Green Is Good!

Do TV adds make a difference???

If you have been watching prime time mainsteam TV recently you would have seen The Energy Spot TV adds!

The current TVC relates to fuel efficient driving.

Have you watched the add?

 

 

If so, would you change your driving behaviour?

Have you visited the Energy Sport web site?

Energy wise tells us:

Take action

Wise fuel use is not just what you drive - how you drive and care for your car makes a big difference.

• Drive smoothly. Accelerate and brake gently and smoothly, including in and out of corners.
• Watch your speed. Travelling at 100 km/h instead of 110 km/h can cut around 10% off your fuel bill.
• Cut your idling time. Idling wastes fuel. If you're going to be stationary for more than 30 seconds, switch off the car.
• Check your tyre pressure monthly. If it's too low your car has to work harder, and it can impact on the way the car handles and brakes.
• Keep your load down and your car streamlined. It sounds obvious, but the heavier your load is or the more drag you've got, the harder your car's engine needs to work - it can add up to 5% onto your fuel bills. So if you're not using something - like the golf clubs or the pram - take it out of your car. Reduce drag by taking off roof and cycle racks when you don't need them.
• Love your car.A well-maintained car can use up to 10% less fuel than an inadequately maintained one. Regular servicing, the right tyres for the conditions and proper wheel alignment can all make a difference.

>> Learn more simple ways to cut your car's fuel use.

Did you know?

• The average kiwi household spends around the same amount of money on vehicle fuel as on energy for their home - about $2200 a year.
• There are about 2.5 million light passenger vehicles in New Zealand that each use, on average, over 1,200 litres of fuel a year.
• If every New Zealand motorist used 20% less fuel, NZ would use about 628 million litres less fuel each year - that's like taking 500,000 cars off our roads.
• The top driving team in the 2008 AA ENERGYWISE™ Rally - in which new cars and drivers battle to achieve the lowest running costs over a four-day route - beat the stated fuel consumption of their vehicle by a whopping 40%.

This is good advice. However I do not believe the mainstream TV consumer gets it??

Consultation on pre-1990 forest land allocation announced

The "Sustainable Forestry Bulletin" recently sent me this message that I want to reproduce for you all to read as it is a subject some of you will have an interest in.

 

New consultation on the pre-1990 forest land allocation

The Pre-1990 Forest Land Allocation Plan (Consultation Draft) has been released today for the allocation of New Zealand Units (NZUs) to owners of pre-1990 forest land.

The Consultation Draft supersedes the Draft Forestry Allocation Plan released in October 2008. All submissions received in response to the 2008 Draft Plan were carefully considered. Where supported by the Government, options put forward in previous submissions have been included in the current proposed changes.

A new allocation plan is required because of the changes to the forestry provisions of the NZ Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) that are proposed in the Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill (see Issue 8 of this bulletin for further details).

Note that submissions to the Select Committee considering the Amendment Bill closed on 13 October 2009. Current legislation and regulations still apply until changes are passed into law by Parliament.

The pre-1990 forest land allocation policy

Under the ETS, emissions arising from the deforestation of more than 2 hectares of exotic pre 1990 forest land after 1 January 2008 are automatically included in the ETS unless the land has been exempted. To offset some of the impact of the rules of the ETS, New Zealand Units (NZUs) are to be allocated to eligible owners of pre-1990 exotic forest land.

Eligible landowners will need to decide in the first half of 2010 whether to either:

• apply for an allocation of NZUs; or
• if eligible, apply to have their land exempted from the NZ ETS (under the less-than-50 ha exemption, or the tree weed exemption).

The allocation of NZUs is 18, 39 or 60 units per hectare depending on when and how the landowner acquired the land. All eligible recipients will be transferred part of their entitlement (38%) in Commitment Period 1 (1 January 2008 to 31 December 2012); the balance will be transferred after 2012.

The forestry allocation has significant value. Landowners will not be obliged to apply for either an allocation of NZUs or one of the exemptions but it may be in their financial interests to do so. The Government expects most, if not all, eligible landowners will apply for either an allocation or an exemption.

This consultation

The Consultation Draft of the Pre-1990 Forest Land Allocation Plan that we are seeking feedback on follows the proposed policy and process requirements in the Amendment Bill. Specifically, we seek your feedback on:

• Which landowner should receive an allocation of units if forest land was recently sold?
• When does a shareholding change become an ownership change, and how to determine when ownership was transferred?
• What information should be provided with applications?
• What records must be kept and for how long?

These elements of the Allocation Plan will not be prescribed by the ETS legislation once it is amended.

The public can make submissions on the Consultation Draft until November 22, 2009. For a copy of the consultation draft or to make an online submission, visit www.maf.govt.nz/sustainable-forestry, call 0800 CLIMATE (254 628) or email: climatechange@maf.govt.nz.

MAF grants $4 million for new forests

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) has granted $4 million to 42 recipients to plant new forests.

MAF Programmes Director Clive Lilley says the third round of the Afforestation Grant Scheme's (AGS) public tender round, which closed on 30 April, saw a total of $4,020,993 granted to projects around New Zealand for the 2009/10 and 2010/11 financial years

"The 42 projects will create 2688 hectares of new forest in 2009 and 2010 at an average price of $1789 per hectare in the high sequestration pool and $650 per hectare in the low sequestration pool.

"It will be allocated to projects in the Waikato, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Manawatu/Wanganui, Wellington, Nelson/Marlborough, Canterbury, Otago and Southland regions.

"MAF received 68 tenders in this last round, double the number received in the previous round, indicating very strong interest in the Scheme."

Mr Lilley said since the AGS got underway in June last year over $6.9 million has been allocated to projects totaling over 4,495 hectares.

All available funding has now been allocated for the 2010/11 financial year, which means there will be no tender round for this October.

The next tender round is planned to close on 30 March 2010. Mr Lilley said 16 eligible tenders that have not been able to be approved due to demand exceeding available funding have been held over and may be approved as further funding becomes available.

Next year’s round will be for projects starting in the 2011/12 financial year.

For further information on the AGS or to download an AGS Public Tender Form, see: http://www.maf.govt.nz/climatechange/forestry/initiatives/ags/

The Sustainability Forestry Bulletin

The "Sustainable Forestry Bulletin" is about keeping you and others with an interest in forestry informed. Please feel free to forward it on to others who might be interested.

To subscribe to the Bulletin, please email sustainableforestrybulletin@maf.govt.nz with ‘Subscribe: Sustainable Forestry Bulletin’ in the subject line and your contact details in the body of the email.

If you have any questions relating to anything in this Bulletin or other forestry matters, please email your enquiries to: climatechange@maf.govt.nz or ring 0800 CLIMATE (254 628).

41st Tokyo Motor Show 2009 - Green cars

The 41st Tokyo Motor Show 2009 will be held from October 23 to November 4, 2009 at Makuhari Messe, Chiba City.

Electric cars take on hybrids at Tokyo show !!

  

Futuristic concept cars, plug-in hybrids, zero-emission electric vehicles and even a hydrogen-powered scooter jostled for the limelight as the Tokyo Motor Show kicked off on Wednesday.

From a super-skinny Nissan electric car that leans when going around bends, to a lightweight Toyota sports car and a Daihatsu vehicle with a design based on a basket, Japanese makers showed off their visions of the future.

While hybrids are still a big feature, electric cars are competing for attention at this year's show as technological breakthroughs in rechargeable batteries bring mass-produced zero emission cars closer to reality.

Foreign makers are almost entirely absent at this year's show, now dominated by the Japanese makers, which are pinning their hopes on growing interest in fuel-efficient automobiles to rescue them from a brutal industry slump.

Toyota, the world's largest automaker, displayed a new version of its electric concept car, the FT-EV II, as well as a Prius plug-in hybrid.

The pioneer of hybrids thinks that such vehicles, which have a petrol engine and an electric motor, will be "the core of the auto market in the future," said Toyota Motor president Akio Toyoda.

But he added: "Toyota is not limiting itself to gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles. The era of reinventing the automobile is nearly upon us."

Toyota also showed off a new lightweight, concept sports car inspired by the iconic Corolla AE86 coupe of the 1980s, along with a Lexus two-seat supercar with a 4.8-litre engine and a price tag of about 375,000 dollars.

Sales of the Lexus, which is set to go into production next year, will be limited to just 500 worldwide.

Nissan meanwhile unveiled a concept car that leans to the side when going around bends. Just 1.1 metres (3 feet 7 inches) wide, the "Land Glider" seats two people -- one in the front and one in the back.

Inspired by motorbikes and glider aircraft, it has tilting wheels that enable it to lean by up to 17 degrees. Nissan says it may start selling the car if there is enough interest.

It will also put its Leaf plug-in electric car on public display for the first time at the show, which opens to general visitors near Tokyo on Saturday and runs until November 4. The mid-sized car will go on sale in late 2010.

"Leaf will make waves in our industry as the world's first affordable zero-emission car," Nissan chief executive Carlos Ghosn said.

"The time is now for zero emissions. Sustainable mobility is within our reach. We stand on the threshold of a new era in the automotive industry."

While Nissan lags behind its bigger rivals in hybrids, it is one step ahead in electric cars. Toyota has said it aims to launch an electric car by 2012.

From Honda comes the EV-N, a cute new electric concept car with a retro look that can store a one-wheel personal mobility device inside its door.

Fuel cells, which run on hydrogen and emit only water, also make an appearance at the Tokyo show as Honda and Suzuki put on display cars powered by the technology.

