening of China. “China’s leaders are mostly engineers and scientists, so they don’t waste time questioning scientific data.” The push for green in China, she added, “is a practical discussion on health and wealth. There is no need to emphasize future consequences when people already see, eat and breathe pollution every day.”

And because runaway pollution in China means wasted lives, air, water, ecosystems and money — and wasted money means fewer jobs and more political instability — China’s leaders would never go a year (like we will) without energy legislation mandating new ways to do more with less. It’s a three-for-one shot for them. By becoming more energy efficient per unit of G.D.P., China saves money, takes the lead in the next great global industry and earns credit with the world for mitigating climate change.

So while America’s Republicans turned “climate change” into a four-letter word — J-O-K-E — China’s Communists also turned it into a four-letter word — J-O-B-S.

Do you hear opportunity knocking on your door? Is your business/country in debate mode or are you opening doors to the new energy era?

Climate Change = Opportunity, so fill in the missing letters in your part of the world….
OPPORTUNITY = J-O-?-? .

Pic Ex Flickr OPEN DOOR by yewenyi

Turbine design drawn from Gliders

2010-09-08T15:55:00.004+10:00

At a recent AuSES meeting in Sydney, we were treated to an insight into a new design for a medium sized vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) with versions rated at 3.5kW and 10kW. These VAWT’s were designed in Australia by a local company called Radotec . The prototype is being vehicle tested to simulate wind conditions in turbulent environments.

The talk was presented by Radotec’s Managing Director, Walter Radovich. Walter spoke about how the turbine design evolved from the engineers’ knowledge of aerodynamics and glider wings.

As this manufacturing company has engineering design and composites skills, the turbines will be made in Sydney, taking concept to reality locally in Australia.

With electricity prices on the rise, I look forward in the future to driving around Sydney’s windier industrial estates and to seeing these elegant energy producers on factory roofs and in the car parks and wherever the wind resources are sufficient to make these units contribute to business sustainability.

Pic courtesy of Radotec

Population Balance in Australia

2010-08-14T20:50:00.006+10:00

Businesses in Australia have done well in recent times, with population growing and more goods and services on demand. But as Dick Smith, in his true blue Aussie entrepreneurial style, is pointing out to us, increasing population is just short term and very hazardous thinking in a world where resources are finite and weather patterns changing.

At some point, locally and globally, we will need to stop this growth and find ways to manage our economies, our businesses, our way of life without the false mantra of continuous population growth. At some point, we will need to say that enough is enough and to challenge those who think only of today and postpone the hard questions that we as a species must face.

We can change our energy systems, we can move to new and more efficient forms of transport, we can live in buildings that produce their own power, but to do all that and to add 3 billion more people to our global home is a challenge far too difficult to contemplate.

Dick Smith has set himself goals in the past and inspired many Australians. Let's hope his Population Puzzle, with its prize incentive, is an inspiration to young Australians, so that we can show the world that there are ways to live in balance with the new no population growth economy.

Energy Efficiency in the drivers seat

2010-07-24T15:36:00.008+10:00

Energy Efficiency is always the first step when reviewing your energy plan for the next few years. So if you or your business plans to purchase a new vehicle, then it's not just the initial investment, it's about your fuel and running costs. So Ford's ECOnetic Fiesta turbo diesel is certainly one to consider.

According to all the reviews, the Ford Fiesta ECOnetic is more fuel efficient than a Prius, and considerably less in price. Previously, I wasn't a fan of diesels until the development of the particulate filter to reduce emissions - and that's no longer an issue for most modern diesels. Also, the Fiesta ECOnetic claims to produce less than 100gm/km of CO2 emissions, one of the few cars in Australia which meet this standard.

I was taken for a short ride in one of these last week, and the ECOnetic Fiesta is a zippy 5 door manual hatch, with all the now essential USB and Bluetooth mod cons. But the main benefit is the fuel economy, claimed as 3.7L/100km under test conditions, and that will give you a car that goes the distance.

Energy efficiency is not just about turning off your lights and computers. The biggest saving for you and the planet may be in your choice of car. And with fuel prices likely to roller-coaster at any time, the right choice is not just better for the environment, it's also better for your budget and your business.

My pic of Ford Fiesta ECOnetic at Enviro 2010

Zero Emission Street Sweeper

2010-07-24T14:34:00.004+10:00

At Enviro 2010 in Melbourne this week, I was quite fascinated by the Tennant Green Machines (TM) 500ZE Electric Street Sweeper, which was on display.

We are moving towards a world where the rising cost of energy, and especially conventional transport fuels, will play an increasing part of our overall cost of doing everyday tasks, such as cleaning our streets. This innovative little unit, so I am told, will run for 8 hours on one charge, and with zero emissions during the operation of the vehicle. With a bonus of being almost silent, I guess the downside is you just won't hear it coming - so watch out behind you, there well may be a 500ZE cleaning up the footpath behind you.

My Pic 500ZE, July 22 at Enviro 2010.

The Baton is passed..

2010-07-24T13:34:00.003+10:00

This week the world learned of the sudden death of Stephen Schneider, Stanford University Climate Scientist, and passionate advocate for global change. Stephen travelled the world, speaking out, sharing research and debunking theories that had no scientific basis. He also encouraged other scientists to speak about their work, their observations and the potential implications.

I met Stephen on several of his visits to Australia, and was inspired by his enthusiasm for life, and always amused by his humour and witty commentary. He was a man whose physical strength was failing, but his personal energy and passion was still strong and felt by everyone who met him.

There will need to be more than one emerging climate scientist to pick up his baton, so if that's you, then go for it, it's now passed to you..

Image cropped from Original Standford University News 2006

Sydney's New Distributed Energy Plan

2010-07-24T12:52:00.006+10:00

Sydney City has ambitious plans, led by tri and cogeneration specialist Allan Jones, formerly of Woking and London.

At our July monthly ATA meeting in Sydney, Allan spoke about his successes and his new role to help reduce Sydney's greenhouse gas emissions by 70% by 2030. Allan ranks as one of my heroes and to have him here, in my home town, is just excellent.

Australia is highly urbanised, and with the majority of people now living in cities, I recommend watching Allan's progress at the City of Sydney over the next few years, and let's share and learn from local successes that will drive energy innovation globally.

View Allan's page here. and my previous blog entry on Allan.

