Yearly Archives: 2010

LEED Funding Grants – innovation concepts

Chief Scientist Lyn Beasely’s LEED Advisory Group recommendations have been given credence by the current WA Government which has  announced the latest round of grant approvals for Low Energy Emissions Developments. The State Government has announced investments of almost $8million in three new low-emissions energy projects in Perth, Kalgoorlie-Boulder and Karratha.

Read the details here

The increase of Federal and State funding for future clean sources of energy is a great initiative because the “do nothing” scenario propagated by the Climate Sceptics is simply going to destroy our world for future generations.  It is great that current WA Government recognizes this and has continue the LEED Funding Scheme.

As they say in cricket and many times in life, ‘playing off the front foot’, is the best way to go.  As time goes on and a realistic price is set on carbon pollution, our work will become even more focused and will result in improved risk management of R&D and commercialisation support programs.

If our society is not researching and developing and exploring potentially viable innovations then our society is not just staying the same.  In relation to other countries we would be going backwards.

I am not at liberty to discuss any details of the assessments or our methods of adjudication but am willing to discuss innovation concepts in a general fashion and what I consider is needed for seeking better more relevant applications.

Garry Baverstock A.M.

How Greenies Became Watermelons…

Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth will play host to a thought-provoking series of free public lectures with Naomi Oreskes, Professor of History & Science Studies, University of California, San Diego, and co-author of the new book Merchants of Doubt: How a handful of scientists obscured the truth on issues from tobacco smoke to global warming. In these lectures, Naomi discusses her latest book (co-authored with Erik M. Conway), as she rolls back the rug on a dark corner of the American scientific community, showing how ideology and corporate interests, aided by a too-compliant media, have skewed public understanding of the some of the most pressing issues of our time, including climate change.

oreskes

If you can’t get there, go to http://www.merchantsofdoubt.org The video on the home page is a compelling history of both climate change science and it’s ugly sister, climate change denial. And it answers in a most surprising way ‘how greenies became watermelons’…

Details of the free events are here http://www.asc.asn.au/2010/10/australian-tour-by-naomi-oreskes-author-of-merchants-of-doubt

Australia Climate Change Committee welcomed

WA Sustainable Energy Association Inc. (WA SEA)  27 September 2010

Australian Climate Change Committee welcomed by Australia’s largest energy chamber.

The WA Sustainable Energy Association Inc. (WA SEA) welcomes the announcement today by Prime Minister Julia Gillard of the membership and terms of reference for the new multi-party Climate Change Committee to help build consensus on how Australia will tackle Climate Change.

The Prime Minister said “the Committee will start from the position that a carbon price is an economic reform that is required to reduce carbon pollution, to encourage investment in low emissions technologies and complement other measures including renewable energy and energy efficiency.”

WA SEA continues to support a national emissions trading scheme based on scientifically established reduction targets as the best way to tackle the challenge of bringing down Australia’s emissions.

‘A combination of a trading system, paired with direct incentives for industry to reduce emissions through both energy efficiency and procurement of lower emissions energy, will actually diversify the economy and create a more robust environment for business. Energy efficiency is a critical component as it will reduce inflationary pressures that would otherwise occur through spiralling fossil fuel prices,’ says Prof Ray Wills, Chief Executive of WA SEA.

Investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy will deliver projects returning real profits in real operations with real jobs that deliver real, emissions-free energy, and help build a more efficient, more sustainable economy.’

We must fundamentally change the way we think about energy and how we do business. The economic naysayers who say climate change is simply inconvenient are still planning an economy based on paradigms and activities of the last century that simply do not add up, nor do they provide the solutions needed for this century.’

Climate change is real, the impacts are already proving dire and will only get worse, humans are causing it, and we need to stop,’ says Prof Wills.

As Australia’s largest energy chamber, WA SEA looks forward to working directly with the Climate Change Committee, and as a member of its business roundtable to establish a policy response to climate change that is builds a sustainable economy for Australia into the 21st Century.