There is even a fuel-cell scooter and a fuel-cell wheelchair from Suzuki.

Proponents of hydrogen-powered vehicles argue they are the only true zero emission technology because fossil fuels are often burned to generate electricity, particularly in emerging nations like China and India.

While the high production cost of fuel-cell vehicles poses a significant challenge, some think they may eventually overtake plug-in electric cars.

"We believe that the fuel cell electric vehicle will be the ultimate form for automobiles in the future as it has advantages such as zero carbon dioxide emissions in use, can travel considerable distances without refuelling and can be quickly refuelled," said Honda president Takanobu Ito. 

Free Lunch Seminar - Is Being Environmentally Sustainable Good for Business?

 
How can sustainability initiatives help your business survive under the NZ Emissions Trading Scheme?

NZIM Central has partnered with with Gordon Shaw - Sempre Avanti Consulting to bring you this lunch presentation.

In light of the recent Government announcement on the NZ emission reduction targets for 2020 and ongoing media comment and coverage on this topic, NZIM and Sempre Avanti Consulting presents 2 workshops on the big sustainability issues facing small and medium enterprise.

NZIM invites you to a paper bag lunch information session to find out more about the workshop topics. Gain an overview on business based sustainability and links to economic sustainability, Carbon accounting and the NZ Emissions Trading Scheme.

Date: Wednesday 28 October

Time: 12 Noon - 1:15pm

Venue: NZIM Central,
Level 7 - Lumley House,
    3-11 Hunter Street,
    Wellington

Cost: Complimentary event

You are welcome to bring your lunch with you, tea & coffee will be provided.

Proposed dates for the workshops are:

Wednesday 18 November - 9am - 3pm

Wednesday 2 December - 9am - 3pm

More information on the topics and the costs of the workshops will be available at the teaser presentation.

To RSVP for the paper bag lunch email: penelope_england@nzimcentral.co.nz

 

The countdown is on for COP 15 at the UNFCCC in Copenhagen

 

The countdown is on and preparations are well underway for COP 15 at the UNFCCC in Copenhagen.  In recent days we have seen Japan, China and India all commit to ambitious targets.  Australia and the US are both still to gain legislative support for their targets.  UN negotiations are now back underway in Bangkok.  This is the penultimate negotiating session before COP 15 in Copenhagen in December, at which an ambitious and effective international climate change deal is to be clinched.

New Zealand will present its ETS to this meeting!

At a press conference held midway through the Talks in Bangkok (2 Oct), Yvo de Boer spoke of encouraging signals that the Talks can deliver the tools and rules essential to a successful climate change deal in Copenhagen. CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE VIDEO

What do you think of the speech? Is it all talk and will there be action!! Let us know your thoughts!

COP15 Copenhagen 7-18 December 2009

All the talk is on the Copenhagen climate chnage talks in December 2009.

What are they?

The sessions of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change are open to Parties of the Convention and Observer States (Governments), the United Nations System and observer organizations duly admitted by the Conference of the Parties.

Parties: Governments nominate their respective representatives to participate and negotiate at the sessions of the Convention and the Kyoto Protocol. This may include ministers, negotiators, and those who the Governments consider are necessary to achieve their goals during the sessions. Eg. New Zealand

CMP
The Conference of the Parties (COP) serves as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol. This is referred to as the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP).

Conference of the Parties

The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the "supreme body" of the Convention, that is, its highest decision-making authority. It is an association of all the countries that are Parties to the Convention.

The COP is responsible for keeping international efforts to address climate change on track. It reviews the implementation of the Convention and examines the commitments of Parties in light of the Convention’s objective, new scientific findings and experience gained in implementing climate change policies. A key task for the COP is to review the national communications and emission inventories submitted by Parties. Based on this information, the COP assesses the effects of the measures taken by Parties and the progress made in achieving the ultimate objective of the Convention.

I hope this helps?

ETS 101 - a starting guide

There is much debate in NZ on the proposed NZETS. We must remember that an ETS is not the total solution to all of the emission problems nor is it the only response.

To follow is a 101 guide to ETS.

It has always been our position that being sustainable is good for business! This is now bearing fruit as there is a direct positive economic impact related to the cost of carbon under and NZETS.

For example if the power price is set to rise in the NZETS then being more energy efficient will save you money! We think this is a "no brainer"!

Emissions Trading

 

Emissions trading is a policy instrument available to mitigate GHG emissions. It involves putting a limit on the quantity of GHG emissions that can be emitted to the atmosphere over a set period of time – the “emissions cap”

 

Government policy documents state that emissions trading schemes are internationally recognised as an equitable, effective and efficient way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

 

Emitters of carbon will need to purchase carbon credits. As carbon is emitted, the credits that a business holds/processes will need to be surrendered, effectively “paying” for the greenhouse gasses produced.

 

GHG emissions are usually converted to their carbon dioxide equivalent [CO₂e]

 

Trading participants can then purchase and sell emission allowances in order to meet their emissions cap.

 

Emissions trading operates like a commodity market where the price is determined by the Market based on the relative supply.

 

The price of the emission allowance [the carbon price] is the financial incentive to limit emissions.

 

Emissions trading alone will not be sufficient to achieve the global reductions in GHG emissions that are required to stabilise atmospheric GHG concentrations, but ETS is the principal instrument that governments are employing in the first instance.

 

Any ETS system has advantages and disadvantages. Potential advantages of an ETS include:

 

• The guarantee of a specific emissions reduction [abatement] outcome which is set by an emission cap
• Can lead to the use of innovation and business responses to reduce the resource intensity and affect of business on GHG emissions

 

Potential disadvantages can include:

 

• The carbon price is not known in advance
• Can be costly to establish
• If free rebates and permits are offered then economic distortions can occur

 

Cap and Trade

 

New Zealand has chosen a cap and trade system. This involves setting a specific limit (a cap) on the quantity of emissions that can be released to the atmosphere from a specified group of emission sources over a given time period.

 

For an ETS to be effective and efficient as a mitigation instrument the trading  system should cover some of the following key principles:

 

• Maximum emissions coverage
• Provide a clear market incentive to reduce emissions
• Be embodied in long term government policy
• Maximise administration efficiencies to reduce compliance costs
• Have a clear set of standards that allow for accurate emissions accounting
• Provide economic efficiency and equity

 

What is the ETS

 

Under an ETS, prices are established for units to emit greenhouse gases. It is hoped that these prices influence decisions by producers, consumers and investors, in their decision making around the reduction of emissions and to look at viable alternatives.

 

Put more simply, essentially, if you create emissions, say by using fossil fuels by driving your car e.g. petroleum, it costs you units (so called carbon credits). If you create a carbon sink (plant trees) that then soak up carbon emissions, you create credit units that can be traded.

If you have any questions or comments let us know?

Milutin Milankovitch the father of climate change research??

I have been undertaking some research for some upcoming seminars I will be conduction on Sustainability, Climate Change and the NZETS.

I must have missed that class at college about the Milankovitch cycles so I thought that the reads of this BLOG may also be interested too??

Milankovich Cycles

 

The Milankovich cycles refers to changes in the earth’s orbit and orientation toward the sun and have long term important bearings on the earth’s climate.

 

Astronomer Milutin Milankovitch [1879 – 1958] developed the mathematical formulas upon which these orbital variations are based. He hypothesized that when some parts of the cyclic variations are combined and occur at the same time, they are responsible for major changes to the earth's climate (even ice ages). Milankovitch estimated climatic fluctuations over the last 450,000 years and described cold and warm periods.

 

The Serbian astrophysicist Milutin Milankovitch is best known for developing one of the most significant theories relating Earth motions and long-term climate change. Born in 1879 in the rural village of Dalj (then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, today located in Croatia), Milankovitch attended the Vienna Institute of Technology and graduated in 1904 with a doctorate in technical sciences. After a brief stint as the chief engineer for a construction company, he accepted a faculty position in applied mathematics at the University of Belgrade in 1909—a position he held for the remainder of his life.

 

You may have missed this science class at school and may not be aware that  the axis of the earth pointing toward the North Star (Polaris) is at an angle of 23.45° and that the earth is approximately 91-94 million miles from the sun, these facts are not absolute or constant. The interaction between the earth and sun, known as orbital variation, changes and has changed throughout the 4.6 billion year history of our planet.

 

Orbit Variations

 

About every 100,000 years the earth’s orbit around the sun varies from nearly circular to elliptical (elongated). This has an effect on the amount of the suns radiation that strikes the earth. When circular the variations are around 6% between summer and winter. However in an elliptical phase the variation can be 20-30%!

 

You may think that most objects in space that orbit something else move in circles, but that isn't the case. Although some objects follow circular orbits, most orbits are shaped more like "stretched out" circles or ovals. Mathematicians and astronomers call this oval shape an ellipse.

 

The eccentricity of Earth's orbit is very small, so Earth's orbit is nearly circular. Earth's orbital eccentricity is less than 0.02. The orbit of Pluto is the most eccentric of any planet in our Solar System. Pluto's orbital eccentricity is almost 0.25.

 

The Sun is not at the center of an elliptical orbit. It is a little off to one side, at a point called a "focus" of the ellipse. Because of this offset the planet moves closer to and further away from the Sun every orbit. The close point in each orbit is called perihelion. The far away point is called aphelion. If an orbit has a large eccentricity, the difference between the perihelion distance and the aphelion distance will also be large. Earth is only 3% further from the Sun at aphelion than it is at perihelion. Pluto's aphelion distance from the Sun is 66% greater than its perihelion distance.