Charge Up in Sydney

2010-05-26T06:56:00.007+10:00

Leading the way, with support from the Sydney City Council, my home town Sydney, now has its first commercial electric charging point. And while this particular pole, managed by ChargePoint, is for the exclusive use of GoGet car share group, it is hoped that over time, more of these will appear in Australian cities for the use of electric car owners and car share groups.

And with green power being supplied to the charging posts, that means driving is powered by wind and sun.

Organisations such as the Alternative Technology Association, now have some members actively seeking to convert their cars to electric. Many others like myself are awaiting the manufactured fully electric cars which are expected to start arriving in Australia in 2011.

As a typical Sydney driver, 95% of my driving is for trips less than 50 km, and living centrally, I use a car only three times a week. So bring on the electric cars, electric charging posts, and car sharing which are all definitely part of my low carbon future!!

Pic of CarCharging in Glebe by Mary in Glebe 25 May 2010

My Earth, Your Earth, Future Eaarth?

2010-05-24T08:01:00.009+10:00

At this time of year, Sydney has this wonderful writers festival where authors come to discuss and be interviewed about their most recent works, and so I ventured out yesterday to see Bill McKibben, environmental campaigner, co-founder of 350.org and author of several books, including his most recent work Eaarth.

Actually, Bill spoke less about "making a life on a tough new planet" which is the theme of his book, and more about the social changes that are happening and the inequalities of a changing environment, where the greatest impacts are often on those who live the lowest carbon intense lifestyles. Bill spoke about needing new metaphors to help everyone get their heads around what is happening, and about developing a new framework for understanding the world.

And with all the buzz of the renewable industries, it is sobering to revisit why these changes are so important and so urgent, and to commend those like Bill who become involved and take on the daunting task of setting global goals and campaigning for our Earth/Eaarth which he does with his group 350.org.

We can all only speculate what lies ahead for us in the next few decades - what we do know is that we need to consider the big picture, and to re-think how we can share one unique and beautiful planet. As someone once said, "if we rented the earth like an apartment, then we are in definite danger of loosing our deposit bond". But unlike an apartment, we have no where else to go.. so let's clean up the place, stop digging up the floorboards, work out how to limit the size of our global group, and discover new ways to share this earth-dwelling that work for everyone, not just a privileged few. And just maybe, we could rediscover ourselves in the process.

Pic of Bill McKibben taken by Mary 23 May 2010

Clean Energy Real Estate: Position = Investment

2010-04-11T08:34:00.008+10:00

The latest post on Watthead, authored by Garrett Brennan of Focus the Nation, includes the following:

"If we’re serious about solutions, we need people in power to get serious about investment in clean energy research, development and adoption, and then empower young entrepreneurs with tools to unleash their creativity. Climate change is NOT the defining issue of our generation. After all, today’s ‘millennials’ didn’t put all that global warming pollution up there. But building a clean and prosperous energy economy that averts the risks of climate change—and leading that effort in a way that inspires people in diverse communities across the country to take part in that collective effort—this is the defining issue of our generation."

Across the US, Focus the Nation are organising events for young entrepreneurs, professionals and future energy workers to engage in Clean Energy Forums. These types of movements need to, and will go global, under a variety of locally named and locally driven groups and will be across political boundaries, engaging a generation who already connect using the mediums of social online media.

Many previously prosperous and mature industries would be wise to take heed of the potential wealth to be derived from this creativity and that the "new energy economy" is already happening, in pockets and spaces around the globe. Change is upon us - embrace the change and get serious about opening doors for those who will drive the Clean Energy industries of the next decades, and in doing so, you also open the door to solutions that are needed to adapt and to minimise the risks of climate change.

Picture from Focus the Nation http://focusthenation.org/

Farming Liquid Green

2010-04-05T06:59:00.009+10:00

In Perth last week, at a Sustainable Energy conference, I came across this company called BioLectric, doing very interesting stuff with Algae. They claim that "algae can capture and convert CO2 into biomass at a rate higher than any land based plants" and the CO2Algae process cultivates algae on marginal land utilising poor quality water. BioLectric promote their hot house pond systems which use the natural characteristics of the algae.

Algae to biomass/biofuels is an interesting and rapidly emerging area of investigation into energy systems - and has great potential, plus uses natural processes. And this reminds me of the business opportunities of the early computer days, when everyone was interested, but only a few took up the early challenges to change. Rethinking our processes and our energy systems is what is needed, and algae farming may just be one of those opportunities staring at our global collective face.

Image from http://www.biolectric.com.au/co2benefits.html

Storms of Our Future

2010-03-09T06:25:00.006+11:00

Last night, I attended a talk in Sydney by Dr James Hansen, highly awarded scientist and author (see his new book, Storms of My Grandchildren). James has a long career of researching and defining the changes in our climate and is a world authority on this topic.

It was a full house, yet still an informal occasion, where questions were invited. James spoke about the many challenges we face, and he also spoke about some solutions, such as a new Fee and Dividend way of promoting and rewarding energy efficiency. James is among many who are seriously concerned about the global decline in public interest in climate science, while at the same time, the data is showing more conclusively that the planet is warming. His key message was that we need to reduce the CO2 levels to 350 ppm, if we want to pass on a workable planet to the next generations. To do that, James sees that we must generate our power without burning fossil fuels, primarily coal.

For the planet, he spoke about nuclear power generation, but for Australia, he could see a future using renewable options such as large scale solar thermal, because of the ideal conditions for that technology to function.

All that is well known, but one more point came out of the evening, and that was a brief discussion about the need for a "Churchill like" leader, who would engage the world and set a course for the future. And it made me think of a Winston Churchill quote that I came across last week which said “Sometimes doing your best is not good enough. Sometimes, you must do what is required.”

Dr James Hansen is a brilliant scientist, not by nature a public speaker, but he is "doing what is required". And maybe that's a question for us all, "what is it that we can do, that is required for our planet and our common future".

Image : Dr. James Hansen, of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies, New York. Credit: NASA

Protoype the Future

2010-02-23T08:51:00.004+11:00

"Lessons we've learned" by Nike CEO Mark Parker see WME article

• Transparency is an asset, not a risk;
• Collaboration enables systemic change;
• Every challenge and risk is an opportunity;
• Design allows you to prototype the future, rather than retrofit the past; and
• To make real change, you have to be a catalyst.

