Category: Archive

Smart grids: "ZigBee HAN, or in-premise networks, enable two-way communication and control of ZigBee devices inside the home and serve as the key entry point for smart energy grids. This communication and control is possible because ZigBee is a global wireless language that connects dramatically different devices. Because ZigBee is a global wireless standard, it provides the scalability and reliability needed to support an infrastructure as demanding as smart energy grids. ZigBee links devices starting with the utility meter and reaches thermostats, household appliances, HVAC, pool pumps, water heaters, lighting systems and other household or building systems creating the HAN.

Utility companies: "For utility companies, ZigBee enables a standards-based approach to energy efficiency programs such as demand response, time-of-use pricing programs, energy monitoring, pay-as-you-use and net metering programs, enabling home owners use of distributed generation products like solar panels. These new energy management programs directly impact consumers and businesses as utilities grapple with meeting growing power demand while reducing the threat of rolling blackouts during peak usage periods.

What is ZigBee? "The ZigBee Alliance is an association of companies working together to enable reliable, cost-effective, low-power, wirelessly networked monitoring and control products based on an open global standard. The ZigBee Alliance membership comprises technology providers and original equipment manufacturers worldwide. Membership is open to all."

Reference: "ZigBee Sees Strong Growth for Energy Management and Efficiency Solutions", 16 May 2007. Contact: Kevin Schader, ZigBee Alliance, ph: +1-925-275-6672, email: kschader@inventures.com; or Tommy Tse, GolinHarris for the Zigbee Alliance, ph: +1-415-274-7915, email: ttse@golinharris.com
http://www.zigbee.org

Erisk Net, 17/5/2007

Source: Yahoo News  

Russia is to intensify efforts to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions in order to stay in compliance with the Kyoto treaty as its economy rebounds from the economic collapse of the early 1990s, the country’s deputy economic development minister said.

The 1990s dramatic drop in economic production made Russia’s Kyoto targets more achievable, but Moscow hopes to begin to improve remaining industry with new joint projects bringing in foreign investment, Andrei Sharonov said.

"Even by the most optimistic forecasts of economic development, we will not go over the level of 1990 (emissions), which is our obligation as stipulated by the Kyoto Protocol," Sharonov assured Friday as quoted by RIA Novosti.

"The Kyoto Protocol’s secretariat now registers 29 joint projects by Russian companies," which allow other countries to invest in upgrading Russian enterprises to reduce emission of greenhouse gases, Sharonov said.

The Russian government last month issued a decree allowing such joint projects and is working on accords facilitating them, with "active consultations" being held with France, Denmark, Sweden, Germany and Italy, Sharonov said.

Within five years, Russia aims to reduce emissions by 300 million tonnes of gases equivalent to carbon dioxide, Sharonov said, warning however that for the goal to be met, "it would take many such projects."

The Kyoto Protocol, which came into effect in February 2005 after Moscow’s signature in November the year before, commits industrial nations to reduce emissions of six greenhouse gases between 2008 and 2012.

Yes Men Strike Oil: Civil Disobedients Make Modest Flesh-to-Fuel Proposal

The NPC, which is led by former Exxon-Mobil CEO Lee Raymond, advises the White House on gas and oil issues. They were expected to announce the findings of a Raymond-chaired study, commissioned by the Department of Energy, on joint US-Canadian energy policy.

Instead, attendees of the day’s $45.00 keynote luncheon were addressed by the Yes Men’s Andy Bichlbaum, who identified himself as an NPC representative named Shepard Wolff.

After noting that current energy policies will likely lead to "huge global calamities" and disrupt oil supplies, Wolff told the audience "that in the worst case scenario, the oil industry could "keep fuel flowing" by transforming the billions of people who die into oil," said a Yes Men press release.

Yes Man Mike Bonnano, posing as an Exxon representative named Florian Osenberg, added that "With more fossil fuels comes a greater chance of disaster, but that means more feedstock for Vivoleum. Fuel will continue to flow for those of us left."

The impostors led growingly suspicious attendees in lighting Vivoleum candles made, they said, from a former Exxon janitor who died from cleaning a toxic spill. When shown a mock video of the janitor professing his desire to be turned in death into candles, a conference organizer pulled Bonanno and Bichlbaum from the stage.

As security guards led Bonanno from the room, Bichlbaum told reporters that "Without oil we could no longer produce or transport food, and most of humanity would starve. That would be a tragedy, but at least all those bodies could be turned into fuel for the rest of us."