 

 

 

Axis Tilt

 

 

About every 42,000 years the tilt of the earth’s axis ranges from 21.8 to 24.4 degrees. This tilt determines the angle of solar radiation that hits the earth’s surface.  At present we are around 23.5 degrees.

 

The Earth's axis is tilted from perpendicular to the plane of the ecliptic by 23.45°. This tilting is what gives us the four seasons of the year - spring, summer, autumn (fall) and winter. Since the axis is tilted, different parts of the globe are oriented towards the Sun at different times of the year.

 

Summer is warmer than winter (in each hemisphere) because the Sun's rays hit the Earth at a more direct angle during summer than during winter and also because the days are much longer than the nights during the summer. During the winter, the Sun's rays hit the Earth at an extreme angle, and the days are very short. These effects are due to the tilt of the Earth's axis.

 

Orientation

 

About every 22,000 years the orientation of the earth’s axis changes between the Pole star and the Vega star. This determines what time summer and winter occurs!

 

The term "Earth orientation" refers to the direction in space of axes which have been defined on the Earth. It is usually measured using five quantities: two angles which identify the direction of the Earth's rotation axis within the Earth, an angle describing the rotational motion of the Earth, and two angles which characterize the direction of the Earth's rotation axis in space. With these coordinates, the orientation of the Earth in space is fully described.

 

 

Pole Star

 

A pole star is a visible star, especially a prominent one that is approximately aligned with the Earth's axis of rotation; that is, a star whose apparent position is close to one of the celestial poles, and which lies (approximately) directly overhead when viewed from the Earth's North Pole or South Pole. There are potentially both northern and southern pole stars, but whether there is either depends on the current orientation of the Earth's axis, which moves over time (see precession of the equinoxes). The term the Pole Star usually refers to the star Polaris (colloquially referred to as the North Star), which is the current northern pole star.

 

[WRI's EarthTrends Delivered] Climate and Energy Charts and Figures

I recently signed up with the WRI's earth trends service which I have previously mentioned in this BLOG.

I have received my first update and wanted to share one set of data with you.

Global CO2 Emissions Growth in Select Sectors: 2000-2005

Total global emissions grew 12.7% between 2000 and 2005, an average of 2.4% a year. However, individual sectors grew at rates between 40% and near zero percent, and there are substantial differences in sectoral growth rates between developed and developing countries.

This chart shows emissions growth by region in four select sectors: electricity & heat, transport, industry, and building use. Emissions growth in every sector is primarily attributable to developing countries, which now account for the majority of emissions from electricity & heat, as well as industry. However, developed countries still account for a majority of emissions in the transport and building use sectors.

These figures are quite sobering. At a time when there is still lots of debate here in NZ about the implementation of the NZETS these figures show why every country must do something to reduce consumption, resource intensity and the release of CO2e emissions.

The following graph is courtesy of the WRI service.

EU greenhouse gas emissions fell by 1.5% in 2008 - can NZ do the same?

EU greenhouse gas emissions fell by 1.5% in 2008

31 August 2009 - Greenhouse gas emissions in the EU declined for the fourth year running last year, according to preliminary data released by the European Environment Agency (EEA) on Monday. Emissions were down by 1.5% across the bloc and 1.3% in the old EU-15.

This brought EU-27 emissions to 10.7% below 1990 levels, more than halfway to the EU's legally-binding target of a 20% cut by 2020. In the EU-15, emissions in 2008 were 6.2% below 1990 levels. This confirms the region is well on track to reach its Kyoto target, said environment commissioner Stavros Dimas.

But Mr Dimas acknowledged that part of the reduction comes from the economic slowdown, which significantly brought down production levels and related emissions. He urged member states to swiftly implement the EU's climate and energy package to continue this downward trend.

Earlier this year, the European Commission reported a 3% drop in industrial emissions of greenhouse gases in 2008. Analysts primarily attributed the decrease to the recession. Last week, a report showed the world's largest companies are unlikely deliver cuts recommended by scientists.

This is the first time the EEA has published provisional data for the previous year so early. Emissions data for 2007 were only published three months ago. EU emissions fell by 1.2% that year compared to 0.3% in 2006. A final report on the 2008 data will be published in June 2010.

Internationally, ongoing climate negotiations are making slow progress.During a meeting in Bonn in August, the UNFCCC released figures showing pledges made by rich nations would only amount to a 15-21% cut. Governments will continue their discussions at a G20 meeting in Pittsburgh, the US, on 24-25 September.

Japan's Democratic Party, which swept to power on Sunday, has pledged to reduce the country's greenhouse gas emissions by 25% below 1990 levels by 2020. The previous government had proposed an 8% reduction .

What can we learn form what the EU is achieving?

My view is that they took the pain and got an ETS up and running early and now they are reaping the rewards!

Reel Earth Environmental Film Festival - Wellington NZ

MEDIA RELEASE

3 September 2009

THE PROOF THAT SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS IS GOOD BUSINESS HITS THE BIG SCREEN

An award-winning film showing what is possible when a multi-national company, with operations in New Zealand, commits to a more sustainable path, will open the Wellington season of the Reel Earth Environmental film festival.

So Right, So Smart, described by judges at this year's Reel Earth Awards as 'a truly inspirational film that should be required viewing for all politicians and captains of industry' will screen at the Paramount on 1 October.

The film presents a good news story at a time when business needs good news stories.

So Right, So Smart tells the story of how, in an epiphanal moment, Ray Anderson, founder of the hugely successful Interface Corporation, realised the implications of his company's way of operating and decided to take a different path. He set about changing their business practices and setting a goal of having no environmental footprint by the year 2020. In the process, he realised that the changes he was making were actually very good for business.

Anderson's philosophy reaches across the company's many international operations, including here in New Zealand.

Managing Director of Interface NZ, Robb Donze, says that the key to making better business practices work is leadership from the top.

'Ray has set the bar very high for the company globally. Interface NZ works hard to lower its own environmental footprint here in New Zealand. All products are certified as climate neutral. Our entire footprint locally is offset through Landcare's carboNZero program.

'We are active members of the NZ Business Council for Sustainable Development and are sponsors of the Green Building Council's Interior Fit Out Tool. We take our leadership position very seriously and continue to show the business case for sustainability by our own example.'

Robb Donze will speak at the screening, giving the audience a chance to hear first hand what worked and what is necessary to successfully implement sustainable business practices in New Zealand.

So Right, So Smart shows how ecologically sound business practices foster better business in general, using examples such as Patagonia and the Green Mountain Coffee Roasters. The film features insights from world experts such as David Suzuki, Paul Hawken and Lester Brown.

So Right, So Smart won Best Feature Film at this year's Reel Earth Environmental Film Festival Awards.

The Wellington Season of the Reel Earth Environmental Film Festival is hosted by the Wellington Branch of Forest and Bird and sponsored by Graphic Press.

The Festival runs from the 1 - 15 October and features films on environmental issues and the natural environment. More details are at

www.reelearth.org.nz

Ends

CONTACT - Vicki Connor, Forest and Bird, Wellington Branch, by e-mail until 8 September envirofilms@gmail.com <

mailto:envirofilms@gmail.com

> , after 8 September 027 222 2943

WHAT: So Right, So Smart film screening and talk by Robb Donze, Managing Director Interface NZ

WHEN: Thursday 1 October, 5.30pm (screening at 6pm)

WHERE: The Paramount, Courtenay Place, Wellington.

TICKETS: In advance from the Paramount or by e-mailing envirofilms@gmail.com <

mailto:envirofilms@gmail.com>

Tickets are $20 and include a glass of Yealands wine, an award winning boutique vineyard committed to sustainable viticulture.

Making the environment sexy! The Age of Stupid Movie

Did you know that the producer of the movie THE AGE OF STUPID is a kiwi? Lizzie Gillett cut her teeth in Dunedin.

Will this movie be the next Inconvenient Truth?

From my research it looks like they are using some strong facts and information as a basis for the movie.

The Age of Stupidis the new four-year epic from McLibel director Franny Armstrong. Oscar-nominated Pete Postlethwaite stars as a man living alone in the devastated world of 2055, looking at old footage from 2008 and asking: why didn’t we stop climate change when we had the chance?

I will check the movie out in the next week and post my review. Please post a comment and review if you have seen the movie.

Calculating your carbon footprint

If you are a regular visitor to this blog you will know that we have covered this topic in detail.

We prefer to call carbon footprints GHG emission footprints to take the focus away from carbon only.

Today I visited the WRI World Resources Institute's web site and came across this interesting posting on carbon foot print calculators and a comparison between them. This is interesting reading.

The article states:

Not too long ago, the concept of a Carbon Footprint was a foreign one. But as global climate change theory has gained traction in the general public, carbon footprinthas become common lingo. Online calculators which account for ones personal carbon emissions have emerged as a popular tool for the climate-minded to track and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. These calculators are so prevalent that if you search Google, you'll find a wide selection waiting for your personal energy and transportation data. Here's the problem though: not all carbon footprint calculators are created equal. So to help you parse out the good from the bad, and assess the accuracy of a quick and dirty approach, I tested nine different calculators.

My advice to anyone in New Zealand that if you use a online calculator find one that uses NZ emission factors.

The following link should assist: Sempre Avanti Consulting

 

Carpooling - Greener, cheaper and more fun?? Maybe?

In this mornings Dominion Post print edition I read an article on page A2 about a new Wellington based car pool scheme.

One of the factors of reinstating the car pooling system is the ongoing problems with the regions commuter trains!