Direction --> Money

2009-12-31T08:35:00.005+11:00

Truman Semans published an article on Dec 18th, called "In Copenhagen, Follow the Money". In it, he says:

"Few of the Copenhagen negotiators understand economics, investment, and business well, or the contributions business can make to solve the problem, or the policy frameworks that would best encourage business to play this role."

Our focus over the past few months has been to look at what can be achieved by governments coming together to solve the climate crisis. And in some ways, this was a positive step, but mostly, it was a planetary talk fest.

Truman rightly points out that developed countries are unlikely to hand over the sums of money being sought by developing nations, and companies with existing or new IP are not going to give away that technology. So the outcomes being sought were not feasible in the current global political space.

To achieve the vision, the goals of a new energy economy, and to fast track this, business people must step in and drive the agenda. This is already happening in China, India and the US as BLWB's (business leaders without borders) see opportunities for major industries developing in water, waste and energy management. Many corporate partnerships across nations are already in place and more are on the drawing board.

Old money is blocking some of these initiatives, and it's time for them to change direction, or get out of the way. And for governments to support local initiatives that will best meet the needs of this new economy.

In Truman's words: "It is critical that the business community educate governments on the role that they can play and sell them on the enabling policies and financial mechanisms that are needed. "

Copenhagen over, now let's get on with what needs to be done.

Directionally challenged

2009-12-30T09:44:00.013+11:00

As planetary people, we are hurtling through space and time, and our individual lives are wrapped around the circumstances that we find ourselves. And annually, by our measure of time, I find it useful to take some moments to review and look ahead.

With all the challenges that drive us daily, it is sometimes difficult to fully comprehend facts and figures that point to an uncertain future for many species, including us. How then, do we look forward positively, and enliven others around us for the changes that are unfolding?

Looking back, those who inspired us in the past, did so by their positive words. Words such as, “I have a dream….” and, “we will fight them on the beaches…”, and NOT, “I have a nightmare...” or “they are so powerful against us...”. Warnings are useful, but like this sign, give us no information about where we should go. This next year, 2010, is a year to inspire more people to become involved in the transition, and to draw more pictures of our common future, while still actively challenging short-term and factional thinking.

My picture of our future is of a stable number of people on this planet living in diverse, sustainable communities, each having access to water and food, and to life enhancing energy from renewable sources. My vision is of a sustainable global society powered by renewable energy.

What is your dream, your planetary picture, your vision of the future, one you use to engage those around you?

(and I took the picture above in Ireland/West Coast)

A Six-Pack of Coal

2009-11-03T07:25:00.005+11:00

This week, Science Alert includes a commentary by Kjell Aleklett called Economy and Climate on the path down from the Peak of Oil and Gas. In that article, Kjell, who is Professor in Physics, Uppsala Hydrocarbon Depletion Study Group, at Uppsala University, Sweden, writes.....

"Many are convinced that the future use of coal will determine the outcome for the world’s climate. If we study the world’s coal reserves we find that 80 per cent exists in only six nations; the USA, Russia, China, India, Australia and South Africa. The greatest proportion of the coal that is consumed globally is in these six nations. It is incorrect to assert that carbon dioxide emissions from coal are an international problem.
They are fundamentally a national problem. The international problem is that the rest of the world is affected by the emissions from these six nations."

Thought-provoking words for us Aussies surfing and sitting on our beaches, watching ships queue up to export tons of the stuff!

pic ex Flickr Happychopper's Photostream with comment "Newcastle - check the massive ships in the distance carrying coal... there were hundreds of them out there! "

100 percent renewable by 2030

2009-10-21T09:02:00.004+11:00

Mark Jacobsen of Stanford and Mark Delucchi of University of California have produced a paper which confirms what some of us have suspected, that it is possible to shift the world's energy production to 100 percent renewable by 2030. Their article is the cover story of the November Scientific American and their formula is a combination of wind, marine and solar energy. They point out that using renewables to generate power automatically provides significant efficiency because much less energy is wasted as heat such as in the combustion processes of traditional power generation.

The article addresses the "hour by hour" power demand and the need to significantly upgrade the transmission infrastructure. According to them, 100 percent renewable by 2030 is possible, it's feasible, but whether it's achievable may depend on how we support our renewable businesses and entrepreneurs, and what we say to our politicians and to our law makers.

There are competing elements in this new era, but change will happen. The question is, will it be done in time, and achieve our 100 percent renewable world by 2030?

TCKTCKTCK to the future

2009-10-16T08:20:00.005+11:00

Maintaining the Status Quo - when we have achieved some semblance of "the good life", our priority is then to maintain that lifestyle, not to see it eroded, to keep things the way they currently are. But that mindset comes with a big price tag for the planet.

This week, I observed a considerable degree of that urge to maintain the status quo, with farmers in the UK rejecting wind farms which might change their view, Australians in a debate about how our lifestyles could change unless we tighten our border security. Others worldwide are concerned about increases in energy cost, and how that could impact them in the short term, while many more see their lifestyles being eroded from lack of water and changing climate. Others just want to avoid any debate and hope that life will continue as "normal" and want their personal status quo maintained.

In some ways, the Copenhagen debate is also one of Status Quo - how to set a course for the future at the same time as providing the economic and political stability to take us there.

So there is no easy answer here, but an absolute need to develop a new paradigm, new values, and a new vision. We have talked a lot about the pain of this transition and that surely will happen, but it's also time to talk about a new future which will provide a new status quo. How do we live in this new world? What resources do we need and what can we provide for our children to develop this space?

Copenhagen is one more step in that direction, and an important one. So it's now time for us all to become more active in our communities and to let go of our own personal "status quo" - to become pioneers of this new future, and join those, like Desmond Tutu, in becoming Climate (and planet) Allies.

Savings start at Home

2009-09-02T19:02:00.005+10:00

Most Australians, including myself, are fortunate to enjoy a modern lifestyle, accustomed to live well. But that lifestyle has a price, both in dollar terms and in our carbon impact on the planet.

So it's timely that we now have a new book to help us "save energy, save money and reduce our our carbon footprint" and, at the same time, still find ways to live well and enjoy life. That book is The CSIRO Home Energy Savings Handbook, and you can find more about this comprehensive family friendly book here.

So if you want to find out how you, your friends and family can make a difference - which TV to buy, how to cool your house, why recycling aluminium is so important, and whether a diesel car has a lower carbon impact - then find yourself a copy of this highly useful book from your local bookstore or library.

