Home Articles posted by Sustainability Editor (Page 22)

Author Archives: Sustainability Editor

Anne-Marie Birkill, Partner in OneVentures to join us in March 2017

The National Sustainability in Business Conference will be held the Hotel Grand Chancellor Brisbane from the 23-24 March 2017. The National Sustainability in Business Conference theme ‘Renewables – Markets – Innovation – Opportunities – Capital’ will address the need for sustainable business practices, and what this means in today’s ever-changing world. Anne-Marie Birkill is a Partner in OneVentures, a $175M venture capital firm that invests in technology companies that serve or disrupt large, high growth global markets. She is Chair of the Board for portfolio companies Charm Health and Find-me technologies. Her previous roles include CEO of i.lab Incubator, various …

Read the full article

Renewable Energy In Cities – IRENA Report

Making up 65 per cent of global energy use and 70 per cent of anthropogenic carbon emissions, cities must play a crucial role in the shift to a low-carbon economy says IRENA. A new report from IRENA focuses on best practice gleaned from thousands of cities around the world making up 60% of global energy demand, demonstrates what is possible and details the sorts of policies required to enable the change. “We have to rethink the entire urban energy landscape, which requires rigorous planning and holistic decision-making,” said Adnan Z. Amin, IRENA Director-General “Renewable energy, combined with energy efficiency, will …

Read the full article

Introducing Peta Ellis, CEO River City Labs.

The National Sustainability in Business Conference will be held the Hotel Grand Chancellor Brisbane from the 23-24 March 2017. The National Sustainability in Business Conference theme ‘Renewables – Markets – Innovation – Opportunities – Capital’ will address the need for sustainable business practices, and what this means in today’s ever-changing world. Joining us at the National Sustainability in Business Conference is Peta Ellis, a Communications Professional with 16+ years’ experience in Marketing Communications, Media Relations, Publicity, Social Media Marketing and Public Profile Management. Since 2012 Peta has worked alongside Steve Baxter, the founder of River City Labs to grow Brisbane’s …

Read the full article

The gas industry needs a carbon price to compete with coal

Putting a price on carbon would benefit the Australian gas industry, at least in the short term. It is therefore in the interests of gas producers to lobby for the emissions trading scheme proposed for the electricity industry by the Climate Change Authority. At first a sight this might seem a paradoxical suggestion. Isn’t carbon pricing meant to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels after all? But with gas prices high, coal-fired generation has been increasing. Coal produces about twice as much carbon dioxide as gas when it is used to generate electricity. This is bad news for our emissions, …

Read the full article

Abstract Submission Closing Soon!

The National Sustainability in Business Conference will be held over 23 – 24 March 2017 in Brisbane. The Conference Program will involve keynote presentations addition to oral presentations, panels and interactive forums and will address the need for sustainable business practices, and what this means in today’s ever-changing world. Conference Topics Include: Renewable Energy Systems and Sources Think Local First Innovative Business Opportunities The Energy Market Trends, Policies and Strategies The Conference will bring together leading academics, thought leaders, opinion makers and industry experts to deliberate and discuss sustainability issues confronting Australia. The program will be designed to challenge, inspire, …

Read the full article

Dr Paul Bannister, Director of Innovation & Sustainability at Energy Action

Dr Paul Bannister is Director of Innovation and Sustainability at Energy Action, Australia’s leading energy consultancy.  He sets strategic direction for Energy Action’s energy efficiency team, undertaking energy efficiency and engineering consultancy work across activities ranging from NABERS ratings to energy audits, building lighting and air-conditioning upgrades design and implementation, PV installations, computer simulation of building performance and energy policy. Paul has also been the primary technical developer of the NABERS Energy and Water rating systems since inception in 1999, developing NABERS methodologies for Offices, Shopping Centres, Hotels, Data Centres, Homes and NSW Hospitals (in development). Paul is recognized internationally …

Read the full article

Urban Beehive co-founder calls for less chemicals, turf

The man who led the popular movement to place beehives around Sydney has called on Canberrans to put flowering plants in their backyard and end the dominance of turf and chemicals. Doug Purdie, co-founder of The Urban Beehive, said native bee populations were the ones that needed protection, and simple actions in suburban backyards could create the corridors for them to thrive and pollinate. “If everyone just planted a couple of things that flowered, it would make a big difference,” he said.  Ideally this would mean a garden where there was at least two plants flowering at all times of the year. Mr Purdie visited Canberra …

Read the full article

Wood pellets proposed to replace coal used by thermal power stations

A renewable replacement for black coal burned in thermal power stations could be made by converting Tasmanian plantation wood into a pelletised biomass fuel. Private equity firm New Forests has started a $5 million feasibility study into a $130 million wood pellet plant for Tasmania’s Tamar Valley. If approved, New Forests’ hardwood plantation subsidiary, Forico, would supply 100 per cent FSC-certified plantation hardwood and softwood to the bioenergy pellet plant, according to Forico chief executive Bryan Hayes. “These pellets are able to go into an existing power plant without any modifications whatsoever,” Mr Hayes said. “These black pellets will directly …

Read the full article

Introducing Dr Jennifer Alden

Dr Jennifer Alden is a Health Broker, her business Growing Change brings people together to activate ideas to improve community health and wellbeing.  Seeing the link between what we eat and how it affects our health and that of the planet, Growing Change was established to support local community food initiatives and to consult to organisations, government and community to create opportunities to strengthen local health, environmental and social outcomes in addition to supporting local food economies. With three decades experience working to improve health and wellbeing in the community Jennifer has a Doctorate of Public Health with a special …

Read the full article

Introducing Tony Wood from the Grattan Institute

The National Sustainability in Business Conference will be held in Brisbane from the 23-24 March 2017. The National Sustainability in Business Conference theme ‘Renewables – Markets – Innovation – Opportunities – Capital’ will address the need for sustainable business practices, and what this means in today’s ever-changing world. Tony Wood joins us next March at the National Sustainability in Business Conference. Tony Wood has led the Grattan Institute’s Energy Program since mid-2011. Since then he and his team have delivered twelve major reports on energy and climate change and he has developed a strong profile with governments and industry, and …

Read the full article