The article tells me that 700 people have signed up for the system. How may vehicle journeys does this take off the regions roads?

It is a fine balancing act between the potential of more vehicle trips as a result of commuter fleeing the trains! But at the current moment who want to use our truly 3rd world system?

I comment the Regional Council for the Let's carpool web site- however I ask the questions is this not the same regional council that has progressively let our trains get run down thru lack of investment!

Roll on 2010-11 for the arrival of our new trains and good luck to those trying car pooling. Let us all know what it is like if you use the service?

2020 or 2040 what should the target be for NZ

It is interesting times when it comes to the announcement of New Zealand's 2020 and 2040 emission reduction targets.

The Government has strongly rejected the Greenpeace Sign On initiative!

Here is some information that you may find of interest? It is about 2050 targets in the USA.

This is reproduced courtesy of WBCSD and Greenwire

U.S. can cut half its transportation emissions by 2050 -- report

The United States can cut greenhouse gas emissions from transportation in half by 2050 with strategies ranging from cutting speed limits to imposing road pricing, according to a report released today by federal agencies and environmental and industry groups.

Examining about 50 transportation strategies, the report found transportation emissions could be reduced 24 percent by 2050 by acting to change travel behavior and land-use patterns. The emissions reduction hit 47 percent by adding road pricing techniques, ranging from pay-as-you-go insurance to charging Americans for every mile driven.

The report found environmental gains from advances in fuel efficiency would be mostly undermined by increased travel and population, making it important to address the efficiency of the transportation sector by investing in public transit, land-use planning and other low-carbon alternatives.

John Porcari, deputy secretary at the Department of Transportation, said the report shows that lawmakers looking to recast the nation's transportation system to curb emissions and fuel consumption will need to look for combinations of policy changes. "There is no magic bullet," he said. "There is no single strategy that can be pursued to help us turn our corner. We need to look at a number of options."

Transportation accounts for roughly 28 percent of the United States' greenhouse gas emissions, and the sector has been one of the fastest-growing in the past two decades -- representing nearly half of the nation's total increase in greenhouse emissions since 1990.

The sweeping energy and climate measure that the House passed last month, H.R. 2454, would require carbon dioxide emissions to drop 17 percent below 2005 levels and a total of 83 percent by 2050. The study released today finds that making the transportation sector more efficient is critical to meeting those goals.

"We can't get there from here without reducing emissions from transportation," said Colin Peppard, climate and infrastructure policy director for Environmental Defense Fund, one of the groups that commissioned the report.

The report was written by consulting firm Cambridge Systematics. Its sponsors include DOT, the American Public Transportation Association and Shell Oil Co.

MAKES FOR INTERESTING READING!

Business owners are still focused on SUSTAINABILITY

Sempre Avanti Consulting was an exhibitor at the Bizzone Business Expo in Wellington last week.

It was pleasing for us to engage with numerious passionate business people and business owners who have a focus on sustainability.

In the current recession it would be easy to follow the Governments lead and put "sustainability" issues on the back burner! We have always maintained that sustainability is good for business!

The business owners we spoke with agree. We had a number of visitors at our stand who wanted more information about carbon accounting, emissions inventories, waste audits and how to be more environmentally sustainable which leads to economic sustainability.

CLICK HERE TO SEE PHOTOS OF THE SAC STAND AT THE EXPO

We had a number of visitors ask us about the carboncounted system - more information can be found here

We look forward to talking in more detail with those who visited our stand that have requested more information.

Envirostep - could you use this tool? Would you use this?

 The Ministry of Economic Development has developed a entry level environmental measurement tool called ENVIROSTEP.

The web site states:

Envirostep is a free, entry-level environmental management tool for small to medium enterprises (SMEs) in New Zealand. It was developed by the Ministry of Economic Development in collaboration with a number of other contributors (see panel to the right), and provides users with:

• An environmental performance score & profile.
• Recommendations (to reduce operating costs, environmental impacts & risk).
• An action plan (to implement selected recommendations).
• Over 300 links to other environmental tools, service providers & further information.

If you are a regular reader of this BLOG you will have read about GHG footprint certification, greenwashing and carbon credits.

We have not signed up to Envirostep as we use the CarbonCounted system to measure our GHG footprint.

If you are a small business would you use this system? Let our reads know what you think?

If you use Envirostep please give us some feedback!

Hyundai introduces the Elantra LPI

If you have read this BLOG for some time you know that we have written about the pros and cons of Hybrid cars.

It is interesting to see that Hybrid cars are one of the biggest selling segments in Japan.

I was made aware recently of a new Hybrid model being produced by Hyundaithat rather than being a petrol electric hybrid it is a LPG electric Hybrid. Unlike conventional hybrids (the Toyota Prius and the Honda Insight), the Hyundai has a liquid-petroleum gas engine (with a 1.6-liter displacement) mated to its electric motor. The motor runs on a lithium-ion battery pack.

This got me thinking of the glory days of LPGin New Zealand when you could apply to the Ministry of Energy and get a loan to convert to LPG. I remember doing just that - I had a big Valiant Regal straight 6 and converted it toLPG.

When I visited my local petrol station the other day I noticed that you could still fill up on LPG.

So with this new models being released by Hyundai it got me thinking would this be a great model to introduce here?

The issue with Hybrid vehicles at present is the price differential between standard petrol models and Hybrids.

Having said that maybe this model would be an excellent choice for the Taxi industry?

Soil organic carbon pools in the northern circumpolar permafrost region

Sometime ago I signed up to receive updates from the Global Carbon Project GCP.

They sent me an email the other day which lead me to some information that you may find interesting.

You may be interested in a new assessment just published on the quantity of organic carbon buried in the permafrost regions of the Northern Hemisphere, a key vulnerability to future climate change.

Please check:

http://www.globalcarbonproject.org/news/SoilOrganicPoolsinPermafrost.html

Press releases:

English: http://www.reuters.com/article/africaCrisis/idUSSP458218

Spanish: http://lta.reuters.com/article/topNews/idLTASIE56005N20090701

Chinese: http://cn.reuters.com/article/CNEnvNews/idCNChina-4893620090701?mlt_click=Tertiary+Navigation+CN_36_Static+module+_sec1-priCon-m0_News

The link starts with: The vast amount of carbon stored in the Arctic and boreal regions of the world is more than double that previously estimated, according to a study published this week. The new estimate is over 1.5 trillion tons of frozen carbon, about twice as much carbon as contained in the atmosphere......

READ MORE HERE

So what do you think? Are we as a planet stuffed if more of the permafrost thaws out?

What can we do? Will the meetings in December 2009 sort it out?

The jury is out on this one!

 

 

Come and visit us at the Bizzone Bussiness Expo in Wellington 22-24 July

Green is Good BLOG together with Onespec and Sempre Avanti Consulting will be at stand #117 at the Bizzone Business Expo at the TSB Bank Arena from 22-24 July.

Please pop by and say hello.

We would love you to visit us (look out for us at stand 117 in the main hall) and to have a good look around the expo. Make sure you enter our card draw to win a new iPod.

We can offer you a complimentary ticket to the event by CLICKING HERE.

More details on the expo can be found at http://www.bizzone.com/ The information below gives you a quick overview of the Expo.

Why you should attend?

Increased sales, smarter marketing, tighter cashflow, compliance made easy, staffing solutions, access to finance, debt collection, pricing strategy, business planning, strategy, online business, IT, cost reduction, investment advice, insurance…

Get support for your business from

New Zealand

’s best

Including 40 free seminars, specialised zones, free business mentoring, free smart marketing expertise and much more.

For your complimentary guest ticket to the Bizzone Business Expos register online and automatically go in the draw to win a $100,000 Smart Marketing Prize 

www.bizzone.com/guestof/exhibitor

Put these dates in your diary now!

Wellington

– TSB Arena

22^ndJuly Wednesday 9-4pm

23rd July Thursday 9-8pm

24th July Friday 9-4pm 

Carbon Certification - good or bad for consumers? You be the judge!

If you have read this BLOG before you will know that we have posted information about carbon certification, carbon credits, green washing and the need for consumers to understand more fully any carbon neutral claims.

Recently the local cab company here in Wellington - Wellington Combined Cabs have gone certified carbon neutral by using the carboNZero certification system.

As a user of taxis I have witnessed first had that changes this cab company has made to its fleet make up. First they allowed hybrids in the fleet and then diesel vehicles and now there is a total focus on emissions efficient vehicles and vehicles that can use alternative fuels. Yesterday I saw a Hyundai i30 diesel on the cab rank on Lambton Quay.

The Wellington Combined summary of certification document makes interesting reading for any user of taxis. I suggest you consider the exclusions from the GHG emissions inventory and how this might apply to you or your business?

It will be interesting to see how another Wellington Cab Company "Green Cabs" responds to Wellington Combined marketing strategy?

As we have always said the use of taxis needs to meet the "fit for purpose test" and you need to consider a number of factors when selecting your preferred taxi suppler.

To follow is the latest marketing material from Wellington Combined on its carboNZero certification.

Oil vs. Sustainability! UAE earmarks $136 mln to fund green energy agency

I have just read an interesting press release:

Reuters, 22 June 2009 - The UAE is ready to spend $136 million to fund the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) if its bid to host the agency's headquarters is successful, a senior official said on Monday.

The world's third-largest oil exporter wants to place itself at the forefront of developments that may shape the future energy industry and hosting IRENA was part of that plan, Sultan al-Jaber, chief executive of Abu Dhabi's state-owned green energy initiative Masdar told Reuters in an interview.