And for those looking for a good idea for Fathers Day next week - instead of that tie or socks for Dad - why not give him a gift that is a real investment and one everyone can share.

MindSet = Dataset

2009-08-29T20:35:00.002+10:00

For anyone reviewing what has happened and projecting the future, data is essential, but numbers are sometimes confusing, and its easy to misread a trend. So its a real joy to see the work at gapminder.org where data is represented as coloured bubbles.

It's easier to check it out yourself, go play with data, it's great fun and a mind shift about how we view the world. Or check it out at the latest TED TALK by Hans Rosling.

ABC of our carbon world

2009-08-08T08:20:00.005+10:00

Sometimes you just want an answer. Has anyone looked at the carbon footprint of wine? Why are peatlands important for carbon storage? Where do I find a Green Vehicle Guide? And who are the IEA? Well, for answers to these questions and many more, check out Ken Hickson's new book "The ABC of Carbon" which is a solid work full of easy to use summaries of the carbon world that we inhabit and that need to understand.

What I found most useful is that every topic in this book - and there are many in the 26 chapters - comes with web addresses where more good information can be found. I have my copy, and if you want yours, then see Ken's ABC Carbon site.

Bamboo soaks up CO2

2009-07-16T15:47:00.005+10:00

It seems I'm just one of the many fans of Bamboo. A recent article called "What's Driving the Bamboo Market" by Jonathon Bardelline published in Green Design claims that "Bamboo plants sequester four times as much carbon dioxide as hardwood trees (taking in 62 tons of CO2 per 2.4 acres versus 16 tons per 2.4 acres of trees) and puts out 35 percent more oxygen".

Bamboo is becoming more popular, and my bamboo flooring is certainly not unique, though well admired for it's soft feel and durable finish. I have bamboo in my wardrobe in the form of some quite smart business jackets and some exceptionally soft t-shirts. According to what I have read, bamboo doesn't require pesticides to grow, and it's a low water use plant, actually mostly considered a weed because it grows so fast and is so hardy.

So if you are in business, and are looking at new materials, take a look at bamboo, and some of it's many varieties. It's a material that I expect we will see lots more of in the future.

Pic ex Flickr Bamboo by The Pug Father

Socially Speaking

2009-07-03T07:22:00.005+10:00

My thoughts have been on communication, and in particular, using Blogs, Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter. What is the optimum package? And there are many thoughts on this - see a really thoughtful article on this based on the writings of Steve Rubel. The article shows how we are evolving - from printed media, radio, TV, then to websites, blogs and we are now in the era of social networking.

Obviously, too many formats! So something has to give. I rarely read newspapers, though I do like the odd well written magazine, and TV is much less important - and less credible, as it attempts to mimic the social element of blogs and twitter. Daily news now comes to me via my computer, and mostly through the blogs and selected twitter feeds that I receive. The real key, is to focus on what's important to you - and to filter out the overwhelming mass of quite useless chatter. Social Media is global, so no-one in your local geographic area, with their own agenda, such as an owner of printed media or TV, can control what is there.

It's taken a while but I have decided that I like Twitter - I tune in to short bits that I find interesting but only from those who I trust. While I may blog once a week or so, I put links up more often on my Twitter page - and I share what I find useful! -see GoBizGreen Twitter.

All-Energy now in Australia

2009-06-23T10:41:00.005+10:00

For nine years, Aderdeen in Scotland has hosted a major renewable energy exhibition and conference, called All-Energy. At the recent All-Energy ’09 event, some 380 companies exhibited and 5,500 people from all industry elements came from 60 countries.

In the past, I have attended similar overseas events and certainly, there’s a buzz that so far has been absent in Australia. That – hopefully - is about to change! Melbourne, with support from the Victorian Government, has now secured the first All-Energy Clean Energy Show in Australia for companies actively involved in the clean energy industry. And the bonus is that the exhibition and conference sessions are free for visitors from business, industry, government and the university sectors.

All-Energy 09 Australia will be held in Melbourne in October and is set to become Asia Pacific’s major clean and renewable energy exhibition and conference, with sponsors such as Abengoa Solar already on board. Coming just before the Government's call for tenders for the major Australian solar contract, it's well timed. So mark it in your diary for 7/8 October, and – click here to check it out.

Funding Deployment

2009-06-07T07:21:00.006+10:00

In the US, the Waxman-Markey American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES) is making it's way through Congress, and being aggressively debated. However, one key amendment, the Clean Energy Deployment Administration seems to have bipartisan support.

According to a post on Watthead "Clean Energy Deployment Administration: added as an amendment overwhelmingly adopted on a 51-6 bipartisan vote during markup, this provision establishes a sort of public clean energy bank to finance and accelerate clean energy technology commercialization and deployment.

Sponsored by Representatives John Dingell of Michigan, Jay Inslee of Washington and Bart Gordon of Tennessee, the provision establishes a new Clean Energy Deployment Administration (CEDA) that will be responsible for creating an attractive investment environment that will spur the widespread deployment of advanced clean energy technologies, including higher risk "breakthrough technologies." The Administration would also support the widespread deployment of critical enabling infrastructure technologies (like new grid technologies), energy efficiency technologies and advanced clean energy manufacturing technologies."

Now is the time for deployment of emission free dispatchable power and it is encouraging to see the US moving in this direction - it's now also the time for support for this urgently needed deployment to happen on a global scale.

Re-powering our cities

2009-05-29T10:18:00.007+10:00

This week I was delighted to meet one of my heroes, Allan Jones, former CEO of the London Climate Change Agency. Allan was speaking at an event in Sydney. He talked about his "show by doing" approach and he updated us on on the work at Woking and in London. Allan does not wait for the future, he creates it, by taking technology that is proven and using that to develop low emission projects that link to other projects. In Woking and London, these projects are based on cogeneration and photovoltaics and they deliver energy savings in very short time spans, and he designed this for both new buildings and for retrofit of older ones.

There is no one solution to the new energy era - it's a combination of renewable utility level power and local decentralized systems, smart grids and energy efficiency. We are now in the deployment phase and every organisation can "show by doing". In Allan's words, "the barriers to this (a sustainable low carbon future) are not technical but regulatory, mindset and vested interest".

