The power of assumptions

http://video.ted.com/assets/player/swf/EmbedPlayer.swf

 

NABERS Energy Normalization Factor

It appears that 6 and 7 star NABERS Energy buildings will be very difficult indeed.

 

What I love about Solar

This is a solar panel installation I came across near the Makgadikgadi in Botswana.

It shows how easy the technology is to use despite not having professional installers.

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Crowd Sourcing Anti-Corruption – IPAIDABRIBE.COM

I was alerted to this great webpage in India today from a group aiming to crowd source anti-corruption measures.

The group describes itself as follows:
“IpaidABribe.com is Janaagraha’s unique initiative to tackle corruption by harnessing the collective energy of citizens. You can report on the nature, number, pattern, types, location, frequency and values of actual corrupt acts on this website. Your reports will, perhaps for the first time, provide a snapshot of bribes occurring across your city. We will use them to argue for improving governance systems and procedures, tightening law enforcement and regulation and thereby reduce the scope for corruption in obtaining services from the government.”

In applying the methodologies of the Global Reporting Initiative I often find that indicators regarding corruption receive little attention. It is generally perceived that these issues are minor and/or insignificant in Australia. Yet the info graphic shows how broad the problem is globally.

Source: The Economist

The concept of crowd sourcing will provide valuable data and hopefully in turn result in targeted action to combat the issue.

I also note Shaffi Mather‘s TED talk about using IT to fight corruption.

I Paid A Bribe

 

Part 1- Where do I start with Sustainability in my business?

I meet many people who have a keen interest in sustainability but are completely unaware of how to integrate this into their business. Many believe that sustainability is incompatible with their current business practices.

This is the first of a multiple part article on the application of sustainability within business.

Part 1 – Principles of sustainability: What goals does your business wish to achieve?

Principles of Sustainability

The great thing about sustainability is that the lower the goal you start with the better. It is much more important to set realistic goals than ambitious ones.

Firstly you need to choose the principles that you wish to aim for. These are not goals but rather quick questions you can ask yourself whenever our making a financial decision.

The follow are some well know principles to choose from.

Do No harm
Derived from the medical principle of. “First do no harm” and famously demonstrated by Johnson and Johnson with their company credo developed over 30 years ago. This has lead to them making some very difficult product recall decisions based on this principle rather than finical criteria.

If compared to a business plan Do no harm aligns with your mission statement, and lacks specific direction on implementation. It’s more an ethos than a principle.

http://www.jnj.com/connect/pdf/company-pdf/our-credo.pdf

Earth charter
The earth charter is a broad ranging set of principles that cover key questions of social and environmental responsibility.

Adoption of the earth charter provides an excellent litmus test for business activities. Before embarking on sustainability reporting management should eliminate clashes with earth charter principles.

http://www.earthcharterinaction.org/invent/images/uploads/echarter_english.pdf

Global compact
A set of principles for adoption by corporate general management. More direct but softer in their wording.

Aimed at CEO’s looking for strategic goals related to social and environmental issues, the global compact provides a good starting point for companies were change is difficult or costly to implement.

http://www.unglobalcompact.org/aboutthegc/thetenprinciples/index.html

Footprint Network
The footprint network is derived from a simple idea, “how much space does a computer take up on your desk?” extrapolated to human impact on the earths ecosystems the footprint network aims to show how sustainable we are compared to the earths capacity. This currently sits at 1.8 hectares per person and aims to achieve a human development index of 0.8 for everyone. A target that counties like Cuba are close to.

Footprint is more important to organisations with massive impacts e.g. Mining and construction.

 

Uninformed!

 

Image of the day: extreme climbing wall

 

Crazy Ideas – Melbourne Ferry Service

So what if we had ferries in Melbourne? Is it a practical way to get around the bay for commuters to Melbourne?

Surprisingly using modern jet cat ferries travel times between any location around the bay at least equals road and rail transport.

For further afield locations e.g. East of Geelong a ferry would be significantly faster.

Given urban growth around the bay and peoples desire to be near the water front where it can be more difficult to provide road and rail infrastructure, ferries appear to be a great solution.

Port Arlington to City

Ferry @30knots = 42 minutes
Car via Geelong = 100km 1:40 hours with traffic

Mornington to City

Ferry @30knots = 56 minutes
Car via Geelong = 65km 1 hour with traffic

Train from Frankston = 1 hour

 

No Lights, No Traffic?

 

What’s New?

Architecture and Design

Those 100 Million Sunflower Seeds Are Being Removed > Spiral Garden is a Lacy Mesh… > planning korea: paik nam june media bridge > $ Billion Home is Complete in Mumbai > Tall and Green: The Remaking of Mumbai > School design affects teaching, says study > Computer speakers change shape depending on their volume

Science and Technology

New Research Shows Americans Don’t Walk Much > Foxconn To Offset Price Of Keeping Employees From Killing Themselves > We’ll See More Ethanol In Some Of Our Gas > Earliest land plants discovered

World and Politics

Pakistan flood damage 9.7 billion dollars: World Bank, ADB > Russia: Petersburg skyscraper gets green light as protesters march > USGBC, LEED Targeted by Class-Action Suit

Fun

Expert Mountaineering Goats