The Future of Business

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

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

Picture Future or Bust! by Vermin inc ex Flickr

Solar PV - does it come in Pink?

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

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

 

Too Hot = Bonus Heating

According to a recent New Scientist Magazine (8/03/08), data centres worldwide consume 120 billion kwatt hrs of electricity and produce 2% global CO2 and rising.  About half of this is used to keep the servers cool.  

So IBM engineers in Switzerland have designed a new way of cooling the microchip surface using water piped into slabs positioned above the heat generating chip surface.  In theory, about 75% of this heat could be recovered.  The article suggested that a future medium sized data centre (around 1 Megawatt consumption) would be able to heat about 70 homes, in areas such as Europe where heating is an essential. 

  

On a more basic level, I also heard of a Pizza Restaurant redirecting excess heat from the ovens to provide a really cosy environment in winter.  That's got to be good for reducing the overall electricity bill as well as for the planet.  So, how much waste heat is your business generating each day, and where else could this excess heat be used?   

picture  called data centre floor by alexmuse ex flickr

What's in it for my business?

Yesterday, I presented a short talk on "Peak Oil and the Future of Your Business" for a Sydney Business Club.  I talked about the limited supply of cheap oil,  about change to more fuel efficient vehicles, non-oil based packaging and our dependence on plastics. At the end of the talk, I was asked the question -"what's in it for my business, why should I change?".  

Actually, it was a very good question and I thought about it overnight.  What would motivate a business owner to make an investment when they are primarily concerned about the day to day financial stresses and profitability of their business?

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

  

Pack it Green

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

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

Be a GreenBiz Hero

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

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

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

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

(Pic VJNET ex Flickr) 

Green-It-Yourself

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

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