Monthly Archives: November 2009

How Important is Solar Energy?

Garry Baverstock
Co-Founder & Director, solar-e.com
Email: g.baverstock@solar-e.com

solar energy

Since 1969 I have recognized that the use of solar energy is the ecological salvation for planet earth.

In the 1960’s it became obvious to most scientists involved in energy science and engineering that fossil fuel sources had limited life in the long term. In spite of the growing awareness of pollution of cities, politicians and oil companies at the time had scant regard of the pleas of eminent scientists. Even though the “Greenhouse Effect” was known since 1958, most governments in the world were just too concerned about maintaining their economic position at the time to act. Celestia sun, solar energy

The warnings now have much greater credence with a growing proportion of the world’s population. This has resulted in a rise of use of solar energy. Of course all forms of energy are related or derived from solar energy. However, it is the applications that avoid releasing CO2 into the atmosphere or lock up CO2 in the process (such as bio-mass) that have relevance for the 21st Century.

solar-e.com has been formulated to assist in this critical technological and social change, which simply must become mainstream. If not, the current changes in the earth’s climate will be insignificant to the catastrophes and human misery that lay ahead if substantial changes do not occur soon!

Apart from the environmental benefit of the “Big Switch” to solar energy, there will be socio-economic benefits, yet not fully appreciated by most scientists, the business community and most governments. It is time for a greater focus, and delivery of real, not perceived, outcomes.

In 2001, the photovoltaic industry was growing at a rate of 30% p.a., which shows the “solar energy age” has well and truly started. Most people always recognized that solar energy was the energy source of the future. Although the last 30 years of the twentieth century can be seen as an evolutionary process, the speed of development has been slow in relation to the growth of production of greenhouse gases.

Communication, networking, education, dissemination of ideas and information, can help to quicken the pace of development of all forms of solar energy, not only increasing use in the developed world, but ensure the developing world does not make the same errors of judgement in the past and leapfrog the outdated 19th Century forms of energy generation.

I believe this process will take about 50 years, but this early part of the 21st century is the most critical time in human evolution and survival of planet earth’s ecology and environment, as we know it. The equilibrium of greenhouse gases must be restored as soon as possible. If 25% of all energy sources were to be provided by solar and renewable sources and pollution from commuter traffic significantly reduced, the danger of catastrophic effects could be averted. This target must be met by all countries within the next twenty years. Ask the Gurus!

solar-e.com is here to facilitate the process and put genuine seekers of the truth of what is happening and what can be done with those who can deliver the outcomes. We see the large fossil fuel producers as important strategic partners as this important step of evolution occurs.

It is going to take remarkable cooperation and collaboration but it can be done. It must!

IMAGE:
Name- Celestia sun
Source- http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Celestia_sun.jpg
Image has been released into the public domain

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Top Architect Says Building Practices Must Change to Cope with Changing Weather Patterns & Disasters

2 November 2009

Jacinta Goerke
Journalist

ONE of Australia’s leading environmental architects today said rapid change was required in the way we build and renovate properties and prepare for disasters.

The director of Wise Earth Pty Ltd and Order of Australia recipient Mr Garry Baverstock said the increase in reported property damage due to bad weather reaffirms the need to change the way we build structures and prepare for catastrophes.

Damage from 2009 tsunami in Pago Pago, American Samoa

Damage from 2009 tsunami in Pago Pago, American Samoa

“The west coast of Australia has been hit by ongoing severe storms this winter while fires, droughts, floods and dust storms have affected central and eastern Australia not to mention the tsunami that devastated some Pacific Island nations recently,” said Mr Baverstock.

“Most houses and buildings in Australia will not withstand ongoing storms, extreme cyclones, heavy rain, hail, fires, floods, earthquakes, tsunamis and tornados.

“With climate change now in action we need to implement adaptive practices which means changing the way we live and fast!” said Mr Baverstock.

Mr Baverstock said many new houses and commercial buildings did not comply with sustainability principles and people should feel short-changed if problems occurred in their homes within ten years.

“The tie-down on roofing needs to be more solid, windows need to be stronger and homes should be designed to complement the surrounding environment,” he said.

“Houses should be built to last at least three generations and the integration of climate sensible principles, passive solar design, natural vegetation and waterways is vital,” he said.

He said investing extra money up front to construct a durable home or other building is cheaper to maintain in the long run and won’t fly away in a storm.

Mr Baverstock said the federal government had introduced a uniform building code for all states and territories but it failed to include comprehensive sustainable best practice benchmarks.

“The legislation that guides building practices in this country needs to be reviewed and amended to comply with the impact of changing weather patterns and sustainability principles,” he said.

“I’m aghast that developers can still carve up land without taking into account the northern orientation of each lot, rising sea levels and necessary waterway and vegetation corridors.

“While the government has made initial changes we have a long way to go before our homes and buildings will be able to sustain battering caused by harsh weather,” he said.

Mr Baverstock said people keen to live in durable homes should tell their architects, drafts people, builders and local councils to adopt sustainable building policies and designs.

He said at least 80 per cent of people in Australia lived along coastal strips and this made them more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

“If enough people place pressure on builders and local councils then building codes will change,” said Mr Baverstock.

Image-
Name: Tsunami 2009 Pago Pago
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tsunami_2009_Pago_Pago.jpg
Author: Lorn Cramer
Licensing: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic

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