OPPORTUNITY Knocks

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

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

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

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

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..

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

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.