"Oil exporting countries can either see renewable energy as a threat or as an opportunity and we know that this is the future so that's why we are committed to IRENA," Jaber said. "If we win, the Abu Dhabi government will fund the agency with $136 million until 2015."

READ MORE .........

The information about the IRENA makes interesting background reading.

Do you think the UAE is the right place for this agency?

We hear a lot about "peak oil" and the end of oil as we know it!

I find it interesting that their is now engagement by oil producers on green energy issues. In my view this raises some challenges about oil ethics and the commitment to find sustainable energy solutions for the generations to come?

LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK????

The good oil! NZ Olive oil that is!! (knowing where your food comes from)

Next in the current series of blog posts on food is my very favorite a post about the good oil! OLIVE OIL. New Zealand olive oil. Local olive oil, oil grown and made with tender care in the Wairarapa. (in this photo - an olive picked from the tree by Anne)

I love and use olive oil a lot. I have developed a taste for premium NZ Olive oil.

The other day I met Dr Anne Opie at Moore Wilson's in the city. Anne was tasting oil that she had produced.

I loved it - the oil in question is Trio organic olive oil.

Anne and husband Brian have an olive grove in Greytown. As Anne and I talked it was evident we had a mutual passion for the good oil, food source issues and sustainability. I sent some information to Anne and she invited me over to the Wairarapa to have a tour of her olive grove.

(By the way I left Moor Wilson with a 375ml bottle of Trio oil)

On Saturday 20 June I got to visit the Opie's olive grove to learn more about where my good oil comes from, how it is produced and how it gets to market.

To follow is a photo essay of the tour. (you will note that some friends joined us for this great opportunity)

This is what the olive grove looks like.

There are 500 olive trees on this grove. The 2009 vintage produced a great oil from a small harvest in a difficult growing year. The result was an excellent return rate of 17.8%.

This is Dr Anne Opie (our host) Anne is very passionate about her olives! I found it amazing to meet the person who grows and nurtures the oils and overseas the transformation into world class extra virgin olive oil.

Anne's olives are certified organic. This causes one issue for production. The certified organic oil press is in TeHoro on the Kapiti Coast so the harvested olive has a long drive for pressing.

All of the walking about gave us all an appetite so we all had lunch together as YES WE GOT TO SAMPLE THE 2009 OIL! Together with last years.

 2008 oil on the left, 2009 on the right. As you can see the 2009 oil is very different with a great Green colour and powerful pepper aftertaste. I found the 2009 oil to be fantastic and used it on top of my soup!

We all had an amazing trip and tour. I thought I had a good understanding of the good oil. However post visit I have an enhanced awareness of the different vintages, storage times, types of olives and how much the growers passion can stamp its mark on the final product.

Trio oil is a fine example of grow local and eat local!

A big thank you to Anne and Brian for hosting us!

Knowing where your food comes from!

Yesterday I had the opportunity and pleasure to travel to the Wairarapa to visit Jackie and Tony's niche walnut production.

They live on a property that has a number of walnut trees and as a hobbie they are producing around 200kg of walnuts per season.

They do not produce commercial quantities but enough to share with friends and the local community.

I was amazed at their passion for what they produce and for the quality of their nuts.

We came away with a 1kg bag of nuts and with a better knowledge of how walnuts are produced. By the way these freshly picked and dried nuts taste amazing! Much better than what you get in the supermarket.

To follow are some pictures of the visit.

They also have two pigs

Walnut trees

Walnut in shells on drying rack

 

Jackie (in orange) showing us the tool they use to pick up the walnuts from the ground

Commercial nut cracker!

The final product - Yum

350.org can we all make a difference???

I came across 350.org on twitter the other day.

Dear World,

This is an invitation to help build a movement--to take one day and use it to stop the climate crisis.

On October 24, we will stand together as one planet and call for a fair global climate treaty. United by a common call to action, we'll make it clear: the world needs an international plan that meets the latest science and gets us back to safety.

This movement has just begun, and it needs your help.

I would like to suggest you check this out and see if this is something you want to get involved with?

Please let me know your thoughts? I believe than any activity that raises the profile of global warming and climate change is good. It creates discussion and debate which is a good thing.

Will Mr Chu be the next big player in the global fight for saving the planet?

Mr Chu was chosen by President Obama to head up the Department of energy and be Obama's advise on Climate Change and Sustainability and Energy Issues.

You should check out the Department of Energy's web site as it has some great resources to call on.

Mr Chu is quoted here inNZ today and tells us all to paint the roof of our house white as positive action in the fight for climate change. Do you agree or do you think this is crazy science?

If Mr Chu is going to play a major part in the upcoming meetings in Europe at the end of the year then I suggest you check this guy out.

I am not sure if you can call him a science geek, green guru or not and I have not made up my mind on if this guy can make a difference and get the USA to play a leadership role in the post Kyoto world?

Let me know what you think?

40% cut by 2020? Do you agree and will it work?

Has anyone visited the "Sign On the word needs us" web site yet? If you have I am keen to find out what you think and to see if you signed up and why?

Greenpeace NZ is behind this mainstream attempt to get our Government to engage on a tougher target on New Zealand Greenhouse gas emission reduction target.

From my understanding of this initiative the goal is to get the powers that be to acknowledge that a 40% reduction on 1990 levels by 2020 is better than 50% by 2050. They make some good points and have a range of high profile people endorsing the position.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

I think that no matter what your opinions of greenpeace are they are making some noise and generating interest in this issue that under National seems to have been brushed under the carpet.

If you have read this BLOG you will no that the position we have is that the delayed ETS and the economic slow down is not a excuse to do nothing!

Our stance has not changed - GREEN IS GOOD FOR BUSINESS and being sustainable in business is common sense and on so many fronts.

If you run a business then there is NO WAY that you do not want to save money on the bottom line! By taking sustainable business practices and calling them process review and improvements you can save money and become more sustainable. Remember economic sustainability is the name of the game.

So I congratulate greenpeace for raising the awareness of this issue and look forward to you comments on your visits to the sign-on site.

Tax breaks for low emission vehicles - we should follow this initiative

With the debate raging here in NZ today on the delayed implementation of the NZETS it was great to read that the Japanese Government has reduced taxes on low emission vehicles in Japan from 1 April 2009 and there has been a corresponding increase in sales of low emission vehicles.

What do you think of this initiative?

I think it is a great example of Government Policy stimulating growth while encouraging the purchase and use of low emission vehicles! This is an example of transformational sustainability in action.

This is a great initiative that the NZ policy makers should be considering here as well.

To follow is some background to this story from the WBCSD site or CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FULL STORY.

Japanese carmakers are reporting a sharp rebound in sales in their home market this month after the government cut taxes on lower-emission vehicles.

Toshiyuki Shiga, chief operating officer at Nissan, Japan's third-largest car producer, said Tuesday orders at Nissan's dealerships had risen 30 per cent so far in May compared with a year earlier.

Mr Shiga credited the “eco-car tax break” for the improvement. The tax break came into effect on April 1 and can cut the cost of the most fuel-efficient vehicles by several hundred thousand yen, or several thousand dollars.

If nationwide vehicle sales rise for the full month, it will be the first such increase since last July.

United Nations World Environment Day (WED) 2009 celebrations

I have been sent the following information that may be of interest. Follow the link to some cool downloadable banners.

Also if you are on twitter then start following the UNEP.

Dear Colleague,

I am writing to invite you to participate in the United Nations World Environment Day (WED) 2009 celebrations. While the main WED activities will take place in this year’s host country, Mexico, hundreds of additional worldwide celebrations will also be organized making this a truly global event.

The theme for WED 2009 is 'Your Planet Needs You! Unite to Combat Climate Change.' It reflects the urgency for nations to ‘seal the deal’ at the crucial climate convention meeting in Copenhagen some 180 days later in the year. It also raises a call for everyone to get involved, rethink actions and ways that result in wastage and heavy greenhouse gas emissions, and adopt a greener lifestyle.

We have a number of easy-to-use campaign materials which can be downloaded on the website at http://www.unep.org/wed/2009/english/content/downloads.asp.
These include the WED logo, posters and several flash animations including a new feature, the Daily do something Tips. These are useful ideas on how to easily green your daily routine, and once posted to your website, will link to a page on the WED 2009 website that lists daily tips in the countdown to WED. We request you to post this or the Use Less / Act More flash animation banner on your website to help promote World Environment Day to your stakeholders.

Further, we have started a global online tree-planting campaign for WED on Twitter. UNEP has pledged to plant 100,000 trees for 100,000 followers --or one for every follower if we can achieve more than 100,000-- by World Environment Day, 5 June. This effort supports the Billion Tree Campaign’s goal to plant a total of seven billion trees- one for every person on the planet- by year’s end. We ask that supporters start following at www.twitter.com/UNEPandYou. Add your voice and twitter loudly!

I sincerely hope that you will support World Environment Day and that you will also encourage your wide circle of contacts to publicize and participate both online and on the ground.
As our WED slogan says, ‘Your Planet Needs You!’ We count on your valuable support to help spread the message and mobilize action on this important day for the environment. If you have any questions or requests, please feel free to contact me.

Your support is highly appreciated.

Many thanks in advance,
Emmakate

Will the Electric Car take off in NZ???

I have been on a few plane trips lately and when you are on-board with no cell phone calls you can chill out, listen to sounds on the ipod or read? On a recent trip between the Gold Coast and Melbourne on Virgin Blue I read the in-flight magazine "Voyeur" May 2009.