Noting that "150,000 people already die from climate-change related effects every year," he added, "That’s only going to go up – maybe way, way up. Will it all go to waste? That would be cruel."

The Exposition’s organizers later issued a press release verifying that "the "environmental and corporate ethics activists" were not representatives of their respected organizations. According to Calgary’s CTV news, the organizers "were approached by what they thought was a reputable company offering speakers from the Petroleum Council." Only after the debacle did they contact the Council and learn of their mistake.

Members of the Yes Men have previously posed as spokespeople for McDonald’s, the World Trade Organization, Dow Chemical and the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Bichlbaum and Bonanno were each issued a $287 fine for trespassing.

The south-west Victoria and south-east SA and south-west WA regions exhibit the most favourable prospects for tree planting to address land and water salinity across large parts of the landscape and capture non-salinity benefits including wood production, according to a report on “Integrated Forestry on Farmland” by Cooperative Research Centre for Plant Based Management of Dryland Salinity, 2007.

Favourable for supporting forestry industry: While potential existed for adverse impacts on water yield, these could be mitigated to some extent by well-targeted planting and species selection. The size of forestry industries in and near these regions was already substantial, with well-developed products, species options and supporting infrastructure.

Hunter, northern and central west NSW less favourable: Extending these industries within the 600–750 mm rainfall environment presented fewer obstacles than in regions without the same forest industries base, as in the case of Hunter NSW, northern NSW and central-west NSW.

Need to incentivise uptake of plantations: However, in most cases there would still be a need for incentives to achieve extensive uptake and plantings would need to satisfy existing and potential planning controls, including water resource restrictions on plantation development in the case of SA.

Reference: Report on “Integrated Forestry on Farmland”, by Lisa Robins and Nico Marcar, CRC for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity, 2007

Erisk Net, 2007, p. 24

Third-term taioseach

For the past couple of weeks, the politicians involved have looked increasingly weary, as the marathon talks to reach an agreement have stretched on.

When Ireland voted on 24 May, Bertie Ahern’s Fianna Fail party won 78 of the 166 seats in the Dail, the Irish parliament.

An unexpectedly strong return, but not enough for an outright majority.

It is the prospect of the Greens in government that is most exciting the political commentators here

So Mr Ahern, who has been in power since 1997, needs partners as he embarks on his third term as taioseach, or prime minister.

Popular and affable, he is also a wily and seasoned negotiator. And, like his party, he is pragmatic.

Over the past decade, he has worked in tandem with the right-of-centre Progressive Democrats.

The PDs, as they are known, have shrunk to just two members of parliament, but will still be back in government, along with a small group of independents, with whom Mr Ahern has thrashed out attractive deals to keep voters in their constituencies happy.

High price

It is the prospect of the Greens in government that is most exciting the political commentators here, however.

The irony is that gaining seats at the cabinet table will follow what was a pretty disappointing election result for the party.

They lost one prominent figure and gained another, so retained six seats.

Mr Sargent resigned rather than go into coalition with Fianna Fail

Since then, though, senior figures have been in exhausting talks with Fianna Fail.

An agreement was reached, and after an emotional internal debate at a special convention held in Dublin, Green Party members gave their assent to go into government.

Signing up has meant the Greens have had to leave some of their key objectives at the front door.

A commitment was won to introduce a carbon tax and to set targets for the reduction of 3% of greenhouse gas emissions a year.

There will be a commission to look at the financing of the political system.

But the US military can still use Shannon airport in the west of Ireland, a controversial motorway plan north of Dublin will go ahead, and a new hospital-building policy opposed by the Greens will still happen.

For some in the party, this was too high a price to pay for gaining a hand on the reins of power.

Perhaps strangest of all was the sight of the Green Party leader, Trevor Sargent, hailing the proudest day of his life as the Greens voted to go into government, and then promptly resigning.

Mr Sargent had pledged before the election that he would step down rather than go into power with Fianna Fail.

Mr Ahern can head off on his holidays a satisfied man.

Lauded for his part in the process which returned devolved government to Northern Ireland, he endured a challenging election campaign and defied a few pundits to return to office.

His friend and partner in the Northern Ireland process, UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, is about to leave the stage.

For his part, Mr Ahern is about to see how the new, greener tinge to Irish politics works out.