Controlling home energy use
A sustainable energy company based on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, Auzion, claims to have “developed a revolutionary new product that puts people in complete control of the energy they use”. Launching the AUZiMAX today, MD Mark Leckenby said the product could reduce a household’s energy consumption by as much as 20%.
He describes the AUZiMAX as a monitoring device that allows customers to see not just how much energy they are using as a household, but also where in the house and at what times they consume the most power.
He said added to a solar photovoltaic grid connect system, or even installed by itself, the unit provides more useful information than other systems: “It doesn’t just give you a total energy consumption rate, it gives you the details, allows you to set an energy budget and can send you alerts to help keep you on track.”
“The AUZiMAX allows the home owner to log into a web portal to monitor their energy usage, set automatic email alerts on excessive consumption, and enable smart switching of loads to maximise the amount of solar energy fed back into the grid.
“On the web portal, homeowners can also at a glance monitor the levels of renewable and conventional power they are using.
More on this story sourced from: http://www.environmentalmanagementnews.net/StoryView.asp?StoryID=1003620
Big Wheel comes to Wollongong
Well strictly it is not a big wheel but a big tyre but let us not quibble! Bridgestone Earthmover Tyres have donated a 3.6 metre high tyre to the Wollongong Science Centre and Planetarium as part of its new “The Machine” exhibits. Normally these tyres/wheels are for large earthmoving vehicles used in quarries and open cut mines. The wheel is seen as a key symbol of the exhibition as it could be considered the first machine.
Photo: The big wheel (tyre) loaded ready to come to Wollongong from Sydney
The tyre was installed outside the Science Centre on Tuesday 4 August and is bound to be a photo attraction for locals and tourists. More on the installation and the new Machine exhibition in next week’s magazines.
Celebrity Chef on creativity, philanthropy and innovation – video interview
Ralph Kerle, executive chairman of The Creative Leadership Forum has interviewed Celebrity Chef and Entrepreneur Wolfgang Puck about creativity, philanthropy and innovation.
The Wolfgang Puck Companies encompass 15 fine dining restaurants, premium catering services, more than 80 Wolfgang Puck Express operations, and kitchen and food merchandise, including cookbooks and canned foods.
Puck is active in philanthropic endeavors and charitable organizations, co-founding the Puck-Lazaroff Charitable Foundation in 1982. The foundation supports the annual American Wine & Food Festival which benefits Meals on Wheels and has raised more than $15 million since its inception.
For the video interview go to: http://www.thecreativeleadershipforum.com/
Businesses saving water
Companies are matching households by recording dramatic reductions in water use, according to a report released yesterday by the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA). Industrial water use has dropped 4.6% in the five years to 2007-08 despite economic growth, found the report that includes case studies WSAA hopes will “inspire more businesses” to examine their water use.
The report, titled Meeting Australia’s water challenges, was released at Coca-Cola Amatil’s (CCA) Northmead bottling plant in Sydney’s west, the site of one of 34 case studies from around the country.
Speaking yesterday, WSAA chair Kerry Schott said commercial water-saving initiatives had already saved 20GL since 2003 and, while hinting there was “still more to be done”, said businesses could be “proud of their efforts”.
“To date, little has been published on the achievements of the commercial and industrial sector in implementing water efficiency measures. However, business efficiency programs have contributed to a substantial decrease in urban water consumption over the last decade,” she said. “Hopefully this report will inspire more businesses to follow the lead in saving water.”
CCA’s Northmead bottling plant, which produces 60 million cases of soft drink each year, was highlighted in the report for water-saving projects including a stormwater harvesting scheme using its large warehouse roof area. Since 2003, CCA reported an average saving of 230kL a day from a raft of water-saving strategies, including using smaller rinse nozzles to flush the inside of PET bottles before being filled.
CCA’s most ambitious water plan, unveiled yesterday, was its goal to convert rainwater to beverage. Under the scheme, which CCA environmental manager Ole Bachmann admitted is still in its “conceptual stage”, rainwater will be captured on the plant’s 12,000sqm warehouse roof and stored in a 35,000L tank at ground level. The water is then pumped to the plant’s water treatment facility before ending up as the main ingredient of the soft drink giant’s products.
“The rainwater project has no real financial return, but our incentive is to be at the forefront of the new technology. To my understanding this will be a first, at least within the Coca-Cola world,” Bachmann said.
Other case studies lauded in WSAA’s report included the South Australian plant of biotech company Novozymes, which has saved 500kL annually since it began reusing reverse osmosis reject water in its staff amenities, and Melbourne Zoo, which has cut water use by 60% since the mid-1990s by introducing irrigation efficiencies and water recycling in animal enclosures.
Story sourced from: http://www.environmentalmanagementnews.net/StoryView.asp?StoryID=1003669
Small Business September to help your business
With over 300 events hosted by 100 organisations across NSW, Small Business September has events to help strengthen your business, sharpen your market presence and increase business opportunities. Most events are free.
Check the Department of State and Regional Development Small Business web site (http://www.smallbusinessmonth.nsw.gov.au/) for details on …
• The launch on 1 September 2009 in Sydney featuring a panel discussion hosted by David Koch
• Marketing and sales seminars
• Business growth and exporting workshops
• Financial planning skills and much more …
AND for a limited time you can win a marketing makeover for your business valued at $15,000. For details go to: http://ww3.business.nsw.gov.au/sbmsurveys/
Your Ideas, Innovations or Events?
If you want publicity for an idea, innovation or technically related event, contact the I&I editor, Colin Seaborn on 4254 0200 or 0419 841829 or click here->
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