There was a cool article on Twitter but the one I like the most was on page 74 and it was about Evan Thornley the CEO of Better Place in Australia.

What Better Place Aussie are up to is the introduction of a nationwide electric car battery refilling system. The point that got me was the innovative way that the are goings to have 1000's of battery exchange stations that will overcome the battery life issue with electric cars.

They are also working with the power companies so that the batteries are recharged with 100% renewable energy such as electricity from wind power.

What I like about this idea is the way innovative thinking has helped overcome the current short-comings of electric cars and they way that the Better Place system is a subscription service and is supporting and encouraging the development of electric cars.

Australia has the advantage of it size geography and population to make a system like this work.

Could this kind of system work in NZ?

1. Would we have the numbers to make it viable?

2. Would it get the support from the current government?

What do you think? I believe that we can learn from systems like this and come up with innovative ways of applying a system like this in New Zealand.

The power is in our hands. We the consumers can demand it and we can also make it happen!

NZETS diagram

While undertaking some research on the NZETS I came across the following diagram that I found very useful and want to share this with you. It comes from the Climate Change Solutions web site.

The Aussie Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme - Will NZ Follow?

In the last week the Australian's have released more detail on their Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme which is being lead by the Department of Climate Change.

With New Zealand about to review its own delay ETS will we follow the Aussies? Here are some key points from the Aussie announcements.

The Aussie Scheme Cap is set at 60% reduction in GHG emissions from 2000 levels by 2050.

All liable entities will be required to report the emissions for which they are liable under the Aussie scheme.

An Australian Climate Change Regulatory Authority is to be established.

In general the Aussie scheme obligations will apply to entities with facilities that emit GHG gases of 25,000 tonnes of CO2e or more per year and to entities that supply certain fuels and synthetic GHG's.

Initially there will be two types of eligible emissions units in the Aussie scheme - Australian emission units and certain units created under the Kyoto protocol.

A price cap per tonne of carbon is established. The cap is in place from 2010-11 to 2014-15. It will commence at $40 and rise by 5% in real terms each year.

More in-depth information can be found in the link above.

There are some good parts of the Aussie scheme and I would hope that we will copy some of the good points and debate and consider others.

Clean coal - what should New Zealand's position be?

Can we ever have clean coal?

New Zealand is lucky to have access to a large amount of renewable energy production. The use of coal to generate power in New Zealand is small by global terms.

But what would happen if the lakes ran dry for a few years?

Coal will need to be our back up as we wont see nuclear power here any time soon.

The clean coal debate is raging in the USA, Russia, India and China at present.

The World Resources Institute has some interesting reading on this topic at present.

If you are interested in reading about the latest trends in clean coal technology please CLICK HERE

What new technologies should we see being developed for the Huntly Power station?

Good advice on starting your GHG emissions inventory

If you are a reader of this BLOG you will know that we have covered the issues of undertaking a GHG emissions inventory before!

The four "M" approach for sustainability Measure, Manage, Mitigate and Market stars with the MEASURE "M" and a good start for this is a GHG emissions inventory.

The World Resources Institute has released a number of discussion documents, one is called "The bottom line on Corporate GHG Inventories"This is USA focused but provide a good overview on why you should undertake a GHG inventory and some of the key points you should consider.

To follow is an excerpt from the discussion document:

The Bottom Line on Corporate GHG Inventories

Why are corporate greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories critical to business?

Corporate GHG inventories quantify the amount of GHGs a company emits into the atmosphere and are critical management tools for companies of all sizes and sectors. GHG inventories enable companies to identify their emission sources and track changes over time. Information presented in a GHG inventory can help inform corporate strategies and prioritize actions to reduce emissions, as well as provide benchmarks against which the success of these activities can be measured.

Do corporate GHG inventories feed in to national/state/municipal GHG inventories?

Corporate GHG inventories currently do not directly relate or feed in to national/state/municipal GHG inventories, which are broader efforts to estimate total net GHG emissions across a specific region. For example, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Inventory of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks estimates the emissions from GHG ‘sources’ and the amount of GHGs sequestered (or removed from the atmosphere) by GHG ‘sinks’ across the United States over the course of a year. Because of the broader scope, national/state/municipal inventories rely on emissions proxy data, such as the amount of fossil fuel consumption, and relevant emission factors to estimate GHG emissions for entire industries or sectors rather than collecting company-specific emissions in corporate GHG inventories.

How are corporate GHG inventories related to GHG registries?

GHG registries serve as databases for GHG emissions data and use corporate GHG inventories to record and track GHG emissions from specific facilities or companies. Companies develop GHG inventories and then report GHG emissions data, as part of either voluntary or mandatory reporting programs, using the reporting protocols established by the GHG registry. GHG registries or other programs collecting corporate-level GHG data include The Climate Registry [0], the Carbon Disclosure Project [1] and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Leaders [2] program.

How do companies develop corporate GHG inventories?

Companies developing GHG inventories first establish a methodology that follows accounting standards, such as those in the GHG Protocol^SM Corporate Standard[3]. This ensures inventories are as complete and accurate as possible and can be compared over time. Companies use this methodology to identify which facilities, operations, and sources should be included in the inventory. Next, companies collect available input data, which could include actual GHG emissions data collected from on-site monitoring devices or, more commonly, estimates based on activity data (e.g., the amount of electricity consumed) and standard emissions factors (e.g., the amount of GHGs emitted per unit of electricity consumed). Once data are collected and GHG emissions are estimated, the results are compiled, categorized, and summarized in a GHG inventory.

The food mile debate

I came across this very interesting article online that is worth reading. The gist of this article is that the carbon intensity of producing food is an interesting topic.

This article provides some evidence that supports the NZ position on our foods that are exported around the globe.

"Local food production does not always produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions. For example, the 2005 DEFRA study found that British tomato growers emit 2.4 metric tons of carbon dioxide for each ton of tomatoes grown compared to 0.6 tons of carbon dioxide for each ton of Spanish tomatoes. The difference is British tomatoes are produced in heated greenhouses. Another study found that cold storage of British apples produced more carbon dioxide than shipping New Zealand apples by sea to London. In addition, U.K. dairy farmers use twice as much energy to produce a metric ton of milk solids than do New Zealand farmers. Other researchers have determined that Kenyan cut rose growers emit 6 metric tons of carbon dioxide per 12,000 roses compared to the 35 tons of carbon dioxide emitted by their Dutch competitors. Kenyan roses grow in sunny fields whereas Dutch roses grow in heated greenhouses."

Tax returns - What about your GHG returns??

It is that time of the tax cycle to be filling out on-line forms and submitting returns to Inland Revenue for GST.

It got me thinking about monthly and quarterly GHG emissions returns??

If you are recording your GHG emissions inventories then like me you will have already logged all of the mileage of your company vehicles, logged all of the fuel purchases for the month, recorded all of your vehicles costs for the month, recorded your electricity and gas usage and other GHG emissions attributes that make up you inventory.

It strikes me that once you get into the habit of recording this information it is no longer a drag or a chore it becomes quite exciting to see how well your GHG emissions management plan is working because each month, quarter, six months and year to can monitor your progress.

 Remember measuring and managing your GHG emissions is all about leaving this place in a well state for future generations to come!

Biofuel - no easy answer!

As we here in New Zealand contemplate the introduction of mandatory biofuel sales targets and with a goal of have 3% biofuel mixes, we find out the Indian government approved the policy last week (11 September). The policy states that by 2017, transport fuels in India need to contain 20 per cent biofuel.

Like New Zealand the policy makers are trying to come to grips with how the policy will work, how to focus biofuel production on non-food crops and how to ensure the biofuel crops that are planted only use marginal land, let alone the issue of crop survival.

For more information click HERE.

It is worth noting the mention of Jatropha plant. This is the plant that Air New Zealand is to use for its own biofuel trial.

Watch out the for the EPA! Your petrol lawn mower may soon be obsolete?

For all of you weekend warriors who get out a move your lawns using a petrol motor mower you need to be aware of developing trends in the United States.

I have just read about the US Environmental Protection Agency taking a hard line of motor mower exhaust emissions!

The information states:

Reuters, 5 September 2008 - Exhaust-spewing lawn mowers and speed boats will get a green make-over under tough new rules from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency designed to reduce smog and save millions of gallons of gasoline.

Gas-powered engines in lawn and garden equipment will be required to cut smog-forming emissions by 35 percent, while engines in personal watercraft will have to cut smog-forming emissions by 70 percent and reduce carbon monoxide emissions by 20 percent.

I wonder if this issue will become an election issue here?

Looks like we all need to switch to electric motor mowers??

Air quality it is a big issue - Just look at Beijing!

I found it interesting watching the lead up to the Olympic games in China that one on the topics each night has been that state of the air quality in Beijing. This week it has fluctuated from HEAVY SMOG to a "Blue Sky Day" in Beijing.

On New Zealand TV the reports have concentrated on how the athletes are adapting to the air quality and how this will affect their performances.

It is interesting to note that with the banning of vehicles in Beijing the air quality is still very poor.

I think one message this sends to us all that it is China's heavy industry that is the contributing factor to the poor air quality in China and more specifically in Beijing where all the worlds media is focused at present.

Olympic organisers are praying for rain for the opening ceremony so that air quality will be at its best for the opening of the Olympics!!