The City of Sydney has an ambitious plan to reduce CO2 emissions by 70% by 2030 - so we need lots of Aussie people to follow Allan's example of the Power of One and to be part of this new future!

Beautiful sea holds the power

2009-05-28T11:08:00.003+10:00

Yesterday I attended a full day Alternative Energy forum in Sydney. One of the speakers was Dr Tim Finnigan from BioPower Systems. Tim is passionate about wave and tidal power from our coastal seas, and equally passionate about an unobstructed view across the water. His systems are designed around natural movements and are resident on the sea floor.

Tim spoke about the two 250KW pilot programs being developed off King and Flinders Islands, Tasmania, and about his vision of plants ranging from 40MW up to 100MW. Waves and tides are considerably more consistent than wind, so it's an interesting option to power coastal cities in countries where coastal conditions are favourable.

BioPower Systems is one of the companies exploring this option in Australia. Hopefully, in a not too distant future, Australia's beautiful and powerful beaches will be famous in one more way, the power generated from under the waves.

Sunshine is NOW Deployable

2009-05-25T12:45:00.004+10:00

"Now is the Time for Deployment of Emission Free Dispatchable Power"

This week I will be presenting a Global snapshot of Large Scale Solar Power Generation -looking at the larger systems operating in both PV (photovoltaic) and Solar Thermal and also taking a peek at what's on the drawing board around the world.

When I first began preparing this talk for the Sydney Group of ANZSES, there was very little to say about Australia. Other than one system under development in Victoria, we do not come close to having any operational system that could be deemed commercial. Fortunately, the recent budget proposals make Australia's utility level solar power scene much more interesting. It's not a technical discussion - this talk is about deployment, what's happening and what's planned. If you are interested to attend the session at 6pm Tuesday May 26th at UTS in Sydney, then see details here.

pic by Sun ex Flickr by onlinewoman

Taking on Coal in the USA

2009-05-08T16:31:00.003+10:00

In the US, there is a ground swell against building more coal fired coal power plants, and this is leading to some interesting advertising campaigns. Essentially, these campaigns are making it much more difficult for the coal industry, and makes long term investment in new coal fired power plants a high risk venture. Mark Kresowik, Corporate Accountability Representative for the Sierra Club, comments: “Coal plants are simply a poor investment, no matter where in the country you are building them. We need to be investing wisely, especially in these economic times, and that means looking at energy efficiency and renewable energy projects that can create jobs and help fight global warming, without the drawbacks of coal.”

If you want to see why we need to re-power with truly clean energy sources, see Al Gore's latest TED TALK. The seven minute video also includes some rather strange coal company promotion attempting to convince us that coal is not only clean, it's cute?

Change can happen overnight

2009-04-23T07:37:00.004+10:00

I found this in my inbox this morning, posted on the blog Watthead which quotes Congresswoman Doris Matsui. And it shows how the world can start to turn when effective leadership is in place.

"As a member of the House of Representatives' Energy and Commerce Committee, I just wanted to take a moment out of the hearings we are holding today to discuss the comprehensive climate change bill, and give you a quick update about what is happening here in Washington.

In the last few days alone, more action has been taken on climate change than in the entire eight years of the Bush presidency. On Friday, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the findings of their scientific review, which recognized that global warming threatens both public health and public welfare, and that greenhouse gas emissions are influencing everything from crop failures to more intense heat waves that we are seeing in my hometown of Sacramento.

Yesterday, we started hearings in the Energy and Commerce Committee on the comprehensive climate legislation put forth by Chairmen Henry Waxman and Edward Markey. When passed, the American Clean Energy and Security Act will allow our children and grandchildren to live in a country that is more sustainable, more economically viable, and more efficient than the country we live in today."

We had high hopes for our Rudd Government and its claims when elected in 2008, but it seems the baton has passed to Obama, while we in Australia are still pursuing the elusive "clean coal" strategy and busy building money moving emissions reduction systems.

Driving to A Better Place

2009-04-19T16:41:00.006+10:00

Shai Agassi, a former software entrepreneur from Israel, is the founder and CEO of A Better Place, which is committed to building global transport infrastructure to support the widespread use of electric cars. Shai was inspired to take on this role by the Prime Minister of Israel, who pointed out that “saving the planet” was somewhat more important than running a large IT corporation. His first project is a partnership with Renault and the government of Israel and the challenge is “breaking the world’s fossil-fuel habit ”. Other areas that are targeted for his renewable charging and battery swap networks are Denmark, Eastern Australia and two areas of the USA, California and Hawaii.

Shai Agassi ranks as one of my green business heroes because he taking leadership and risk. No-one knows whether his approach will ultimately be the right one – but he moves forward and takes action because he understands we have no time for more debate - it’s time for action. Check out Shai’s vision on TED TALKS.

pic of Shai Agassi ex Flickr by jdlasica.

Gracious and green funerals

2009-04-19T12:59:00.008+10:00

If we are serious about energy efficiency, then no aspect of living is off the agenda. So what about the other end of life – where we need to dispose of our bodies with dignity but also with serious consideration for those who remain.
There is an increase in number of deaths, mainly due to the early baby boomers reaching “that age”, and some places such as Perth, WA, are in the grip of a graveyard shortage. Where do we find the space to bury or place cremated remains of the estimated 56 million people around the planet who die each year? The funeral business is booming, but at what cost?

According to GreenPlanet, 50 million trees are cut down each year in India for funeral pyres, and 1.6 million tons of concrete are buried in the US each year in the construction of vaults. Maybe we could turn some of this around? A town called Halmstat in Sweden proposed a new source of heat for one business and for the surrounding houses. The local crematorium would provide an endless and reliable source of heat from its primary activity of cremating bodies. Would this be acceptable in your community?

In many places we now have ranges of eco-friendly coffins and we control the emissions from cremation, but there is still a long way to go. And as demand grows, there will be new business opportunities in finding energy efficient and planet enhancing ways to manage bodies no longer in use. Consider this when you are bequeathing your material possessions to your loved ones – think of how to manage your final exit in a way that benefits rather than harms their environment.

pic ex Flickr Global Green Expo, Jersey City (biodegradable coffin) by goodrob13

Solar Energy Cheaper than Coal Fired Power

2009-04-18T09:23:00.003+10:00

While the Government in Australia is focusing on so called "clean coal", yet another company in the USA is focusing the sun to generate power at much less cost than coal. Check out this link to a short video here.

iMiEV for green business owners

2009-04-10T10:25:00.003+10:00

Mitsubishi now has a plug-in electric car, the iMiEV, fully approved for Australian roads, and we may see these on Australian roads next year, according to an ABC News article. The initial comments from those interested reflected the concern about the energy use - mainly because our energy in Australia primarily comes from coal fired power stations. My point is that having a fully electric available to purchase at a dealer is something many of us want. We need transport in our businesses, but we want to move away from fossil fuels in our lifestyles.

