Chilling out in the sun: Solar Cooling
Chilling Out in the Sun: Solar Cooling
London, UK — Worldwide energy consumption for cooling and air-conditioning is rising rapidly and the market potential for solar thermal cooling is certainly very large indeed. However, the market is still very much a work in progress – with only around 500 solar cooling systems installed globally – and has been largely dominated by Europe so far. David Appleyard takes a look at some of the key players in this emerging renewable energy sector.
Keneally budget delivers for the big end of town
Keneally budget delivers for the big end of town Media release: 8 June 2010 Premier Kristina Keneally and Treasurer Eric Roozendaal have delivereda budget for the big end of town, according to Greens NSW MP andTreasury spokesperson John Kaye. Dr Kaye said: “Developer donors to the ALP have received a big windfallfrom this budget. “The benefits from the big Continue Reading →
UN urges gkobal move to meat and dairy free diet
UN urges global move to meat and dairy-free diet
Lesser consumption of animal products is necessary to save the world from the worst impacts of climate change, UN report says
- guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 2 June 2010 18.09 BST
- Article history
An cattle ranch in Mato Grosso, Brazil. The UN says agriculture is on a par with fossil fuel consumption because both rise rapidly with increased economic growth. Photograph: HO/Reuters
A global shift towards a vegan diet is vital to save the world from hunger, fuel poverty and the worst impacts of climate change, a UN report said today.
As the global population surges towards a predicted 9.1 billion people by 2050, western tastes for diets rich in meat and dairy products are unsustainable, says the report from United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) international panel of sustainable resource management.
It says: “Impacts from agriculture are expected to increase substantially due to population growth increasing consumption of animal products. Unlike fossil fuels, it is difficult to look for alternatives: people have to eat. A substantial reduction of impacts would only be possible with a substantial worldwide diet change, away from animal products.”
Energy Ausralia wins smart grid project
EnergyAustralia wins smart grid project
- From: Australian IT
- June 07, 2010
A CONSORTIUM led by EnergyAustralia has been named the successful bidder in the federal government’s $100 million smart grid, smart city project.
Newcastle will be the main site for the country’s first commercial-scale smart grid project. The trial will also cover other parts of NSW including Scone, Homebush, Ku-ring-gai and the Sydney CBD.
The consortium includes IBM Australia, AGL, GE Energy, TransGrid, Newcastle City Council and the NSW government.
Federal Climate Change Minister Penny Wong said the trial would help people save energy and connect renewable energy to the grid as such technology has enormous potential to drive efficiency in the electricity sector.
Kevin Rudd driving the electorate green
Kevin Rudd driving the electorate green
- From: The Australian
- June 07, 2010
THIS is no longer a joke. For those in the Labor Party who looked at last week’s Newspoll showing the Greens’ vote peaking at a record 16 per cent, they should know that this is no aberration. The hard heads will make the necessary recognition and respond accordingly. Or not. Depending on whether they still have the will to win.
Such has been the collapse in the Left’s confidence in Kevin Rudd, the Greens now represent a real threat to Labor, not just as a party of protest but as a party of constructive policy.
The Newspoll numbers are backed up by private research commissioned by the Greens. The message here is that the very fact they are carrying out such research should put the main parties on notice that the Greens are now acting increasingly as a professional and serious party of the Nick Clegg variety.
The private research was conducted in April with younger, inner-city voters and older regional voters. All were classed as Green leaning. They are precisely the group that make up the 16 per cent in the first place; the group that Labor should fear in any case when it comes to the election. Just ask Lindsay Tanner, Tanya Plibersek and Anthony Albanese.
Device captures leaking oil in Gulf
Device captures leaking oil in Gulf AAP June 6, 2010, 2:42 PM! BP’s latest bid to contain the massive Gulf of Mexico oil spill has registered a first small success, capturing 6,000 barrels of oil in 24 hours, the US official overseeing the spill response said. The figure is dwarfed by estimates that Continue Reading →