In the Sydney Morning Herald they state the following:

Rain predicted for opening ceremony

Mary-Anne Toy | August 5, 2008

BEIJING qualified as a "blue sky day" yesterday despite the return of the smog that has blighted China's preparations for the Olympic Games.

Yesterday's air pollution index, which is published daily by the Beijing Municipal Environment Protection Bureau, was 80. Anything less than 100 - on a scale of one to 500 - qualifies as a "blue sky day". This was from noon on Sunday, when Beijing's rare run of three true blue sky days peaked, to yesterday at noon when the smog returned.

What China is facing at present is trying to balance the needs of a growing industrial economy with environmental issues like air quality and the lack of engagement and solutions to solve the problem.

I am sure we will watch with interest the games and how the air quality will affect the athletes.

Plan B for sustainability

If you are a regular reader of this BLOG you will know that we are passionate about sustainability issues and about help you all understand your own impacts on the environment.

We also try to provide information and discussions on simple ways to be engaged and to make a difference.

We have found a book called Plan B 3.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization written by Lester R. Brown.

We want to highlight this to you as we believe what Lester is saying is aligned to our thinking. We recommend you visit the links we have provided in this post and consider purchasing the book.

Here is some background on the book:

Plan B is shaped by what is needed to save civilization, not by what may currently be considered politically feasible. Plan B does not fit within a particular discipline, sector, or set of assumptions.

Implementing Plan B means undertaking several actions simultaneously, including eradicating poverty, stabilizing population, and restoring the earth’s natural systems. It also involves cutting carbon dioxide emissions 80 percent by 2020, largely through a mobilization to raise energy efficiency and harness renewable sources of energy.

We face an extraordinary challenge, but there is much to be upbeat about. All the problems we face can be dealt with using existing technologies. And almost everything we need to do to move the world economy back onto an environmentally sustainable path has already been done in one or more countries.

We see the components of Plan B—the alternative to business as usual—in new technologies already on the market. On the energy front, for example, an advanced-design wind turbine can produce as much energy as an oil well. Japanese engineers have designed a vacuum-sealed refrigerator that uses only one eighth as much electricity as those marketed a decade ago. Gas-electric hybrid automobiles, getting nearly 50 miles per gallon, are twice as efficient as the average car on the road.
 

Green Pen - Biodergadable Trial #1 28 June 2008

As promised I have placed a Lecce Green Pen using Mater-Bi in my garden.

The aim of this trial is to see if as promised in the marketing material that the pen starts its composting process in 90 days! So target date is around the end of September 2008.

Watch this BLOG and I will keep you posted.

The above photo was taken today Sat 28 June 2008 in Wellington New Zealand.

The GREEN pen! Yes there is a sustainable solution

I have just attended the Small Business Expo in Wellington. This year the expo has a sustainability focus.

One of the great products I have found at the Expo is the Mater-Bi Lecce Eco pens at the Pronto Print stand.

Pronto Print are the NZ agents for the Lecce Eco pen which is made from a revolutionary new material called Mater-Bi. Mater-Bi is a bioplastic, developed by Novamont and is derived from corn starch. It is a 100% biodegradable composting material.

I am going to set up an experiment and try out the claim that the composting process starts after 90 days and takes approximately 9 months. This weekend I will place one on the pens in my garden and keep you all posted via this BLOG I will also post photos.

I am going to meet with Pronto Print to find out more. They tell me they print on the pens using vegetable based inks.

Check out the links and find out more for yourself and I will keep you posted.

Will someone please turn out the light!

We are told that we are in the middle of a power crisis. But it does not seem that this has sunk in the business and building owners in Wellington.

I am a proud Wellingtonian but we are letting the side down!

I am working in Auckland this week and when I went out for my run this morning I was amazed at the number of buildings in Auckland CBD that had no lights on! Even the Sky tower only has its navigation lights on! Well done Auckland.

Wellington we need to do better. Each night the Wellington skyline is ablaze with buildings with full lighting on! We need to do better.

All it takes is some leadership and for someone to turn the lights out!

A green life - can you live a green life?

If you are a regular reader of this BLOG you will know that in previous BLOG posts we have given easy to follow practicable tips that enable you to understand green issues and how you can make changes that will make you greener and more sustainable.

Our message must be catching on?

In todays NZ Herald there are two stories that caught my eye. The first one is called THE GREEN TESTand is all about how Wena Harawira, Maori Television journalist is making behavioural changes and being more green. Check out the article for some good and easy examples on how you can make changes to your daily life that make you more sustainable and green.

The second article is called LIVE SIMPLY and is about how a simple life can lead to being more green.

The interesting part of this story is that it highlights Project litefoot. This project is a helpful web resource where NZ celebrities are making their own statements about going green and being more sustainable. It is worth a look too.

We do go on about it, however, being green and sustainable is a journey and not a destination and it is all about small  personal changes in behivours that lead to transformational change.

CFL light bulbs - a bright idea

Lots of debate this week on the compact fluorescent light-bulb(CFL)!!

We should all undertake a lighting audit in our offices and homes. All it takes is to note the number of light bulbs in each room and enter this information into a spread sheet.

Once you have a base point then undertake some research and investigate the best alternative eco-friendly lighting options for your particular circumstances.

It is that simple.

The NZ Government wants to cut lighting energy consumption by 20 per cent by 2015 and from late next year incandescent lightbulbs will be banished.

So lets all start the process now!

Carbon Trading and Carbon Credits

We often get asked to help our clients understand the basics of carbon trading and carbon credits.

The information to follow may help you?

Emitters of carbon will need to purchase carbon credits. As carbon is emitted, the credits that a business holds/processes will need to be surrendered, effectively “paying” for the greenhouse gasses produced.

What is the ETS

Under an ETS, prices are established for units to emit greenhouse gases. It is hoped that these prices influence decisions by producers, consumers and investors, in their decision making around the reduction of emissions and to look at viable alternatives.

Put more simply, essentially, if you create emissions, say by using fossil fuels by driving your car e.g. petroleum, it costs you units (so called carbon credits). If you create a carbon sink (plant trees) that then soak up carbon emissions, you create credit units that can be traded.

How does it affect us?

Broadly speaking, it is intended that the scheme will alter the cost structure of good and services supplied in NZ through the operation of a “cap and trade” model. Under the model the Government will place a cap on the greenhouse cases certain industries can produce.

Costs

Depending on which group you listen too there are a number of varied positions on the cost of the emission trading scheme.

There is no doubt that there will be a cost to business of capping New Zealand's emissions and the development of the ETS. Some of the increased costs will be passed onto customers and consumers.

The Emissions Trading Group commissioned Infometrics economist Adolf Stroombergen (October 2007) to analyse the impact of an Emissions Trading Scheme on emission levels, economic growth and other economic indicators.

Infometrics’ report concludes that during the period between 2008 and 2012, the impact of New Zealand meeting its commitments under the Kyoto Protocol on a number of economic indicators is likely to be around 0.0 to 0.3 percent impact on GDP. 

Much of the Government's economic modelling is based on a carbon price of $15 a tonne, whereas the international price is already more than double that.

Carbon Trading and Carbon Credits

The carbon trading market is based around Kyoto-related and voluntary carbon credits. The compliance market is obligations based and requires the reporting of emissions from designated activities, and the surrender of Kyoto compliant carbon credits.

The voluntary market is driven by reputational drivers, and the marketing of projects that lead to VER’s – Verified Emissions Reduction units. This also links to the measurement of carbon footprints and the use of the GHG protocol and ISO reporting standards.

Carbon credits may be Kyoto units or voluntary carbon credits.

Kyoto units are created from Government-approved projects that have been allocated assigned amount units or AAUs and from clean development mechanism (CDM) projects validated through the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Voluntary carbon credits are produced outside the regulatory framework and are often created through community projects. These credits may have additional ecological and social value.

We hope this helps with your understanding of carbon trading and carbon credits?

Air Travel GHG emissions baddie? You decide!

We often get asked about the GHG emissions impacts of air travel.

A general rule of thumb is that if you don’t need to fly then don’t do it.

We use Air New Zealand as a case study for our clients.

To follow is some information that may assist you when you look at the amount of air travel you undertake.

We have chosen Air New Zealand to use as a case study as they are a great example of a

New Zealand company who operates in a global market where competition is fierce and competitive.

The impact of airline emissions has become a “hot topic” and there is research that states that airlines make up 2 % of total global GHG emissions.

The IPCC report 1999, p.6 states that aviation accounts for 2% of worldwide CO2 emissions from fossil fuel use, according to a forecast by the UN International Panel on Climate Change. This could reach 3% by 2050.

Transport in general accounts for 14% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Aviation is responsible for 12% of CO2 emissions from all transport sources, compared to

76% from road transport, according to the Stern review.  (Stern Report Annex 7).

As you can see total global emissions from aviation are quite small. However as more of us are using air travel, more of us have a sustainability focus and more of our companies are reviewing the impacts of air travel of our GHG emissions inventories the aviation industry has to adapt to these fundamental changes in customer behaviour.

For Air NZ who is our national flag carrier the issues are quite challenging! Apart from Air NZ’s Tasman and pacific services all of their flights are long hall – more than 5 hours in duration.

Operational Change vs. Sustainability

Air NZ is tackling sustainability from a few fronts, they include:

• Operational Fuel efficiency – smart approaches to landing. Air NZ is pioneering CDA – Continuous Descent Approaches, which involves a more gradual and continuous decent. The trial is on landings at San Francisco and can save up to 300kg of fuel on every flight.
• Trialling of bio – fuels
• New Fleet – 777 and 787 – longer flights with less fuel burn
• Operational sustainability – recycling at the airport – water usage on the plane
• Public commitment to the environment – stated long term goal sustainable air travel.