Maybe the answer is simple - ensure that all charging of electric cars is done by renewable energy, then there is no problem, just a need for more power generated by truly renewable sources. So bring on the iMiEV's and where's my solar wind or wave power charging station?

Jesse paints a picture..

2009-04-09T09:42:00.008+10:00

Jesse Jenkins is an energy and climate policy analyst, activist and blogger located in the USA, working with the Breakthough Institute and he writes his own blog WattHead.

This morning I was contemplating why we in Australia are so obsessed with our proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, and Jesse effectively sums up my concerns and directions, so below are few quotes taken randomly from his recent posts:

Jesse Jenkins: "Yes, we need new regulations and a price on carbon. But consider this: the United States did not invent the Internet by implementing a cap and trade system on fax machines. We didn't invent microchips by taxing the slide rule, nor did we create the personal computer by regulating typewriters. Rather, your computer, your cell phone, your iPod -- all of these revolutionary and now ubiquitous technologies were originally invented by direct federal investments supporting the relentless innovation of scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs just like yourself."

"The ultimate effectiveness of a strategy premised centrally on an effort to make dirty energy more expensive will always be limited by this fundamental reality of the political economy of energy -- which we at the Breakthrough Institute have dubbed 'Global Warming's Gordian Knot.' If the price of carbon must rise too high to drive emissions reductions, various cost containment mechanisms or public backlash will kick in -- either of which effectively abrogates the emissions cap. Yet if we constrain the price of carbon, it will have very little impact on emissions absent a steady supply of low-cost emissions
reductions opportunities."

"President Obama and Speaker Pelosi have it right: a "New Apollo Project" for clean energy -- at least $150 billion in direct public investment over ten years, funded by modest carbon pricing or deficit spending -- is far more robust than pollution regulation. Whereas a debate about carbon regulation emphasizes economic costs and increased energy prices, a debate about clean energy investment puts the enormous public benefits at the front and center: creating millions of jobs, promoting U.S. growth industries and competitiveness, developing new energy technologies, and securing the nation's energy independence."

pic of Jesse Jenkins from the ABOUT page of BreakThrough Institute

End of the Coal Era

2009-04-01T15:28:00.004+11:00

Around the coffee shops and dinner tables of Australia, using coal to generate power is becoming a talking point, second only to the recession. So Australia's plans to double the export capacity of our major coal exporting port is a hot topic. Spending is one way to stimulate the economy, but is this the type of infrastructure spending we need? According to today's SMH newspaper, Professor Peter Newman, a member of Infrastucture Australia says that these new coal loading facilities "should be stopped". He added that "coal will be a declining export for Australia".

He is not alone in this view. In his latest work "Quarry Vision, Coal, Climate Change and the end of the Resources Boom" , environmental strategist Guy Pearse comments on the volume of coal laden trains headed for our ports - "we understand that for every large bite taken from the earth to fill those trains, a very harmful belch occurs somewhere else in the world".

Around the world, development of new coal fired power plants are being blocked or delayed in lengthy court processes. Let's rethink - let's spend our limited infrastructure spending on new ways to generate energy, such as renewable power, bio-energy and energy efficiency. And let's find new ways to export sunshine!

Where were you last night?

2009-03-29T14:55:00.005+11:00

Earth Hour last night was a positive step, and one that now has a global voice. Many households and businesses participated, by turning off non-essential lights and appliances for one hour. Those that did not participate were noticed by individuals (like myself) who took the opportunity to wander around their own community. More people now sense the changes that are imminent, while many others are complacent and expect things to soon "get back to normal".

How likely is that and what is normal? In the February 09 issue of the WME magazine, Australian environmental advocate and business advisor, Paul Gilding states that "the significance of the change we are about to see can barely be overstated; any company that is not preparing for this new world will probably not survive". The normal of the future will be different in political, cultural and industrial terms, according to Paul. To reduce our emissions, Paul noted that we need "a complete transformation of the electricity supply industry, the retrofitting of every building, the replacement of the transport fleet and an end to waste through a system of deposit and take back regulations."

So if you were one of the non-participating businesses or households last night, take some time to review your situation, and how you will manage when the others who have glimpsed the future are headed in a new direction.

Renew with environmentally friendly paint

2009-03-20T12:32:00.007+11:00

The latest RENEW magazine has an article about paint by Daniel Wurm from GreenPainters. He talks about how many regular paints "release low level toxic fumes, causing health problems and breathing irritation" plus he adds that there is also an environmental impact whereby volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may react in the environment to form ozone.

Daniel explains that there are alternatives, and his article covers low VOC products and plant based paints, the benefits and some of the downsides. He says "the biggest advantage of plant-based paints is the fact that they largely contain renewable resources, and because the ingredients are biodegradable, almost all waste products can be composted".

For most businesses, painting is an essential when setting up a new premises, or revamping an old one. And it's just as important if you work from home. According to Daniel, "using greener paints doesn't have to add significant cost to the project". For more details check out Green Painters or to read the full article, pick up a copy of RENEW at your local Aussie or NZ newsagent.

Sustainable Future

2009-03-20T10:50:00.004+11:00

How to achieve our sustainable future ? A big question but one that needs to be asked at all levels of our society. This week I asked it of some new business owners in my Future Business workshop. We reviewed trends in areas such as population, climate, and energy - to be part of the future, business owners need to consider changes in the environment where their business operates and global environmental changes. And business owners will have an advantage if they understand the new values and expectations of their clients, suppliers, and their staff, especially in delivering more sustainable products and services. Our model for what makes a successful business is changing and developing. Rigid business structures are causing the demise of many businesses, while business owners that adapt to this new sustainable direction are positioned for the future.

And for the magic formula for success, there's no guaranteed recipe -but my tip is to look ahead, and to plan for a sustainable future.

