Source: Jefferson Davis.
A new research project designed to examine how our power grids work, and create innovative, local solutions was announced today. The launch of this project, the Intelligent Grid Cluster (iGrid) is truly exciting, as it represents a Federal Government commitment to critically evaluate current practice and support new thinking in the energy sector.
It seems that ‘local’ is the catch cry of the iGrid project, perhaps a statement of intent to move away from our current, centralised energy infrastructure distribution. This focus on clean, locally generated power may create a robust and efficient energy supply. Local energy production not only reduces transmission loss (a problem in a centralised system), but also encourages small scale, green power generation. Smart distribution controls mechanisms will be investigated, to monitor and manage energy use.
Encouragingly, the scope of the project is not limited to electrical generation, but extends to energy efficiency for households and commercial buildings in a more holistic sense. A sustainable new-housing development forms part of the program, with important aspects such as allotment, and passive housing design not being neglected. This pilot housing project aims to reduce energy use by two thirds.
The iGrid project will not only examine technical aspects, but also economic and social modelling, and institutional barriers to distributed generation. I hope that this may overcome the very real obstacles to such ideas on new housing, posed by various levels of government and private enterprise that I heard described by the notable Australian architect Derek Wrigley only a few years ago.
iGrid is funded through CSIRO as part of the ‘Energy Transformed’ National Research Flagship and has five Australian university partners. See the media release here or visit iGrid.
image source - http://www.flickr.com/photos/erikveland/2365516841/
For years we’ve heard talk about the impact of cloven hoofed livestock on soil erosion. Kangaroo meat was the solution for those of us unable to give up our addiction to red meat, however consumers have been slow to take up the offer. Market research reports that only one in twenty Australians eat kangaroo on a monthly basis, though more than half of us will at least give it a go once per year. See report here.
But now there’s a new reason to chew a roo. Yes, eating kangaroo meat instead of beef or lamb will reduce your greenhouse gas emissions… well, rather the animal’s emissions. Cattle and sheep are notoriously gaseous, producing methane in such quantities that they are responsible for 11 percent of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions. Comparatively, kangaroos produce much less methane than traditional livestock.
UNSW researcher Dr George Wilson has suggested that we could reduce Australia’s total greenhouse gas emissions by 3 percent by choosing kangaroo meat over beef or lamb. Such an effect would require large scale change, reducing livestock numbers by one third. See UNSW report here
Half the battle seems to be convincing consumers to try kangaroo, and increasing confidence in how to prepare meals with roo meat. Given the current trend for the organic, free-range foods, personally I’m quite suprised that kangaroo meat hasn’t taken off. It doesn’t get much more free-range than roo.
Home bound - image source - http://www.flickr.com/photos/suburbanbloke/404514102/
Sydney’s public transport has been put to the test as six commuters raced into the city using different modes of transport. Train, bus, car, scooter, bike and foot competed for the perhaps unenviable prize, arriving at work on time.
The course started in Ryde on Sydney’s North shore, competitors arrived later in the heart of the city at Parliament House a distance of 15.5km according to the organisers of the race. The interesting bit, was how much later. The results;
- Scooter – 25 min
- Bicycle – 32 min
- Car – 37 min
- Bus – 1hr 12 min
- Train – 1 hr 14 min
- Foot – 1 hr 20 min
Embarrassingly, public transport only managed to beat a commuter who jogged into the city! The race was run by the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper, their story and photojournal of the race can be found here.
Thankfully the two, two-wheelers which came in at the top represent fuel efficient, and apparently time-efficient modes of transport.
Do you think this one of race gives an accurate depicition of the transport / congestion problems in the city?
Share your stories and transit times.
Beijing’s dream to host a ‘Green Olympics’ is proving to be just that, a dream. Further, the Games are attracting all kinds of attention from environmentalists and the international audience for all the wrong reasons.
The Olympic torch relay has come under fire for the emissions it has caused, the bulk of which are due to the private plane used to ferfy the flame safetly around the globe. The total emissions, a staggering 5000 tons of carbon dioxide. See the full story here
This got me thinking about the Australian Olympic team. We’re sending some 433 athletes to Beijing, and this must surely come at some carbon cost.
A quick and assumption-laden calculation estimates that our atmosphere must endure at least another 2500 tons of CO2 in order to transport the Aussie team to Beijing!
Australia invests a lot of money in it’s atheletes, and this has been talked about in terms of the cost of a gold medal. In the past, a gold medal has cost the Australian taxpayer roughly $40 million. With the AOC predicting that Australia will win some 20 gold medals in Beijing (though this remains to be seen) we can work out the cost in terms of the new carbon economy.
Each of Australia’s gold medals will come at a cost of 125 tons of CO2, in terms of their travel to the Games alone. I haven’t even considered the carbon emissions tied up in the rest of the athletes careers and daily life (which the dollar value probably does).
I suggest here a carbon emissions abatement scheme for the Australian Olympic team. As some of the finest, fittest athletes on the planet, surely our Olympians could set a fine example and walk to work!