WA SEA is particularly pleased with Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s inclusion and commitment to the Climate Change Committee underscoring that action on climate change is a core duty of the new Federal Government.
Media contact:   Prof Ray Wills  0430 365 607

Editors notes:
1.    Prime Minister’s media release on Climate Change Committee http://www.pm.gov.au/node/6923
2.    The Western Australian Sustainable Energy Association Inc. (WA SEA) is a chamber of enterprises has a growing membership of 260 industry members from a diversity of businesses, and the largest state-based industry body of its kind in Australia. www.wasea.com.au.
3.  WA SEA bringing you the Energising South East Asia Conference 23-26 March 2011, Perth.

Sustainable Development Using Solar Energy and Climate Design in Angola

22 September 2010

Following my recent trip to Angola upon the invitation of the Chinese Government, it occurred to me that there is a unique chance for Africa as it develops, to avoid the “unsustainable” practices of the western world that prevailed during the 19th and 20th centuries.

My treatment by the hierarchy of the Angolan Government and the leaders of the Chinese construction company was very respectful.

The use of water, the conservation of energy and the preservation of a natural environment was of high importance their quest to create a new future for the country.  They were all ears in what we had to present.  In many ways I felt that there was more enthusiasm and synergy with the ideas, solutions and suggested technologies I was presenting than I experience in Australia.

The country has been war torn for decades but finally peace has been restored and there is a feeling of optimism as the Chinese enterprises are exchanging the development of infrastructure and housing for access to minerals and oil.

The speed of progress made me even more aware of our stifling bureaucratic attitudes and processes in Australia.  It was refreshing not to encounter stubborn enslavement to often silly, anti-innovation type regulations.  Of course we are a safe,  clean society but in comparison we move at a very boring pace and there seems no respect for professionals with expertise as is the case with their government where all solutions are on the table for discussion and evaluation.

An expert in our country negotiating over the counter at a local government building or planning office in Australia has the same status as a housewife in curlers, to most belligerent power loving local government officers.  Maybe we have taken our ‘fair go’/egalitarian philosophies a little too far?

The Kilamba Kiaxi development 20 km south of Luanda, has already seen social housing rising above the monsoon flood plain at rate that is incomprehensible any where else in the world.  This is of course apart from China itself.

Tower blocks from 4 to 13 storeys have appeared where only 2 years ago there was only virgin bush and upon the approach visually takes up the whole horizon as one approaches the precinct.

When fully complete with the next stage of middle class to luxury villas the development will eventually house 600,000 to one million people eventually.  This will be complete with landscaping central business precinct and local neighbourhood commercial centres as well.  Within 5 to 10 years this will all materialize.  It is so impressive.  This would take at least 20-50 years anywhere else. It would probably take 5 years to get the sub division approved in Australia for instance.

There is at least $50 billion (USD) being committed already to new housing projects and many are work-in-progress in Luanda and to some degree all over the rural regions of the country.  It is changing so fast.

The fact is that after 30 years of agonizing war and hardship the country needs to move on fast.  The politicians need to keep fulfilling the needs and expectations of the people and not let them down.  The amount of squalor and shanty towns are currently out of control and the government realizes that this must change fast as people pour into Luanda from the rural areas in search of a jobs and a better life for their kids.

In meeting the Chinese architects and engineers in Luanda, it is obvious they are well aware of the climatic conditions and the challenges with the terrain.  It is impressive that the apartments are mostly 4 to 5 bedrooms to suit the current demographic of families in Angola.  Each apartment has external window access to natural ventilation.

However so much more can be done to improve future developments or social relevance and to create a social fabric that suits the temperament and culture of the people, as well as integrate renewable energy and climatic design into each development.

The vision needs to extend beyond when the oil peters out as an oil-thirsty world lines up to get their share of it.  They desperately need to address their collective and gregarious culture as well as providing far more outdoor living areas for community activities and family and extended family living.  Hopefully this is something we have to offer if we are involved in the master planning stages of these massive projects.

This will be the main challenge as we and colleages get further involved with future social and luxury housing developments in this country.

Garry Baverstock, AM   https://solar-e.com

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