Improve soil productivity with sequestered carbon

2009-03-17T15:33:00.009+11:00

Today was a typically beautiful Aussie autumn day, and a trip to Somersby was an enjoyable outing, just one hour north of Sydney, to one of the many factories located in a bushland setting. So what about the sequestered carbon and the soil?

Best Energies Australia claims to have developed some key technologies for a slow pyrolysis process using organic waste as such as greenwaste, poultry litter, nut shells, wood waste or animal manure. The outputs are syngas for electric generation (primarily used on-site) and a biochar end product which both locks away carbon and can be used for soil productivity. We were shown visuals of crops grown using the char under test conditions and the results seem impressive. But more importantly, according to Adriana Downie, Technical Manager, is the potential for the biochar to sequester carbon for thousands of years.

According to Adriana, there is a business opportunity in these waste plants and several potential revenue streams, including income from waste management, energy production, sales of the biochar product, and possibly also income from the carbon offset market. Each plant would have its own mix of revenue streams, and this would depend on local parameters and the type of feedstock.

Best Energies already has a test plant at Somersby - today, it was producing biochar for a small order. There has been considerable media interest in this technology, and now it's time for a larger plant. Contact Best Energies for the financial models, but the reasons to do this may be more than financial. The extra bonus is about becoming a leader in developing a relatively low cost way to reduce our global carbon footprint, at the same time as managing our organic waste and improving our food supply for a growing global population.

My picture of the Pyrolysis plant at Somersby

Clear Nights + Sunny Days = Power

2009-03-11T12:45:00.009+11:00

This month's speaker at the Sydney Group of the Alternative Technology Association was Geoff Smith, Professor of Applied Physics at the University of Technology (Institute of Nanotechnology)

Geoff presented a fascinating talk on what is currently being done in terms of heating and cooling, by new surface coatings and materials and by understanding the processes involved. He explained some of the science and he then offered some insights into the potential. According to Geoff: "using what the environment has to offer for cooling is the hidden gem in the renewables toolkit. Not only does it offer totally new paradigms for low or zero energy cooling of buildings ( a “must” for global warming adaptation), but opens the door to new concepts for generating 24/7 electric power at scales and costs which have the potential to undercut all current renewable and conventional approaches. Using the cool in the deep ocean or at height in the atmosphere are known examples; attractive but technically difficult and expensive. Making the most of our radiative links to outerspace and the atmosphere are however much easier. An example recipe: clear night skies plus clear sunny days , add materials knowhow and quite low cost infrastructure covering about 3 sq. km (1km radius) and you should be able to produce between 70 MW and 100 MW of power."

And he added that : "If the system is pressurized with CO2 it could work even better and in the process, sequester a few thousand tonnes of carbon. "

Seems to me that we should be looking all around us for the solutions we need - they may be closer than we think. Just take the time tonight to look up and ponder about that.

Pic ex Flickr Milky Way + Banyanda by Kasi Metcalfe

Reorient and Retool

2009-03-08T16:41:00.005+11:00

Thomas L Friedman has this wonderful ability to ask meaningful questions, ones that relate to our shared existence on this planet. In an Opinion article published in the New York Times, he asks the question: "What if the crisis of 2008 represents something much more fundamental than a deep recession? What if it’s telling us that the whole growth model we created over the last 50 years is simply unsustainable economically and ecologically and that 2008 was when we hit the wall — when Mother Nature and the market both said: “No more.”

So what are we doing about this? In the same article, he calls himself an optimist, and comments: "People are already using this economic slowdown to retool and reorient economies." By "people", he means the countries that are making huge investments in clean power. It's beginning to happen - but some "people" are lagging behind, and some investments are being used to try to kick start the same system that led us to this problem.

Australia has often been called "the lucky country" - in this next decade we need more than luck, we need to retool and reorient our economy. We have the wealth and the expertise, so what are we waiting for?

To Twit or not to Twit?

2009-03-08T13:26:00.004+11:00

Yes, I too have now decided to test my twitter wings - see my twitter page

Future Directions -in 10 Minutes!

2009-02-23T11:42:00.004+11:00

Tomorrow, Tues 24th, the NSW group of ANZSES re-commence their monthly meetings in Sydney. This year, I am assisting the group by coordinating a 10 minute speaking spot at beginning of each meeting called Future Directions. Each of these Future Directions mini-talks will be presented by someone driving a Renewable Energy business or researching a Clean Tech concept (and generally someone aged up to 35). The talks are primarily intended to voice the speaker's direction, their challenges, concerns, or to comment on policies that help or inhibit their work. Or it could include what is need to further grow their business or achieve the speaker's goals in their renewable industry or innovation area.
Our first Future Directions spot is by Yale Carden, of GeoExchange - who is very passionate about his direction, and that aligns very much with the new energy direction of the planet.

photo Yale Carden (2007)

Australian innovation -Smart Fridge manages power

2009-02-11T10:59:00.004+11:00

Sydney Central group of ATA (Alternative Technology Association) is a collection of volunteers like myself and, once a month, we invite speakers to discuss their work or ideas. Last night, Sam West of the Intelligent Energy Team of CSIRO talked about the "Smart Fridge" which consists of an intelligent bolt-on controller that can be fitted to new or existing fridges, cool rooms and cold stores. This is able to modify the compressor’s running schedule to improve the quality of green power supplied from Renewables, such as wind and solar. Sam added that "the Smart Fridges effectively transform a wind farm or solar field into a reliable, predictable base-load generator."

That's the first part - now he and the CSIRO are seeking interest from those who could take this concept to the next level so that the "Smart Fridge" becomes another key element in enabling Renewables to generate more of our power, and that's the goal! For more details on Sam and his "Smart Fridge" click here.

2009 - Year of the OX

2009-01-22T12:22:00.004+11:00

We are soon to enter a New Year, according to the Chinese Calendar, and one that is ascribed to the OX, and to the qualities of "diligence, reliability, sincerity, strength and sound judgement". Sounds like some good parameters to start the year, and so I want to feature a business that may fit all these parameters that is solidly moving forward, and that's about getting more out of less - in this case, more out of our waste.

WSN Environmental Solutions, which operates in the south west of Sydney, offers a " shift from landfill to resource recovery with the use of technology solutions that treat waste as a valued resource, divert waste away from landfill and produce outputs such as compost and green electricity." As well, the company offers guidance on how best to manage a wide range of waste, including commercial waste such as bricks, timber and tyres.

