Author Archives: Planet Power
Joint emissions plan to UN
AUSTRALIA says a new legally binding global deal on climate change should not be finalised until 2015 so measures strengthening global action to reduce emissions can be put in place. In a joint submission with Norway to the United Nations, Australia proposes the 2015 timetable in a plan to ”scale-up” international efforts on climate change to meet a global goal of limiting temperature rises below 2 degrees. The Australia-Norway submission argues a 2015 timetable ”will provide time and space for [...]
It’s common sense to be green
The site ticks all the hipster boxes: rough-hewn wooden planters are filled with vegies, coffee is served from a retro silver caravan and next door are old factories and a graffiti-daubed bike path. But this isn’t an impromptu street party or an exhibition opening. On a Saturday morning in Brunswick, potential buyers have gathered for an open-for-inspection at the proposed site of a no-car, ”deep green” apartment block, which developers say will set a new benchmark for sustainability in Australia. [...]
Flicking the switch on energy thinking
Seventy six per cent of Australians consider innovation an important national priority and Australia has a strong history of innovation, from inventing the bionic ear and Wi-Fi, to designing solar powered ferries adaptable for public transport needs. ByScott Wooldridge Yet, this focus on innovation is not reflected across the board – Australia is ranked last in industry collaboration with universities within the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), 21st in the global innovation index and below the OECD average for expenditure on research [...]
Solar installers fined, lose licence
At least 15 electricians who installed potentially dangerous solar panels have been fined thousands of dollars and many have had their licences suspended following an audit that found hundreds of systems across Sydney had defects. An audit by NSW Fair Trading inspectors in June revealed that 122 homes in Baulkham Hills, Blacktown and Kellyville had major defects in their solar panel systems that could cause fires and another 418 homes had minor defects. The latest figures published yesterday show that [...]
Solar energy cost hits par with coal fuel
The cost of solar power in parts of NSW has for the first time crept below that of coal-fired electricity – seen as a key tipping point for the expansion of renewable energy. New data shows solar power is edging towards ”grid parity”, after which it becomes cheaper than fossil fuel-generated energy such as coal and gas, even taking into account the upfront cost of buying rooftop solar panels. But it was one of the few bright spots for an [...]