Pay as you go carbon credits

Air NZ has set up a carbon offset calculator so that you can calculate your carbon impacts when flying on Air NZ. https://carbonoffset.airnewzealand.co.nz/carbonoffset/carbonCalculator.do

The following information has been taken from the Air NZ Web site:

What does Air New Zealand do with the money paid to offset carbon emissions?

All the money, net of tax, contributed by customers to offset their CO₂ emissions funds the purchase of carbon credits that reduce, or avoid, greenhouse gases. 

 

Air New Zealand takes no administrative or other fee.

 

What carbon credits is Air New Zealand currently purchasing?

Air New Zealand pre-purchases carbon credits to ensure that they are available for this online carbon offset programme.

The carbon credits we are currently purchasing are Emission Reduction Units from TrustPower's Tararua windfarm. The New Zealand Government awarded these Kyoto

carbon credits as part of its Projects to Reduce Emissions programme.

How can I see how my money is being spent?

Each year, the information about what carbon credits were purchased, their cancellation and other information about how much they cost will be published and readily available to contributors.

Leader or Baddie – You decide?

We would like to pose the following questions to help you decide:

• Do you think Air NZ is taking a leadership position on sustainability? Why is that?
• Is their pay as you go carbon credit off-set scheme a compelling offer for you? Has anyone used this service yet?
• Are the current initiatives enough?
• Would you prefer to use Air NZ over a rival based on their sustainability practices? Why is that?

Beginers guide to Bio fuels - the sustainable option?

We often get asked about the good and bad points related to bio fuels. To follow is a beginers guide to help you out.  

 

Bio-fuels

• What options do we have to use biofuels
• What is the difference between ethanol and other bio fuels such as bio-diesel
• Can our vehicles run on biofuels
• How much can we save on fuel costs

 

Biofuels

Biofuel is a generic term for fuels that can be produced from or are made up of a renewable material of plant or animal origin. Often they are substitutes or partial substitutes for fossil or mineral fuels. Biofuels used in transport are typically bioethanol which is used as a petrol substitute and biodiesel which is used as a diesel substitute. These are the biofuels that are most likely to be used in New Zealand in the medium term. Biofuels have the major advantage of not contributing to overall greenhouse gas emissions.

 

Biodiesel can be produced from any vegetable oil or animal fat and used as a substitute or partial substitute for mineral diesel. To produce biodiesel, these fats or oils are chemically converted to esters that have properties similar to mineral diesel. Biodiesel is often blended with mineral diesel and blends of up to 5 percent in mineral diesel are suitable for use in diesel engines without modification. Higher blends may be used in dedicated fleets.

 

Bioethanol is an alcohol made from sugar, starch and products containing sugars and starches, through a process of fermentation and distilling, and used as a substitute or partial substitute for petrol. Bioethanol has properties that are similar to petrol so it is often blended with petrol. Bioethanol is likely to be introduced as a low level blend i.e.  3 to 5 percent in some petrol, although the current maximum level allowed is 10 percent. Higher blends may be used in dedicated fleets.

 

So why then is the NZ Government pushing Bio Fuels?

 

The Ministry of Transport’s web site tells us the following:

 

The government is committed to the use of renewable transport fuels to reduce environmental impacts of the use of fossil fuels, and to reduce New Zealand's dependence on imported transport fuels.

The government is developing and introducing a bio fuels sales obligation for the sale and use of bio fuel blends in New Zealand. The aim is to ensure that oil companies selling petrol or diesel must also sell a small amount of bio fuels. It would be up to the oil companies to determine which combination of bio fuels and which blend levels to use, and where to market them.

 

The big issue facing the Government is the position of the oil companies in NZ and the stance they take on the introduction of bio fuels. Already we have seen the debate on the cost of storage and the need to replace many holding tanks with double skinned storage tanks and the potential take up of the use of bio fuels and the types of vehicles that can run effectively on bio fuels, to name a few.

 

The Government has introduced a sales weighted target and as you would expect the major oil companies have their own opinions on these targets.

Another issue is the ability for the current fleet, which is a mix of new cars and second hand Japanese imports being able to safely operate on the Ethanol blends of E3%, E5%, E8% and E10% blends.

 

Most Japanese second-hand used imports are built to the Japanese domestic standard and these vehicles are not manufactured to cope with an E5 blend or higher.

 

The biofuels sales obligation will require companies that sell petrol or diesel in New Zealand to also sell biofuel.  The amount will be set as a percentage of total combined petrol and diesel sales per year, measured in petajoules, based on the volumetric energy content of each fuel, as follows:

	Year 1 2008 (part year)1	Year 2 2009	Year 3 2010	Year 4 2011	Year 5 2012 onwards2
Obligation: percentage of previous years sales	0.53 percent	1.06 percent	1.67 percent	3.35 percent	3.40 percent
Approximate petajoules3	0.83	2.22	3.55	7.18	7.25

 

New Zealand companies leading the way on research

 

Aquaflow Bionomic Corporation has set itself the objective to be the first company in the world to economically produce biofuel from wild algae harvested from open-air environments, to market it, and meet the challenge of increasing demand.

 

Founded in 2005, Aquaflow Bionomic Corporation (ABC) Limited is committed to developing a means to produce a new biofuel from algae, and passionate about providing solutions to challenges of diminishing energy supplies. The company strives to become a dominant player in renewable energy and associated technologies.

 

ABC harvests algae directly from the settling ponds of standard Effluent Management (EM) Systems and other nutrient-rich water. The process can be used in many industries that produce a waste stream, including the transport, dairy, meat and paper industries.

 

The two-step process firstly optimises the ponds' productive capacity, and secondly, determines the most efficient and economic way of harvesting the pond algae. Algae are provided with full opportunity to exploit the nutrients available in the settling ponds, thereby cleaning up the water. The algae are then harvested to remove the remaining contaminant. A last stage of bio-remediation, still in development, will ensure that the water discharge from the process exceeds acceptable quality standards.

 

The water and sludge treatment process is an elegant clean-up and management service to councils responsible for sewerage treatment systems while also generating a low-cost feedstock for conversion to fuel.

 

The result is an algae-based extract that will ultimately be converted to an alternative fuel source. ABC has established that the company is likely to be able to produce, at commercial scale, a viable biofuel.

 

40 Hour Famine can help you go green

In New Zealand this weekend it is the 40 hour famine.

The goal of the famine is to raise awareness of famine around the globe. Participants seek sponsorship to go with out food for 40 hours!!

A new component of the famine is the 40 hour technology famine. On the famine web site they explain the rules of the Techno Famine as:

Techno Famine: Go without your computer, email, TV, stereo, PlayStation, Xbox, iPod, phone – this includes txting!!

My teenage niece has chosen this one and I am sponsoring her. I suggest to you that this is a tough quest for a teenage to go without technology fo 40 hours!!

It go me thinking about GREEN issues and also about what we could go without that would help the environment.

So here are the rules for the GREEN famine: (try this for 40 hours and see if this leads you to think about green issues and to focus you on behaviour change)

• go without using your car or motorbike
• go without processed foods and only use fresh foods
• go without your computer
• turn off lights that are not required and think of other ways to conserve electricity
• go without your electric blanket
• replace light bulbs with eco-friendly bulbs

Even if you do not last 40 hours by just thinking about these issues should focus you on behaviour change.

Remember if we all do something small it becomes something big! Good Luck

The road to carbon neutral - where to start?

We often get asked about how quick, how easy, how long, and how much it costs to become carbon neutral?

The answer is "it depends"!!

We suggest that it is better to focus on environmental sustainability and the links to corporate social responsibility. Then the first path on the road can be on the establishment of your GHG emissions footprint.

To follow are some typical questions we ask at the start of the journey. We hope they help.

In answering the question “how to get certified” we would like to raise with you two initial phases. Firstly there is an assessment and analysis phase which has a goal of establishing a framework. This includes setting strategic goals for carbon neutrality, and deciding on the measurement framework.

 

The next phase is related to the Four M’s Measure, Manage, Mitigate and Market. The first M is about undertaking a GHG emissions inventory which becomes the base point for the next M which is the management of the emissions.

 

In summary this involves defining a measurement frame work, reviewing your Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions accounting for them and coming up with a base measurement of your GHG footprint.

 

Once you have a base measurement you can make some decisions about the need for certification which would include choosing a certification programme, preparing an application, preparing for a audit, being audited, achievement of certification and marketing of the certification

 

To give you an idea of the depth of the process, to follow are some questions we would ask at the starting point of this process.

 

What do you want from Carbon Neutrality? Cost reductions, market credibility, business transformation or some other goal?

 

Waste – do you currently have a waste reduction program – e.g. minimise set up and production of non saleable product before the production run commences.

What about a recycling program?

What about recovery of solvents or other volatiles used in production processes?

 

Utilities – what are you doing around minimising the use of gas, electricity, water etc.?

 

Factory layout and physical facilities – is there room in the factory and on the factory land for the ‘greening’ the sites?

 

Inbound and outbound logistics – how do you transport production inputs and finished goods? Road, rail, air? Does your logistics supplier(s) have meaningful greenhouse gas reduction programs?

 

How do you communicate between your work sites – teleconference, VOIP, face to face? How do you travel between them?

 

What about your employees travel – do they drive to work, take public transport, bus, rail? Do you offer subsidised parking or free parking.