This is one business that made sound judgement and is looking forward. As we move to this Year of the OX, and into a tough year financially, we can all stop to assess what parts of our business are important and what will take us more soundly into the future.

Pic Ex Flickr The Ox by Grumbler %-|

It's faster than kayaking..

2009-01-11T16:56:00.004+11:00

I was out kayaking around the inner Sydney Harbour today, not far from our iconic bridge, and saw a rather strange looking vessel on its way to Darling Harbour. Later, I went there to see and photograph the EarthRace which claims to now hold the world record for a powerboat to circle the globe. And the interesting thing is that it is powered solely by renewable biodiesel fuel, including some that was made from cooking oil that otherwise would have been discarded. The mission of the Earthrace team is"to connect with people, and encourage debate and understanding about biofuels, carbon footprints, and the many other aspcts that affect our environmental footprint. "

And it's a positive message - have fun but also tread/cruise lightly. I was thinking this morning about how I could make my little kayak go somewhat further, to explore more of our beautiful waterways. Maybe a solar powered turbine or some other planet friendly device that could extend my range, not quite around the world but maybe to a few islands in the harbour I would like to visit from my home base.

So that's another potential opportunity - a small, portable marine engine that runs on renewable energy for us not quite so fit kayakers and rowers!! Business opportunities in this new energy era do not always have to be large scale investments - there are lots of areas where we need to consider new ways to transport ourselves, whether it's across the globe, or across the harbour.

An EON of Values

2009-01-06T08:27:00.011+11:00

It's the ECO2NOMY.. If we look forward at 2009, we also will be looking at new values - new values for our assets, new values for our economy, and new values for the way we live and grow our businesses. In the US, incoming President Obama is working on his top priority - stimulus for the ailing economy. How to stop the slide to even deeper recession, and how to extract a new system out of one that is no longer functional.

It's a challenge, but it's more than that - it's a whole new way of thinking. We now have the opportunity to re-value our industrialised and consumer lifestyles, and the values of Energy, of Ownership and of Nature (EON).

Energy is the new economy, and whoever can produce clean energy will be the managers of that new energy era. Our values about this are the most important ones, because we, as one global family, will continue to fight with each other unless we can find equitable ways to access low cost and clean energy sources.
By Ownership I do not mean a move to a socialist economy - we have all observed the issues that come with that. Ownership is about stuff that we all, as one planet, should own - like intellectual stuff, pictures, words, formulae for medicines, and the air, sea, resources, the land. Certainly, there will be licences to manage and provide services, but Ownership? We need to ask these questions.
And thirdly, our new values will embrace Nature or else. This is not so much a choice but a sword hanging over our collective heads. Nature has its own power, its own agenda, and will very easily restore its own balance with or without us. Nature does not need us, so we need to include Nature as part of the EON of values.

Values come first - if we value something we then take steps to protect it. This downturn has given us a space to stop and consider big stuff, not just the economy but the values that underpin the way we live. My hope for 2009 is that we stop and consider, and re-value the way we consider energy, ownership, and nature and then set that new course to protect the future.

Transport 2020

2008-12-22T07:04:00.004+11:00

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

2009 - one for the history books

2008-12-20T06:22:00.004+11:00

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.

Cork is cool

2008-12-14T06:57:00.004+11:00

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!

When nature speaks up, who listens?

2008-12-12T22:46:00.011+11:00

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

Transforming wealth to...

2008-12-06T11:39:00.004+11:00

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?

"Time for a Massive Change"

2008-12-02T08:18:00.005+11:00

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

Giving greenfully!!

2008-11-30T20:52:00.006+11:00

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

Future Makers in Australia

2008-11-27T08:49:00.006+11:00

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.

Speaking of Energy Entrepreneurs....

2008-11-22T14:03:00.005+11:00

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!!

Its a busy month in Australia

2008-11-18T13:44:00.005+11:00

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

2008-11-18T12:03:00.008+11:00

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.

Ideas spin from ideas

2008-11-15T08:02:00.004+11:00

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.

Home Grown Solar

2008-11-03T13:12:00.004+11:00

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.

Bert's wind

2008-10-24T20:06:00.005+11:00

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

2008-10-24T19:35:00.006+11:00

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".

The New Economy RE (<)C

2008-10-08T13:47:00.006+11:00

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.

The clever country chooses coal

2008-09-28T07:02:00.007+10:00

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

Big Green Picture

2008-09-24T07:10:00.007+10:00

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

Sydney Shows Green

2008-09-15T13:20:00.007+10:00

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!

Power from the Earth

2008-08-31T09:26:00.004+10:00

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.

Think Nano

2008-08-29T11:11:00.004+10:00

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.

Intelligent Grid = Opportunities

2008-08-20T07:53:00.006+10:00

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.

Go Meet Online

2008-08-17T20:59:00.004+10:00

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.

Business Expansion in Renewables

2008-08-13T16:18:00.001+10:00

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.

London Leads the way

2008-07-23T13:04:00.007+10:00

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

Our common future

2008-07-16T14:21:00.007+10:00

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!

Growing Your Green Business

2008-07-09T15:39:00.007+10:00

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

Inaction or Bravery in Action?

2008-07-06T09:03:00.005+10:00

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

Green Tipping Point

2008-06-23T08:26:00.005+10:00

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

Symptoms of Success

2008-06-14T23:53:00.002+10:00

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.

Location Location

2008-06-06T19:56:00.002+10:00

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

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

2008-05-25T11:29:00.007+10:00

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

Dirty coal goes clean in the budget

2008-05-22T14:45:00.004+10:00

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.

Mining the mobiles

2008-04-28T15:43:00.005+10:00

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

Market disrupting - and the solar Google?

2008-04-21T18:29:00.005+10:00

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.

The new Gold

2008-04-19T08:09:00.005+10:00

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

The Hybrids are coming!

2008-04-12T16:54:00.006+10:00

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

Green at Work can be FUN!

2008-04-05T08:39:00.005+11:00

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.

Green is the colour of the new workplace

2008-04-04T13:42:00.002+11:00

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.

The Future of Business

2008-03-29T11:58:00.003+11:00

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

Solar PV - does it come in Pink?

2008-03-14T19:32:00.003+11:00

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..

Too Hot = Bonus Heating

2008-03-08T15:25:00.009+11:00

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